Your summer checklist is here! Schedule all the fun you can but don’t forget to schedule some time for some chores so this fall isn’t so overwhelming.
For every month, you will see three category of tasks – reoccurring, maintain, and prep.
Reoccuring tasks are those that pop up more than once a year.
Prep is for those who are way behind in home maintenance chores. I would suggest starting there if that sounds like you and then adding on what you can from reoccurring and then maintain. If you need help with those chores, join our free course, Prep.
The chores listed under Maintain are the chores we are covering in our course.
🔁 Reoccurring Tasks
Monthly
- Check water softener salt levels (if you have one- a must if you have a water heater and a softener.)
- Change HVAC filter (add a reminder to your calendar to check it again in 1 to 3 months.)
- Clean your kitchen disposal and/or drains. It keeps away odors and germs and helps you avoid clogs.
- Run water and/or flush unused toilets and sinks. It keeps water in the p-trap, which prevents sewer gas to seep through.
🛠️ Maintain
It’s hot and August seems to always be busy. So, just one thing on the list this time. If you happen to have a lot of free time, go back over the previous months and tackle anything you missed.
- Clean the refrigerator coils. Bonus points if you clean the outside and inside too while you are at it.
- Note: some newer models claim this does not need to be done. If you notice your fridge is not cooling as you think it should though, google your make and model and “clean coils” and see what comes up.
- Also note: fridges are so different depending on brand and when they were made. I recommend you find out your make and model (How To Find Your Refrigerator’s Model Number | PartSelect). Once found, enter it into YouTube with the words “refrigerator coils” after. You will likely find a video with your model. If not, use google and see if you can find the manual.
- If you have time, go back and do the chores you missed this year or peek in the prep course and see if you have anything left there.
🧰 Prep
Haven’t been keeping up with home maintenance? Keep it simple and just do these tasks to start. These tasks are the one and done tasks you can do that will make future maintenance and DIY task so much easier.
- New? Join one of our orientation sessions
- Check your fire extinguisher placement and charge levels.
- Make a plastic bag dispenser and stash some disposable buckets. Super handy for messy cleanups.
- Clear obstacles from key maintenance spots (attic access, breaker boxes, etc.). No body wants to do two big chores at once! See the Prep course for more on this.
Skills needed for the month
Learn about your fridge
A lot has changed since they were called iceboxes. What is even in there?
Are the coils on the bottom?
Then this is the video for you.
Clever!
No matter where your coils are, you can use his advice to make a tool out of cardboard.