Fall fix-ups
There’s a lot to love about autumn – crisp, dry air; blue skies; brilliant foliage; great new movies; fabulous boots and bags (hey, even a DIY expert has to have style!). Along with all the benefits of the year’s most colorful and cozy season comes a whole list of chores and tasks to be completed before the snow flies and the temperature dips. Here’s my annual list of fall clean up and prep jobs. You can make short work of many of these jobs – but to make it even easier enlist the help of a friend , boyfriend or spouse and break up the list over a couple of days or weekends. When you’re done you’ll be ready to enjoy the coming months in a comfortable house, and free of worry and nagging to-do lists!
- Scrub and cover or store outdoor furniture and grills. Use a mild soap and water solution and a soft sponge to wash furniture, and follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your grill. Next, protect everything with specially made covers or tarp – or if you have room, place outdoor gear in your basement or storage room. www.patiofurniturecovers.com sells vinyl covers for all sorts of outdoor furnishings, starting at as little as $20 for a chair cover, and $28 for a grill cover.
- Clean out garden beds and pots. Cut back or deadhead perennials and remove dead or fading annuals. Mulch around perennials and shrubs. Get rid of weeds, and fertilize beds and grass lawns – and then plant bulbs for next spring. Alliums and daffodils are less likely than tulips to fall prey to hungry squirrels, deer, rabbits and other pests.
- Wash the exterior of your house. Make the inside and outside of your windows sparkle with a “green” solution of vinegar, water and a few drops of a mild liquid soap. Use a clean rag made from an old tee shirt for a lint and streak-free shine. Rent a power washer and give your deck a good wash down. Once it is thoroughly dry (you may need to wait a few days) reseal it. SoyGuard makes an environmentally safe, fume free sealer for wooden decks. Make sure your home’s siding and foundation are clean as well – and while you’re getting rid of dirt check for cracks, peeling paint and other problems and fix them yourself or call in a professional for more challenging jobs.
- Repair concrete, asphalt, and paved stone or brick sidewalks, walkways, steps, patios, terraces, and driveways. Check for and repair cracks, “pot holes”, or other damage that can worsen during the cold months and present a hazard for pedestrians – including you. Small cracks can be cleaned and filled with a quick drying filler. Large cracks and holes may need to be dug out and cleaned, then filled with whatever material the surface is covered with.
- Remove air conditioning units from windows. Once they have been taken out, remove, clean and then replace filters. If you have central air, have it serviced and cleaned now.
- Make your house snug and cozy. Heating costs are not going to be lower in winter – even if prices go down this is peak heating season. Save money and energy by ensuring your house is tight and sealed and your heating system is in topnotch condition. First, make sure there are no leaks around windows and doors by caulking and applying self-adhesive weather stripping – both available inexpensively at hardware stores. Replace storm doors and windows (and take down and store screen doors and windows). Make sure the filter in your heating system has been cleaned or replaced (depending on your system).
- Refresh your bedroom. Now is the time to flip and turn your mattress. First, strip the bed, and then vacuum the side that’s up, then flip and turn and vacuum the “new” side. Wash or have your window treatments cleaned. If you have a ceiling fan in your room, clean the tops of the blades and then switch it to run in the opposite direction so that it pushes the hot air in the room down (most fans have a switch on the motor housing that allows you to do this). The Fuller Brush company makes a “Reach It Fan Duster” brush that sells for less than $25.
- Clean and turn rugs. Vacuum all your rugs, turn them upside down and vacuum the backside as well. When you place them back right side up turn them to help create even wear. Milwaukee brand makes a wet/dry hose vacuum with a HEPA rated high efficiency filter for less than $100 (look for model # 0780-20 28V)
- Have upholstery cleaned. Using a nozzle attachment, vacuum all your sofas and chairs, and have them professional cleaned or do a spot clean yourself. Zout brand cleaner is excellent for spot cleaning.
- Clean out your fireplace (and hire a chimney sweep if your chimney has not been cleaned in more than 2 years), and stock your hearth with seasoned hardwood.
Make yourself some hot cocoa and admire your handiwork. You’re amazing! If I can do it so can you! Barbara K
