I bought my first house about 10 years ago. It was around the corner from where I am now. I loved it. I loved it until one night, I was trapped inside. Urban wildlife. Possums were on the roof of my garage, a skunk family took up under my porch and a godforsaken raccoon was humping my back railing. I swear to god, when I smashed on the window to get him to stop, he looked at me like, ‘dude, I am so not finished here…’. He wasn’t finished, but I was.
I decided that home ownership was too much for me. The lawn work, the crap apple tree. I have nightmares about that tree.
So I sold it and moved into a loft. There I could drive in to my underground spot, elevator up to my suite and worry about nothing. It was a rockstar way of life. Then I decided to have a baby. A baby in a loft would have been a special kind of hell that I didn’t need.
I packed up and moved again. To a townhouse. Whoa! Best of all worlds! I had grass that I didn’t have to cut. A driveway that I didn’t have to shovel. But I also had crazy people trying to jump out of windows across the street, 4000 kids with no curfew hanging out in front and a really well-timed, first night of occupancy drug deal going down on the corner.
So now finally, I’m in my dream house. I have a lawn, but it’s turf, so no mowing. The only big trees are lilacs, which have beautiful flowers and no rotting fruit.
I’m staying in this house. Not only do I love it but I have no inclination to pay any more land transfer taxes for a while. But, I’m realizing that when you live somewhere longer than two years, you have to do some maintenance.
Yesterday, I spent a couple hours washing my bbq*. Ummm disgusting. I also dropped some cash to get my windows cleaned. Best. Money. Ever. Spent. Holy crap – they are beautiful!
Will and I will be turning to Mr. Noodle soon as our fence is going to have to be redone and likely our chimney. Okay. That’s what you get for owning a home rather than renting. But for me, it’s the little things that you have no idea you’re supposed to maintain or clean that worry me.
SO! I’m coming to you for help since it’s Spring Cleaning time!
Example? I never knew about changing a furnace filter. Really? (I also just learned how you know how much air to put in your tires…and that there is an arrow on your car’s gas indicator pointing to the side that your tank is on! Who knew?!)
What other house things don’t I know about? Do you have a spring cleaning checklist?
Give me some insights and ideas!
*This was NOT my bbq…BUT it wasn’t far off*
bleeding rads!
sharpen dull knives! (not house but accessory to house)
go on a date with a wonderful man (a form of spring cleaning)
that’s all I have got
Oooh that was my sister but thanks! And I’m TOTALLY going to do that! thanks!
get in there with a screwdriver. take the inside front off the door, check in there…pull the dryer out, take off the back, check in there…check the hose. you’ll be quite impressed (grossed out, freaked out) by how much lint is there.
(by the way, nice article in the star!) 🙂
wait dryer vents…different than lint traps? how do I clean them???
dryer vents….check’em NOW!!!!!
Do you have a fire place, make sure you get that checked every couple of years!! You also need to check out Christine’s post regarding all the new Clorox innovated technology!!!;)
I am with you Sara, I am never moving again….unless I have to:(
While we rent, we take care of the house like its ours, so this weekend is using the shoulder season to transfer all the crap from the basement into the shed.
Our BBQ could use a good cleaning though, you available?
J.
Furnace filter- I have to change mine every month. there are different types of filters depending on your needs. no pets – you could probably do every 3 months.
Dust- dust the top of all your windows, doors, kitchen cabinets (the top ones)anything that has a ledge that dust can settle on.
-clean the stove top fan….lots of grease collects in there
– have you ever had your ducts cleaned? should be done between 5- to 10 yrs, depending on renovations, pets, etc….
– eavsdrops- had those cleared of all the leaves?
-rotate your mattresses….so they get used evenly.
– clean out your drawers….take the clothes out, wipe it, put in a dryer sheet, and sort through the clothes you don’t wear….give them to charity.
closest- clear out the shoes and coats you don’t wear and clean the inside of the closet.
– clean all your cupboards….wipe them….you’ll see how messy it can all be.
– wash your walls and ceiling- get rid of cob webs you didn’t know existed.
Is that enough? 🙂 Some of my family out in the east coast- spring cleaning is doing all of the above room by room. Wash the ceiling, the walls, the cupboards, light fixtures, closets, baseboards, etc….wash every surface of the house that exists.