Seasonal Chores and Checklists

[Honeylioness]

Spring Cleaning Chore / Checklist


It's Spring!


Warming breezes scour the last of winter from house and garden. Spring rain awakens the earth and calls forth new life.

Meet the rising sap with a new broom. Spring clean indoors and out to prepare home and hearth for the return of warm weather.

Our Spring cleaning chore checklist will help you take care of important seasonal chores and welcome Spring to an organized home:

Around The House:

* Schedule a family garage clean-out. Create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment, recreational vehicles, and garden tools. You'll have the jump on summer fun!
* Inspect, clean and repair outdoor furniture.
* Tour house exterior and grounds. Make a list of any needed seasonal maintenance.
* Inspect the roof for winter damage: leaks, missing or broken shingles or tiles. Arrange for any needed repairs early; roofing contractors can be hard to find during summer's construction season.
* Use a sunny Saturday to scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You'll protect wood against Summer's heat and moisture--and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
* Clear away any remaining dead foliage and weeds from beds and lawn. New growth will be protected from damage or disease.
* Begin major Spring landscaping projects. Spring's the time to put in shrubs and trees, but check with your local extension office for specific planting recommendations for your area.

The Inside Story:

* Changing seasons, changing clothes. Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.
* Hold a garage sale! De-clutter house and garage to turn trash into cash. Build your yard sale savvy here.
* Pick a weekend and enlist the family for Spring cleaning. Many hands make light work! Reward the team with dinner at a pizza parlor.
* Wash windows inside and out.
* While at the window area, check drapes and window treatments. Vacuum any dust; send dirtier drapes to the cleaners.
* Move furniture and vacuum beneath it.
* Arrange for a spring inspection of cooling systems. Don't wait for the first hot day! Air conditioning firms will give better service when they're not busy.
* When the weather warms, deactivate heat system humidifiers. Check the system manual for instructions on how to power down for the summer.
* Drain sediment from hot water heaters.


Spring Cleaning Checklists for a Clean House
Posted February 25, 2008 by Cynthia Townley Ewer

Spring cleaning can seem overwhelming, especially if home maintenance has been allowed to slide throughout the year. Doing chores as a routine is easier, but how do you remember what needs doing--and when?

To keep the household running smoothly year-round, establish a home maintenance schedule. If you're an Excel user (version 97 or later), download this free home maintenance schedule template. From Microsoft.com: office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC060904331033.aspx

While you're there, check out this dandy printable housecleaning checklist. Pretty and practical, it'll make chores fly:

Housecleaning Checklist (for Excel 2000 or later) office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC100762411033.aspx

[Honeylioness]

Summer Cleaning Chore / Checklist

Summer's here, hot, high and sweaty. Vacations beckon. The garden takes on a life of its own.

Busy families don't have much time for home chores these months. School's out, travel's in and it's easy to let life slide on the home front.

Still, summer will run more smoothly if you keep tabs on these important areas in the Summer Cleaning Chore Checklist.

Our checklist list tackles hot-weather issues, summer health and safety:

Around the house:

* Think ahead to fall. Schedule furnace maintenance now and beat the October rush. You'll be snug and warm that first cold night.
* Pest patrol: inspect yard and garden for carpenter ants or termites. Call an exterminator if you see signs of infestation. Beware of fire ants in the South! If you see telltale mounds, treat with grits or borax. Keep borax away from children.
* Keep tabs on decks, siding and trim. Will you need to perform touch-up work before winter? Order paint and be ready for the first cooler days of early autumn.
* Control garbage can odor with a can clean-out. Rinse garbage cans with a hose, dump the water, then spray with disinfectant. Let the cans sit for 10 minutes, then rinse again. Turn upside down to dry.
* Inspect gutters, and clean out any leafy debris. Summer thunderstorms won't faze you if your gutters are in good working order.
* Make a safety inspection of children's outdoor play equipment. Tighten loose bolts and cover with plastic protectors.

The Inside Story:
* Late summer is a slow time for home maintenance and cleaning companies. Look for summer discounts from carpet cleaners, gutter installers, and window washing firms, and get the jump on fall cleaning!
* Prepare the medicine chest and first aid kit for summer's little medical emergencies. In the bathroom, dispose of outdated medication as recommended by local health authorities. Be sure the first aid kit has ample adhesive bandages for scrapes, calamine lotion for insect bites, and hot/cold packs for strains or sprains. Print a first-aid kit checklist for your Household Notebook.
* Make an emergency list for baby-sitters and school kids on vacation. Print an emergency numbers page to post by each household telephone. Include phone numbers for the fire department, police, poison control, and ambulance. Don't forget numbers for parents at work, a family contact, and nearby neighbors. Be sure to write the home address on the list; it will aid rescuers if help is needed.
* Print vacation packing lists for family travel. Include one list for each family member. Between vacation trips, store the lists inside the luggage or add them to your Household Notebook.
* Tackle patio and sliding door tracks. Summer is open-door season, so be sure your doors open smoothly. Grab a bottle of all-purpose (de-greasing) cleaner, a screwdriver and lots of rags. Spray the tracks generously and let sit for a few minutes to soften. Wrap the screwdriver with a rag, and make several careful passes along the track to get out the gunk.
* Check washing machine hoses. Replace them if you find cracks or bulges--or if they're over two years old.
* Hold a garage sale! De-clutter house and garage to turn cash to trash. Build your yard sale savvy here.

[Honeylioness]

Autumn Cleaning Chore / Checklist


It's Autumn.

Pumpkins glow in golden fields. Shorter days, crisp mornings signal winter's approach.

Can the holidays be far behind?

Use Autumn's brisk and breezy days to conquer deep-cleaning chores for a clean and comfortable winter home, and wrap up summer's outdoor areas for the coming of cold weather.

Our Fall Cleaning Chore Checklist will help you prepare home and hearth for the coming of winter:

Out and About:

Time to come inside for winter! Outside the house, tend to these autumn chores:

* Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, children's summer toys.
* Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
* Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer's recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
* Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.
* Wash exterior windows.
* Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
* Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cable to prevent ice dams.
* Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

The Inside Story

Autumn's the time for "spring cleaning". Deep clean now to take advantage of good weather. Face the coming of winter and the approaching holidays with a clean and comfortable home.

Learn how to clean efficiently! Check our Clean House Guide for more information on how to clean fast and furious.

[Honeylioness]

Winter Cleaning / Chore / Preparedness / Checklist

When wintry weather blows, will your family be prepared?

Take time now to review your family's emergency preparedness with our Winter Preparedness Checklist. It'll help you prepare your home and automobile for cold-weather hazards.

Out and About:

Will your home welcome winter visitors safely? Be prepared for snow, ice or rain on walks and driveways with:

* Snow shovel
* De-icing compound
* Waterproof floor mats

The Inside Story

Household emergency supplies should include enough food, water and supplies to last four days without power or help. Check your home emergency kit against this basic checklist:

* Food that doesn't require heating or refrigeration, such as canned meats, soups and stews, cereal, and energy bars
* Manual can opener
* Paper plates, cups and plastic utensils
* 1 gallon of water per person per day (allow enough for four days)
* Flashlights and batteries
* Battery-powered radio
* Battery-powered clock
* Cellular phone
* First-aid kit (printable first-aid kit checklist)
* Four-day supply of prescription medicines
* Blanket and cold-weather clothing for each family member
* Pet food and additional water for household pets

On The Road:

Winter transportation can mean ice, snow, and hazardous roads. Road conditions can change in an instant. Before traveling, give cars a winter preparedness exam:

* Check antifreeze
* Check and replace older batteries
* Remember to keep the gas tank near full to avoid freezing water in the fuel line
* Check tires and spare tire for proper inflation

Make sure automobiles contain the following emergency supplies:

* Bag of sand, road salt or non-clumping cat litter. The bag's extra weight means better traction, and the contents can be spread under slipping tires.
* Ice scraper
* Jumper cables
* Small shovel (to dig snow away from wheels, or scatter sand on roadway)
* Tire chains (every driver should practice putting them on)
* Flares or reflective triangle to warn other motorists if you break down
* Blanket
* Flashlight and batteries
* Gallon jug of drinking water
* First aid kit (printable first-aid kit checklist)

When traveling by car, include emergency food and clothing for each traveler. Pack supplies in a backpack in case you need to abandon your car. An emergency backpack should include:

* Jacket, hat, gloves and sturdy, snow-proof boots for each traveler
* Nonperishable food
* Cellular phone
* Money