21 Small Simple Things People Should Do to Keep House Picture-Perfect
Owning a home is impressive, but managing it is quite a chore. With many things going on daily, keeping the house clean and safe is challenging. There are many things people should watch out for to keep their homes in check.
1. Empty Toaster Tray
So many people forget to empty the tray filled with crumbs in their toaster, and some don’t even realize they exist. If you don’t clean it, it will attract ants and roaches, and they are going to be more problematic than the crumbs. No one wants that to happen. It’s best to empty the tray after using it.
2. Have a Working Fire Extinguisher
Safety is an important factor in a r home. Every homeowner should own a working fire extinguisher. You never know what can happen in the future, and you want to be prepared all the time. Imagine a fire starting in your home, and you don't have any way of stopping it. What will you do then?
3. Tighten Furniture Screws
Having loose or squeaky furniture can be so annoying, but you can avoid it by tightening the screws all over your house. You should check your tables, chairs, ceiling fans, and door knobs for any loose parts. If it has loose screws, it needs to be tightened. You don’t want anything to come apart.
4. Clean Out Your Range Hood Filter
Every home has an exhaust fan, but not everyone takes care of the range hood filter. If you use your stove often, there is probably a lot of grease, dust, and residue. You should regularly remove and wash out the filter to ensure the oil and dust residue is cleared from your kitchen. The purpose of the range hood is to capture the smoke and odors. If it’s not clean, it loses its function. To improve ventilation, you need to clean it regularly if possible.
5. Empty Your Dryer Filter
It's surprising how many people have yet to learn their dryer has a filter that needs to be cleaned out regularly. If the filter is filled with dust, debris, and fibers, your dryer will struggle to work efficiently. An unclogged dryer filter helps your clothes dry faster, so you should always check before pressing the start button.
6. Wipe Your Doors and Cabinets
Doors and cabinets are the most commonly overlooked areas in people's houses. Unfortunately, they get dirty and can accumulate a lot of oil, debris, and dust. You should use a damp cloth to wipe down all the dirt, smudges, and bacteria to have a cleaner and healthier environment.
7. Wipe Your Walls and Ceilings
The walls and ceilings of your home should be regularly wiped down to ensure they're clean. Your walls can often get as dirty as the floors, with people typically leaning against them, running their arms against them, or causing accidental spills.
8. Have a Working Doorbell
Do you want your guests to stand outside your house for eternity? A working doorbell helps people open the door faster and eliminates the need to knock loudly. You don’t want people knocking loudly to the point that they disturb your neighbors.
9. Clean the Toilet
Cleaning the toilet does not mean you clean just the inside. If you want a pleasant bathroom environment, your toilet needs to be cleaned regularly so that germs and bacteria don’t build up. You should disinfect, scrub, and remove stains and residue inside and outside.
10. Clean the Washing Machine Filter
Every washing machine has a filter that collects dust and lint, but people often forget to clean it. If you want your appliance to last long, you need to take care of it like it’s your own baby. If it isn't regularly cleaned out, it could fill up with lint and debris and won’t work properly anymore.
11. Keep the Shower Heads Working
Ever notice the white buildup around your showerhead? If your shower heads aren't cleaned often, this can lead to clogged nozzles from tap water, bacteria, and mold. It sounds gross, doesn’t it? It’s best to clean the shower head once a month so it can run properly and smoothly.
12. Dust the Tops of Ceiling Fans
People don’t think about cleaning the ceiling fan. It’s so high up near the ceiling that you don’t think about it. However, if you ever clean it, you’ll see how much dust have piled up there. If you want to reduce the amount of dust in your house, you should start with the ceiling fan.
13. Powerwash The Exterior of Your House
Homeowners know it's important to regularly powerwash the outside of their houses. There are moments when you might think your home needs a fresh coat of paint, but the truth is you might need to powerwash to give the exterior of your house a new fresh look.
14. Check the Sink and Tub Drains
Do you smell any odor, hear loud grumbling, or have slow draining? You should check your drain before it gets clogged. You don’t want anything to get clogged badly where you need to hire someone to come fix it. A lot of things can get caught up in the drain.
15. Keep the Kitchen Sink Clean
Sinks often build up fats and gunk from foods that accidentally go down the drain. If you cook regularly, your sink is probably being used a lot. To keep the kitsch sink working smoothly all the time, you should pour a pot of boiling water down the drain to clean it and prevent it from clogging.
16. Vacuum Your Mattress
When we think of vacuuming, we never imagine vacuuming the mattress since you have your bed sheets on. However, your mattress can hold tons of dust, allergens, and dead skin cells you might not know about if you don’t take a look.
17. Check Windows and Doors
Did you know you should check if your windows and doors are doing their job often? There can be cracks or small openings you didn’t know about. You don’t want your cool air to be escaping during a hot summer or your heater to be working harder to keep the house warm during the winter.
18. Vacuum the Carpet
Not many people clean their carpet often, but you should if you don’t want a pile of dirt and allergens to build up. You can vacuum it often and steam when needed to maintain the the carpet.
19. Washing the Dishwasher
Everyone thinks the dishwasher is clean since it can wash itself. However, you are wrong! Food bits can always find its way to nooks and cracks, which can get clogged and leave a bad smells. To keep your dishwasher working with no problems, you need to check it when you can.
20. Declutter the Garage
Does your garage look like a storage room? if it does, it’s time to clean and toss some things away. People tend to pile a lot of junk in the garage when they have no room in their own house, but piling up junk will make your garage feel claustrophobic. Cleaning it will make your garage feel cleaner and spacious.
21. Cleaning upholstery
Not many people clean upholstery, and over time, it accumulates dust, debris, pet dander, and stains. Regularly cleaning your upholstery removes contaminants and prolongs the life of your furniture. It may take time, but it does pay off in terms of air quality and extends the lifespan of your furniture.
She started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, which was freedom, so she decided to venture out. She took action so that she can live her dream life and decided to help people to live theirs by helping them how to save, budget, and invest.
