Weekly Home Maintenance Items You Should not Miss

The purchase of a house and lot in the Philippines are two of the best investments that Filipinos who have achieved financial freedom make as proof of their relentless hard work. When it comes to renting and selling properties, real estate property value appreciates over time, so there's all the more reason to seal a property purchase.

But after fulfilling a dream house for the family, there comes the responsibility of home maintenance. In this article, Lumina Homes will detail an ultimate home maintenance checklist for homeowners who need a guide for their weekly cleaning endeavor.

10 Weekly Home Maintenance Items Checklist

Countries like the United States that experience winter have more home maintenance to do when the snow weather comes, such as the laborious chore of cleaning up ice dams building up at the bottom of a house roof. Massive cleaning usually begins during spring, prompting people to call it "spring cleaning" after houses have just undergone the wrath of winter, as well as in preparation for a scorching summer heat and humidity.

While we only have warm and cold weather in the Philippines, cleaning is not any less arduous and backbreaking for many Pinoys. Below is a guide to kickstart your weekly regular maintenance for your humble dwelling place.

1. Floors

It's a no-brainer that almost any cleaning venture begins with vacuuming the floors or mopping the tiles. If you have rugs and thick carpets, vacuuming them to eliminate dust particles and pet hair is a must every week. Leaving your rugs and carpets uncleaned will lead to issues involving home hygiene and would even be detrimental to you and your entire family's health. So it's good to start with an area receiving the most foot traffic before proceeding to hard-to-reach corners of the house.

2. Windows

Clouds of dust and house insects also tend to gather around your windows. Needless to say, cleaning them is an absolute necessity. You can use a pail of water mixed with a minuscule amount of dishwashing liquid, then start by wiping the window frame using a terrycloth. Then, clean the glass with a scrubber dipped into the water bucket. Make sure to squeeze the window scrubber, as excess water could ruin your window cleaning. Finally, dry the windows with a rubber squeegee. After every gentle glass scrub, dry your squeegee with a separate terrycloth.

3. Doors

To address gaps and cracks in doors and windows, apply weather stripping. If you already had one installed, check if the material has become compressed after quite some time, which may necessitate replacement. Weatherstripping is helpful in keeping cool air in. You can apply this anywhere in the house which can cause a draft. For your garage door, meanwhile, apply oil on door hinges, handles, and locks to keep them working properly and smoothly.

4. Stovetop

You cook meals every day, or even if you don't, your stovetop in the kitchen is bound to catch grease. Not cleaning it over an extended period of time could damage the appliance or significantly shorten its lifespan. Initiate cleaning by wiping down the surface area with a clean, damp cloth. Sanitize the stovetop using a soft sponge mixed with a dishwashing liquid or dish soap. Depending on how greasy the surface has become, you can also apply a mix of baking soda and white vinegar and let them sit for a while before wiping the area again completely. The same can be done with the burners to avoid corrosion.

5. Refrigerator

It may seem like your fridge is perfectly fine and does not warrant an inclusion from your home maintenance items list, but this is simply wrong. Cleaning the refrigerator means, for one, taking out spoiled food items to remove foul smells that may waft off over time; food spills that stain the interior surfaces, et cetera. A clean fridge would smell fresh and clean as new. Also, rearranging items and contents inside the fridge will help you in making your grocery list of items you no longer have supplies of.

To properly clean your fridge, turn it off and remove all its contents. Wipe your fridge interiors using a soft cloth with soapy water. Then rinse with clean water afterward. Make sure to also thoroughly wipe all surfaces inside the fridge, such as drawers that are not removable. Just as equally important to sanitize and clean is the refrigerator's exteriors, which include dusting off the top part, vacuuming underneath, and wiping down the front surface and door handle for sanitizing.

6. Other appliances

Air conditioning unit. Air conditioners can break down and work inefficiently if they are not maintained well or cleaned up. Some would hire a trained professional, but cleaning it can be DIY-ed. For starters, unscrew the removable outer panel of your AC unit, then remove any airflow-restricting dust by using a soft brush ever so gently to clean up the fins and fan blades. Using plain water without relying on any detergent would suffice to thoroughly clean it if it's just dusty. For the fan blades, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe them down. The electrical units of the AC, meanwhile, can be cleaned simply with a feather duster.

Smoke detectors. A smart home comprises security devices that make it thoroughly functional and free from theft and any fire hazard. If you have these employed in your home, including carbon monoxide detectors, make sure to have them checked and inspected, and determine if they require battery exchange, or replacement altogether if your budget allows it. It's an investment that may seem costly at first, but it's actually life-saving if the unfortunate happens.

Air filters. There are both disposable and reusable air filters. But ideally, air filters are better off replaced after 1-3 months, especially if dirt started piling up inside the air filtration device, or if there is damage that developed already. Having a clean air filter helps with your home's air quality, as well as reduces energy consumption.

Water heater. If you have this at home, inspecting it for leaks is a cleaning essential. Experts recommend that water heaters must be drained completely once a year. The buildup of sediment on an electric water heater can cause failure in the appliance's heating element. Draining is one way to lower your electricity bills and extend the water heater's durability.

Dryer vent. This is key to getting your clothes dryer to function properly and efficiently. Without this, it may even cause your dryer to catch fire. Cleaning it by vacuuming lint that may have stuck in it is key to keeping and maintaining its aid in the drying of your clothes.

Fans. When the weather warms, as is mostly the case in the Philippines, ceiling fans are constantly switched on, making them vulnerable to the accumulation of dust over time. If you have spare stand fans and an AC, turn them on in the meantime to clean your ceiling fans with a duster or a clean wet cloth. The same applies to your stand or desk fans. Do not forget to check your fan's manufacturer's user manual to make sure that you're doing the cleaning properly for safety.

7. Pet bowls

If you are a pet parent, do not forget to thoroughly clean your fur babies' food bowls. This ensures that your pets are eating from bowls that will not cause them a veterinary visit for an upset stomach or any related illness. So clean it with hot and soapy water to ensure optimum cleanliness.

8. Trash cans

Litter boxes are definitely a big part of your cleaning. This is where you transfer dirt, dust, and other accumulated particles from your cleaning and vacuuming session. But after transferring its contents to a garbage bag, your trash can also needs to be cleaned and sanitized after serving its purpose. This is to ensure that your trash can is completely free from any particles that can cause hygiene issues and even illnesses if they were not completely ridden off from your last vacuuming.

9. Sinks and drains

Kitchen and bathroom sinks can be best cleaned up and sanitized with hot water. Using an oven glove, pour the hot water down the drain. To ensure thorough cleaning, put one cup of baking soda into the drain and rinse again with hot water. To fight off any foul odor, proceed with pouring lemon juice or white vinegar, which is a natural cleaning agent, down the sink and drain. After half an hour, complete the deed with hot water.

10. Your lawn

Besides your house's interiors, your yard also deserves a spot for your weekly cleaning session. A clean-looking yard is a sign that visitors and property seekers are in for a treat by the time they set foot inside the property, since the front yard already looks fine and presentable, especially if you are not entirely dismissing the prospect of selling your house in the future. Start by purging your yard of trash and branches. Then trim your trees and bushes, and rake up leaves into a pile which you could then use as a base for your compost bin. Wet your walkways with a hose, then use your garden bed edger to clean up the walkways.

Maintain your Lumina Homes Just in Time for the Holiday Season

It's that highly anticipated time of the year again when every homeowner decorates their abodes with Christmas trees and lanterns to have a feel of the holiday season. If you haven't done any massive cleaning sessions yet, now is the time to do some whole-body exercises by implementing a cleaning session over the weekend, or during your free time.

Meanwhile, if you're eyeing the prospect of purchasing an affordable house and lot for sale just in time for Christmas, Lumina Homes is a trusted real estate brand with a 10-year experience of providing an affordable house and lot with zero compromise on the quality of property features and location essentials. Don't hesitate to drop us your inquiries on a real estate investment this holiday season and we'd be more than happy to serve your needs.