Week 9: February 26, 2023
Spring is about to start so we need to shift towards seasonal things like preventing pests and maintaining the garden. Now the days are getting longer and the weather is improving. Warmer weather means more humidity, pests, lawn/garden care, and preventative maintenance. Last week was the first of pest maintenance for the year in Texas, but if you skipped the step due to cold weather, add it this week.
Copy and paste each bulleted item into your calendar. Set the recurring task based on the time frame in parentheses (monthly, weekly, etc). The week long schedule is a template to get your started. Set each of the home maintenance tasks on a day that works best for you, or ignore the ones that don't apply to your home.
Sunday:
Clear expired food and to-go containers out of the fridge & check your fridge’s temperature, airflow, and inside water filter. (weekly)
Check your medicine cabinet for any expired medications to throw away (seasonal)
o Prepare for allergy season by stocking up on your frequently used medications.
Clean gutters and downspouts of any blockages (monthly)
Monday:
Take a break! *
o You can choose a day that is right for you, but a rest day from home maintenance is important to keep from burning out. I choose Mondays because let’s face it, work takes a big chunk out of all of us on Monday.
Tuesday:
Check trees and other shrubs for any winter storm damage. This is the last month to trim trees before spring.
If your home has had recent severe weather, continue checking for ice or water damage outside and inside your home (ongoing)
If your area is anticipating rain in the coming week, considering mulching flower beds today to reduce runoff. (seasonal)
Remove any debris or leaves from areas around the house, or where they might block the flow of water (seasonal)
Wednesday:
Check your air filters and change as needed. (monthly)
Weather permitting, check your roof for any signs of wind or rain damage. Pay attention to areas where shingles meet flashing. (seasonal)
If winter weather has passed in your region, clean out your fireplace. Set a reminder for the coming weeks to have it professionally cleaned and/or inspected before next year. (yearly)
Thursday:
Next week is Week 1 of Brush & Bulky item collection in Dallas.
Brush and bulky items may be set out beginning on the Thursday prior to your collection week through Sunday prior to your collection week. Please see the My Schedule app here to find your week and find what items are accepted.
Inspect your sprinkler system. Give it a test run if the last frost has passed, and set the schedule if applicable. (yearly)
Friday:
If you haven’t already, prepare for mowing season by checking your mower or setting up a mowing service.
Replace any burned out light bulbs inside and outside your home. (quarterly)
Empty all trash bins and take the trash bins outside* (weekly)
*Assign this to the day trash is collected at your home.
Saturday:
Start pest management chores like refreshing bait traps for ants or roaches. (seasonal)
Spray the perimeter of your home with pest control spray. (quarterly)
Check your home for signs of emerging termites or carpenter ants (seasonal)
And that’s it! Not a lot to do this week if you did the pest management chores already. Happy Week 9, and happy home health!
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