Home Maintenance Checklist for December
Following an annual maintenance routine helps homeowners avoid costly repairs, property damage, and keeps home a happy, healthy, and safe place for family and visitors alike.
December naturally shifts our focus to time spent indoors – holiday gatherings with friends and family, cozy afternoons and evenings spent making memories while the fireplace crackles in the background. Because of this, we suggest minimally that your home maintenance tasks for December should include cleaning out common storage areas and prized possessions. And consider revisiting the tasks on the November Home Maintenance checklist, which includes a lot of inclement weather prep for your home exterior and family safety.
This is the fifth month we’ve shared our home maintenance checklist. At the bottom of the article, we’ll link to August, September, October, and November.
December Focus
With the sun setting at its earliest all year, temperatures dropping, and fewer outdoor activities, you’ll be taking advantage of time indoors. We suggest using some of that time to reorganize and clean some of the areas you might not think about as frequently.
October Home Maintenance: Inside Tasks
Inside Tasks:
- ‘Tis the season for entertaining! Spend an hour or two polishing your glassware, silverware, and serving utensils. Use a steamer, or boil a pot of water to prep items to polish, and then use a lint-free cloth to wipe away water stains and dust. Don’t leave this until guests arrive and feel confident that your good set is ready to go.
- Clean out the cabinets, shelf by shelf, and wipe them free of dust and debris. It’s a great time to reorganize dishes and cups and seasonings, and whatever else might be in need. Pro Tip: line your more frequently used shelves with clear (or decorative), removable contact paper, and make future cleanings easier.
- Clear off the countertops and clean all the way into the corners. Look behind and under the oven and wherever else dust and debris might collect.
- Discard worn-out bathroom and kitchen towels.
- Donate clothing and coats that you haven’t worn in a while or that no longer fit. It’s as easy as dropping them at a drop-bin in your neighborhood. There are even organizations that will come to your house to pick up if you can’t make it out.
- Clean out the toaster, air fryer, coffee maker and all other countertop appliances. Read the instruction manual carefully so you don’t void the warranty, damage the appliance, or harm yourself in the process.
- Clean out the medicine cabinet and discard anything that is expired or out-of-date. Make a note of what needs replacing, especially OTC medication that guests may request. Return unused medication and other medical supplies to the pharmacy or doctor’s office, wherever you find an appropriate drop-box to do so.
Outside Tasks
- First things first: make room in your garage to park your car and eliminate the need to clear off your car of ice and snow. If this isn’t an option, gather up the supplies you’ll need to do quick automotive clean-ups in the wintertime, including snow brushes, deicers, ice scrapers, weatherproof gloves, and sand or salt. (Kitty litter can also be used to help you gain traction on the ice in a pinch.
- Clean out the rain gutters for a final time now that most of the leaves have fallen. It’s critical to keep these water channels clear, or you could do serious damage to your roof or siding.
- Add all-weather mats to entranceways, stabilize handrails and loose floorboards, and add reflectors wherever needed to ensure safety.
- As winter sets in, make it a priority to remove ice and snow. Don’t let it build up on the roof, deck, porch, gutters or nearby tree branches. In all cases, make sure you’re being safe, especially when climbing a ladder. Read more about being S.M.A.R.T. with ladders at home by clicking here.
Final Thought
We strongly suggest revisiting the November Home Maintenance list to finish up any remaining tasks before bad weather truly sets in. And in case you missed it, here are the other Home Maintenance Articles in the series so far:
Related Article: Your House Might be Number One on a Buyer's Holiday Wish List this Holiday Season
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