Seasonal Maintenance Checklist

December 5, 2021 Nick Nahid

Your home is your most valuable asset. Therefore, it is important to take care of it. Home maintenance will not only protect your investment but will also make your life easier.

Some chores inside are best done every week or monthly, depending on your tolerance and lifestyle. For example, some people might reach for the scrubber as soon as they see mold in the grout, while others may tackle it every quarter.

Here's a checklist for seasonal maintenance.

Spring

Spring is the season for renewal, rebirth, and cleaning out anything that's not moving.

Inside

To avoid streaking, wash windows both inside and outside on cloudy days

Vinyl exterior siding and deck can be power washed
Steam clean floors and carpets
Machine wash or dry clean drapes
Cabinet toe kicks and dust baseboards
Deep clean bathroom surfaces. Renew tile grout
Give your stovetop and oven a thorough scrub
Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

The Yard

Cut down shrubs and trees to form and allow the sun in
Collect fallen branches and yard debris and make compost, if you can.
Keep shrubs and plants at least 2 feet from compressors.
After the last frost date, plant summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias
Fertilize and over-seed the lawn after it wakes up
Clean and fix patio furniture
Powerwash patios, walkways, and sidewalks

Home Exterior

Clean gutters and downspouts.
To keep bugs out, repair or replace windows screens
Scrape and touch-up peeling paint
Paint rotten wood trim.
Removing and replacing crumbling bricks and stones
Inspect the foundation and seal cracks
Replace cracked roof shingles or vent collars

Summer

Summer maintenance is about outdoor space and saving money when the weather gets hot.

The Yard

Water your plants deeply twice or three times per week. Then, give your grass some water every day.
Keep the grass mowed as necessary (the length varies depending on the variety). Leave the clippings on your lawn to help decompose the grass and nourish it.
Don't forget to weed the flowerbeds around shrubs. A spray of horticultural vinegar will kill any young weeds.
To encourage continued blooms, use the deadhead flower

Inside

Dust ceiling fans and rotate counterclockwise to create cooling down airflow.
Keep the refrigerator coils clean to maintain efficient cooling
Clean refrigerator door gaskets; replace if necessary
Dehumidify basement to prevent mold and mildew
Replace or clean your air filters to reduce your AC's energy use by up to 15%

Autumn

Winter is near, and you have a few months left to prepare.

Inside

Get a professional to clean and inspect your heating system
Clean the return vents and filter system filters.
Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Repair and inspect the weather stripping around doors, windows, and other areas
To save money, check the insulation around your house.
To maintain chimneys, call a chimney sweep

The Yard

Take out dead plants and remove weeds. Store summer bulbs such as dahlias in a cool place.
For spring color, plant bulbs such as tulips
To help nutrients and water penetrate the grassroots, aerate your lawn
Overseed lawn bald spots
Cover your porch with cushions and clean it.
Clean and empty flower pots and planters
Keep your garden tools clean and organized
Before the first hard freeze, disconnect, drain, and store garden hoses

Home Exterior

Repair caulk around venting and window frames -- heat can escape from any area.
To prevent drafts, replace frayed door sweeps
Clear gutters of fallen leaves

Winter

Winter chores include staying inside and conserving energy.

Replace or clean furnace filters
Turn the blades clockwise on reverse ceiling fans to circulate warm air into rooms.
Close the bibs slightly to allow water to drip out of pipes by turning off interior water valves leading to outdoor fixtures.
To prevent a cold-weather burst, wrap vulnerable pipes in unheated areas or on exterior walls.
Keep heating registers clean to increase airflow
Wait until spring for your return

Spring

Inside

To avoid streaking, wash windows both inside and outside on cloudy days

Vinyl exterior siding and deck can be power washed

Steam clean floors and carpets

Machine wash or dry clean drapes

Cabinet toe kicks and dust baseboards

Deep clean bathroom surfaces. Renew tile grout

Give your stovetop and oven a thorough scrub

Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

The Yard

Cut down shrubs and trees to form and allow the sun in

Collect fallen branches and yard debris and make compost, if you can.

Keep shrubs and plants at least 2 feet from compressors.

After the last frost date, plant summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias

Fertilize and over-seed the lawn after it wakes up

Clean and fix patio furniture

Powerwash patios, walkways, and sidewalks

Home Exterior

Clean gutters and downspouts.

To keep bugs out, repair or replace windows screens

Scrape and touch-up peeling paint

Paint rotten wood trim.

Removing and replacing crumbling bricks and stones

Inspect the foundation and seal cracks

Replace cracked roof shingles or vent collars

Summer

Summer maintenance is about outdoor space and saving money when the weather gets hot.

The Yard

Water your plants deeply twice or three times per week. Then, give your grass some water every day.

Keep the grass mowed as necessary (the length varies depending on the variety). Leave the clippings on your lawn to help decompose the grass and nourish it.

Don't forget to weed the flowerbeds around shrubs. A spray of horticultural vinegar will kill any young weeds.

To encourage continued blooms, use the deadhead flower

Inside

Dust ceiling fans and rotate counterclockwise to create cooling down airflow.

Keep the refrigerator coils clean to maintain efficient cooling

Clean refrigerator door gaskets; replace if necessary

Dehumidify basement to prevent mold and mildew

Replace or clean your air filters to reduce your AC's energy use by up to 15%

Autumn

Winter is near, and you have a few months left to prepare.

Inside

Get a professional to clean and inspect your heating system

Clean the return vents and filter system filters.

Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Repair and inspect the weather stripping around doors, windows, and other areas

To save money, check the insulation around your house.

To maintain chimneys, call a chimney sweep

The Yard

Take out dead plants and remove weeds. Store summer bulbs such as dahlias in a cool place.

For spring color, plant bulbs such as tulips

To help nutrients and water penetrate the grassroots, aerate your lawn

Overseed lawn bald spots

Cover your porch with cushions and clean it.

Clean and empty flower pots and planters

Keep your garden tools clean and organized

Before the first hard freeze, disconnect, drain, and store garden hoses

Home Exterior

Repair caulk around venting and window frames -- heat can escape from any area.

To prevent drafts, replace frayed door sweeps

Clear gutters of fallen leaves

Winter

Winter chores include staying inside and conserving energy.

Replace or clean furnace filters

Turn the blades clockwise on reverse ceiling fans to circulate warm air into rooms.

Close the bibs slightly to allow water to drip out of pipes by turning off interior water valves leading to outdoor fixtures.

To prevent a cold-weather burst, wrap vulnerable pipes in unheated areas or on exterior walls.

Keep heating registers clean to increase airflow

Wait until spring for your return