Photo of replace or clean furnace filter

Maintenance Checklists for Your Home

Browse our list of maintenance, yardwork, and cleaning tasks to keep your home in tip-top shape. Keeping up with maintenance saves money by reducing fix-it costs, keeps the home healthy, ensures a safe environment, and maintains the value of your home.

Type:

All Maintenance Yardwork Cleaning

Season:

All

Flush water in hot water heaters

Flush water in hot water heaters

Inspect all water valves

Inspect all water valves

Inspect automatic garage door safety shutoff

Inspect automatic garage door safety shutoff

Test ground fault interrupter outlets

Test ground fault interrupter outlets

Inspect caulking in bathrooms

Inspect caulking in bathrooms

Check exterior railings on balconies and decks

Check exterior railings on balconies and decks

Maintain the whole house water filter/conditioner system

Maintain the whole house water filter/conditioner system

Inspect heating and cooling systems

Inspect heating and cooling systems

Steam clean carpets

Steam clean carpets

Steam clean tile flooring

Steam clean tile flooring

Inspect exterior siding, decks, and trim

Inspect exterior siding, decks, and trim

Remove mineral deposits from shower heads & faucets

Remove mineral deposits from shower heads & faucets

Check water lines in the ice maker in the refrigerator

Check water lines in the ice maker in the refrigerator

Professionally clean all windows

Professionally clean all windows

Remove lint from dryer exhaust duct

Remove lint from dryer exhaust duct

Inspect exterior caulking

Inspect exterior caulking

Inspect attic air vents

Inspect attic air vents

Reseal stone surfaces

Reseal stone surfaces

Inspect roof for damage

Inspect roof for damage

Reseal grout

Reseal grout

Turn on automatic sprinklers

Turn on automatic sprinklers

Inspect your electrical systems

Inspect your electrical systems

Wash exterior windows and screens

Wash exterior windows and screens

Pressure wash decks, patios and driveways

Pressure wash decks, patios and driveways

Prepare garden beds for planting

Prepare garden beds for planting

Clean, sharpen and oil power tools

Clean, sharpen and oil power tools

Check dishwasher water connections

Check dishwasher water connections

Refinish or clean patio furniture

Refinish or clean patio furniture

Seal exterior wooden decks and balconies

Seal exterior wooden decks and balconies

Check water shutoff valves are working

Check water shutoff valves are working

Vacuum vents

Vacuum vents

Reactive outdoor faucets and hose bibbs

Reactive outdoor faucets and hose bibbs

Clean and condition your outdoor grill

Clean and condition your outdoor grill

Clean debris in vents in attic and crawl spaces

Clean debris in vents in attic and crawl spaces

Open the pool for the summer

Open the pool for the summer

Inspect the fence around the pool

Inspect the fence around the pool

Trim shrubs around air conditioning units

Trim shrubs around air conditioning units

Replace batteries in smoke detectors

Replace batteries in smoke detectors

Clean dust from thermostats and replace batteries

Clean dust from thermostats and replace batteries

Replace batteries in carbon monoxide detectors

Replace batteries in carbon monoxide detectors

Inspect grading around the house

Inspect grading around the house

Check the fireplace damper is working

Check the fireplace damper is working

Fertilize the lawn in spring

Fertilize the lawn in spring

Clean wood burning fireplace and flue

Clean wood burning fireplace and flue

Inspect hoses for the washing machine

Inspect hoses for the washing machine

Insulate outdoor pipes

Insulate outdoor pipes

Inspect snow blower to ensure proper operation

Inspect snow blower to ensure proper operation

Inspect exterior gates and fences

Inspect exterior gates and fences

Check fire extinguishers pressure

Check fire extinguishers pressure

Sweeping snow from shallow roofs

Sweeping snow from shallow roofs

Sprinkle sand or salt for traction

Sprinkle sand or salt for traction

Check the attic for leaks

Check the attic for leaks

Knock snow off tree branches

Knock snow off tree branches

Fertilize the lawn in summer

Fertilize the lawn in summer

Replace winter bedding with spring/summer bedding

Replace winter bedding with spring/summer bedding

Check forced air ducts in the attic

Check forced air ducts in the attic

Check roof and gutters for ice dams

Check roof and gutters for ice dams

Clean and store humidifiers

Clean and store humidifiers

Lubricate garage door

Lubricate garage door

Inspect crawl space for water accumulation

Inspect crawl space for water accumulation

Inspect attic for leaks during heavy rain

Inspect attic for leaks during heavy rain

Clean bathroom exhaust fan

Clean bathroom exhaust fan

Replace or clean furnace filter

Replace or clean furnace filter

Fertilize the lawn in late summer

Fertilize the lawn in late summer

Clean patio furniture for winter storage

Clean patio furniture for winter storage

Clean refrigerator cooling coils and grill

Clean refrigerator cooling coils and grill

Sharpen and clean garbage disposal

Sharpen and clean garbage disposal

Replace central air conditioning filters

Replace central air conditioning filters

Trim shrubs away from siding

Trim shrubs away from siding

Wash ventilation hood filters

Wash ventilation hood filters

Clean out your air ducts

Clean out your air ducts

Clean out debris from your central vacuum system

Clean out debris from your central vacuum system

Check sump pumps

Check sump pumps

Close the pool for the winter

Close the pool for the winter

Prune tree branches and limbs

Prune tree branches and limbs

Replace wash machine water supply hose

Replace wash machine water supply hose

Remove debris from gutters and downspouts

Remove debris from gutters and downspouts

Steam clean upholstery

Steam clean upholstery

Wrap roses and fragile shrubs

Wrap roses and fragile shrubs

Turn off automatic sprinklers

Turn off automatic sprinklers

Chop wood for wood burning fireplaces

Chop wood for wood burning fireplaces

Create a compost pile for your leaves

Create a compost pile for your leaves

Deadhead annual and perennial flowers

Deadhead annual and perennial flowers

Make sure exterior drains are not clogged

Make sure exterior drains are not clogged

Spray for pest control around the home

Spray for pest control around the home

Prune trees and shrubs

Prune trees and shrubs

Reorganize closets giving away unwanted items

Reorganize closets giving away unwanted items

Replace spring/summer bedding with winter bedding

Replace spring/summer bedding with winter bedding

Clean out debris and brush pool side walls

Clean out debris and brush pool side walls

Check the pool water quality

Check the pool water quality

Clean all electronics

Clean all electronics

Clean garage

Clean garage

Clean cabinets and interior shelving and doors

Clean cabinets and interior shelving and doors

Wax wood furniture

Wax wood furniture

Replace baking soda in refrigerator and freezer

Replace baking soda in refrigerator and freezer

Flip all mattresses

Flip all mattresses

Vacuum mattresses, box springs and bed frames

Vacuum mattresses, box springs and bed frames

Clean hanging pot rack and polish copper

Clean hanging pot rack and polish copper

Organize pantry and discard expired food

Organize pantry and discard expired food

Oil window and door hinges

Oil window and door hinges

Dust shelves and storage bins

Dust shelves and storage bins

Vacuum window treatments, moldings and windowsills

Vacuum window treatments, moldings and windowsills

Make the bed

Make the bed

Scrub grout

Scrub grout

Clean computer equipment

Clean computer equipment

Wipe insides of medicine cabinets

Wipe insides of medicine cabinets

Discard magazine and catalogs

Discard magazine and catalogs

Wipe all kitchen surfaces

Wipe all kitchen surfaces

Replace or refill all soap dispensers

Replace or refill all soap dispensers

Wipe telephones

Wipe telephones

Discard food and beverages past their prime

Discard food and beverages past their prime

Professionally clean all draperies

Professionally clean all draperies

Dust the tops and spines of books and shelves

Dust the tops and spines of books and shelves

Flush drain with boiling water or cleaning solution

Flush drain with boiling water or cleaning solution

Launder machine-washable throw rugs and runners

Launder machine-washable throw rugs and runners

Clean stove

Clean stove

Vacuum upholstery

Vacuum upholstery

Clean the shelves of the refrigerator and freezer

Clean the shelves of the refrigerator and freezer

Mop floors

Mop floors

Dust staircase and banisters

Dust staircase and banisters

Clean ovens

Clean ovens

Change and launder sheets and pillowcases

Change and launder sheets and pillowcases

Dust light fixtures

Dust light fixtures

Clean the inside of your dishwasher

Clean the inside of your dishwasher

Clean toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks.

Clean toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks.

Dust and clean all hard wood floors

Dust and clean all hard wood floors

Clean and brush pool table felt

Clean and brush pool table felt

Replace shower curtain liners

Replace shower curtain liners

Take all recycling to central location

Take all recycling to central location

Clean baseboards, doorways and moldings

Clean baseboards, doorways and moldings

Sweep the kitchen floor

Sweep the kitchen floor

Wipe and clean all exercise equipment

Wipe and clean all exercise equipment

Dust furniture and light fixtures

Dust furniture and light fixtures

Clean leather furniture

Clean leather furniture

Launder duvet covers, pillow protectors, mattress pads and shams

Launder duvet covers, pillow protectors, mattress pads an...

Inspect the carpet and remove any stains

Inspect the carpet and remove any stains

Wipe mirrors

Wipe mirrors

Wipe hand and pet prints from windows and glass doors

Wipe hand and pet prints from windows and glass doors

Wipe switch plates

Wipe switch plates

Wipe the inside of the oven, microwave, and toaster oven

Wipe the inside of the oven, microwave, and toaster oven

Clean the inside of the washer and dryer

Clean the inside of the washer and dryer

Change and launder bath mats and towels.

Change and launder bath mats and towels.

Wash all glassware on open shelves

Wash all glassware on open shelves

Gently dust your lampshades

Gently dust your lampshades

Wipe interior and exterior doors and trim

Wipe interior and exterior doors and trim

Dust radiators

Dust radiators

Polish metal door and window hardware

Polish metal door and window hardware

Wipe and dust ceiling fans and portable fans

Wipe and dust ceiling fans and portable fans

Clean all of your small appliances

Clean all of your small appliances

Wipe and dust all blinds and shutters

Wipe and dust all blinds and shutters

Clean attic and basement and donate unwanted items.

Clean attic and basement and donate unwanted items.

Empty trash bins and wipe inside and out

Empty trash bins and wipe inside and out

Wipe kitchen ceiling

Wipe kitchen ceiling

Vacuum floors

Vacuum floors

Fluff and rotate sofa cushions

Fluff and rotate sofa cushions

Water all houseplants

Water all houseplants