As the days get shorter and the leaves turn shades of orange, brown, and red, our attention turns to spending more time inside the great indoors. While it’s true that the changing seasons often result in tracking mud and autumn allergens inside, your home cleaning to-do list shouldn’t be the only thing getting attention.
Before the weather turns too cold, it’s important to give your home’s exterior the attention it deserves. This goes beyond cleaning your home’s sides and keeping walkways clear. Going the extra mile to keep your home in top condition will ensure your family stays safe and comfortable all throughout the colder months.
7 Outdoor Jobs You Can’t Skip This Fall
While CottageCare takes care of everything inside your home, you have time to focus on getting your outdoor chores done. Here are the seven chores that should be on your checklist for the fall season.
1. Clean and prepare any outdoor patio furniture and grills for winter.
With the nights getting longer and the temperature dropping lower, your family probably won’t spend any time outside. This means it’s time to give your patio furniture and grill one last cleaning before putting them away for the season. After a thorough cleaning, grills should be covered to prevent long-standing moisture getting in and damaging the metal. You can purchase a grill cover at your local hardware store.
For patio furniture, be sure to clean cushions off with appropriate cleaning products before bringing them in for the winter months. If you can’t store your patio furniture, be sure to cover it to keep the wind and rain from rusting and eroding the metal.
2. Drain and store garden hoses.
When garden hoses are left out for the fall and winter months, they can break down from the cold weather. Water still trapped inside can freeze and break down the rubber from the inside, while the moisture outside can cause your hose to grow mildew, causing cracks and ultimately breaking them.
As part of your fall chore checklist, it’s important to drain all hoses and bring them inside before the cold weather clamps down. Keeping them indoors will prolong their lives and keep them ready to use in the spring.
3. Check and replace weather stripping and caulking as needed.
Without weather stripping and caulking in good condition around your home, cold air can leak in and make it harder to keep a comfortable home. Moreover, your furnace is forced to work harder to keep everyone warm, driving your energy bills higher throughout the fall and winter.
Re-caulking and applying new weather stripping around your home creates a seal that keeps the cold outside, maintaining a safe and energy-efficient interior that everyone can appreciate.
4. Inspect gutters and downspouts.
The late fall and winter often bring wet weather to your home. When the rain and snow fall, the moisture needs to travel down your gutters and away from your walls and foundation — but it can only do so if they are clean and clear. Blocked gutters can prevent water from going where it should, letting it spill over against your house and potentially causing damage in the form of moisture penetration or broken gutters.
Inspecting gutters and downspouts allows you to clean out blockages from animal nests, leaves, and other debris, ensuring the water flows correctly, keeping your family safe.
5. Wash exterior windows.
If you thought washing exterior windows was difficult during the summer, try getting it done when dirt, bugs, and mildew are frozen on your windows. The fall and winter bombards your windows with bitterly cold temperatures, freezing whatever was on your windows in place and making them even harder to clean when everything thaws in the spring.
Washing your exterior windows now means you’ll not only have a great view of the changing seasons, but you’ll also benefit from easier to clean windows in the springtime.
6. Touch up the paint on trim, railings, and deck.
Bare and exposed parts of your trim, railings, and deck are incredibly susceptible to pests burrowing for the winter, as well as moisture seeping into the wood. This can only result in splintering, warping, or chewed away wood when it comes time to enjoy the outdoors in the spring.
Before the weather gets bad, be sure to touch up the paint on any exposed surfaces of your home. A good exterior paint can seal any wood surfaces outside your home, protecting them for not only the fall and winter but years to come.
7. Have the chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary.
Finally, if you have a chimney and plan on using it throughout the fall and winter, it’s critical to get it inspected and cleaned before the season begins. Any blockages in your chimney not only create a serious fire hazard but can also trap carbon monoxide in your home — which can be fatal when you are exposed to the fumes. Cleaning and inspecting your chimney now creates a safe environment for everyone in your family, adding even more happiness to the holidays.
While you take care of the outside of your home, trust the dedicated team at CottageCare to keep the inside of your home sparkling clean, giving you the home of your dreams. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your cleaning, and let our family take care of yours as we enter the most wonderful time of the year.
