HI AGAIN EVERYBODY, CHRIS TOWN HERE, OWNER OF TOWN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT AND HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH SOME COOL HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR YOU. IF I CAN HELP YOU SAVE SOME TIME, SAVE A BUCK OR TWO LIKE ME, THEN WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
I will give some solutions and tips on how to keep certain parts of your home maintenance-free and help reduce any future workloads to achieve this. Of course, we all know very few things in life are maintenance-free and in order to get things done around the house, you have to put some time and effort into it. Prevention is one of the main keys to home maintenance. Remember what your dad or mom may have said to you, especially my dad, always take care of smaller problems before it gets to be a bigger problem.
Do yourself a big favor and make a maintenance schedule…for example.
1: Maintenance for toilet bowl tank every 4 months – last maintenance 2/5/2021
2: … and so on!
Actually keeping a reminder list on just about anything is not only helpful but an incredible stress reliever for your brain, for sure.
Products you should have:
Best low cost and safe maintenance cleaners you need to purchase are just around the corner:
1 gallon of vinegar – a large box of baking soda – box of salt – large bottle of Dawn dishwashing detergent
Large can of WD-40 Lubricator (blue and yellow can, red top) and finally 2 or 3 really good quality quart size spray bottles
Inspect, clean, and lubricate the gasket in your frig:
It might be a smart idea to pay more attention to the seal around the perimeter of your refrigerator door. That rubber or plastic strip is essential to helping your fridge run optimally. That door gasket or the seal can get dirty or worn out over time. Use warm water and Dawn dishwashing detergent on a sponge to gently scrub any dirt off the door seal. A small brush also may be needed as well. After cleaning, spray a very small amount of WD-40 Lubricator on a cloth and wipe the door seal. To test whether the seal is tight enough, close a dollar bill in the door so that it is half in and half out of your fridge. If your gasket isn’t tight enough, it won’t hold the ball firmly in place. if this is the case, you should look into replacing the seal ASAP. This could save you some $ in electricity and extend the life of your frig. The seal should be inspected every 4 months or so.
(Some info Courtesy of mental floss )
Vacuum the condenser coils of your frig once every six months:
Your refrigerator’s condenser coils release heat, making the compressor run. When dust, dirt, and pet hair gather around the condenser coils, the system overheats, the compressor breaks down, and your refrigerator can’t keep your food cold.
(Some Info Courtesy of mental floss)
The No-Shoes-In-The-House Rule (A major cause of rug stains and floor scratches):
Yup, a real touchy subject for some, but it will save you hours of cleaning and your carpets and floors will thank you for it. My family is OK with it,
but my guests think it’s weird or inconvenient. Also when uncle Bernie comes over his feet stink so he keeps his shoes on.
Here is what I do to solve the problem for your Guests:
Buy a simple 2 or 3 shelf roll-a-round for the front door and one for the back entryway for parking shoes. I have a small stool so ladies
can sit as well to take off their shoes. The men can keep their socks on but for the women, I have a basket of throw-away slippers or thongs they can use.
Also, I have a sign outside my door saying “Please take your shoes off after entering“.
For stinky feet, I keep a can of foot deodorant in the basket as well.
How to keep your household water drains clean and clear:
For cleaning bathroom drains, ordinary table salt and baking soda can be very effective. Pour at least one tablespoon of salt into your bathroom drain followed by 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda, and let it sit for an hour. Then, run hot water to clear out the loosened substances from the drain. For best results, do this a second time.
Grease build-up in your kitchen sink drain can be remedied with Dawn dishwashing detergent, vinegar and a lot of boiling water. Put a big pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Apply at least a 1/4 cup of Dawn dishwashing detergent and vinegar directly into your drain. Pour the boiling water into the drain, just a little at a time. The rapidly boiling water will melt grease deposits while the Dawn dishwashing detergent helps to dissolve grease and oil and allow the boiling water to flush it away. If the grease build-up is substantial, repeat this process two to three more times and you should be good to go.
(Some Info Courtesy of apple wood fix it)
Clean that garbage disposal every week!
Fill your garbage disposal with baking soda, salt, and ice cubes. Then, with the cold water running, turn your garbage disposal on until the ice is gone. Salt scrubs the blades while ice helps knock off any gunk and grime. Coarse salt works best, so look to rock or sea salt if you have either on hand. Then follow up with baking soda, that to help deodorize and create a fresh-smelling scent, of course!
Flush out your water heater:
Once a year, you’ll need to drain your water heater or have a professional plumber come in to do it. Draining your water heater will flush out any minerals or debris in the system, ensuring it runs more efficiently.
If you’re feeling up to the task, AllState Insurance (https://www.allstate.com/tr/home-insurance/tips-maintaining-water-heater.aspx), has a step by step guide for draining the water heater yourself.
“Town Tip” by Chris Town
Did you know most people just clean their vacuum cleaner filters and not the vacuum cleaner hoses!
Not cleaning the hoses can put excess stress on the motor lowering the life dramatically of your cleaner.
Use 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of Dawn dishwashing detergent and pour it into the hose, and let it sit inside for 1/2 hour. Then, run hot water to clear out the loosened substances and rinse/drain. If you haven’t done this, like forever, then please repeat the process until you see no dirt flushing out.
“Town Tip” by Chris Town
Did you know that using WD-40 Lubricator on door and cabinet hinges and keep them from squeaking… Also use it for all your indoor/outdoor keyholes and locks, especially during the winter months. These keyholes and locks may tend to freeze over, so applying a small squirt will solve your problem and keeping them at top performance for sure
Hint: your car keyhole is a perfect place to start with!!!
Remember when using WD-40 Lubricator use a very small amount when applying and have a rag just in case of any run-off.
“Be good to your house and your house will be good to you:
For me, the key to life is to be healthy, happy and to spend less time cleaning.”
All solutions for home living have some advantages and disadvantages…“There are no perfect solutions out there, only the ones that are perfect and work for you.”
Chris Town/
