Things to Do Around Your Home Before Winter Hits

Winter is closing in fast, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Have you finished your fall chores yet?

This checklist will help you prepare for winter so you can rest easy knowing your home and property are in tip-top shape.

Outdoor Chores--

It’s always a good idea to get any outdoor chores finished up to make for an easier winter cleanup when the time does come.

• Cleanup debris like fallen leaves, pine cones, twigs and branches from in your yard.
• Mow a couple more times before winter sets in. 
• Touch up any areas of paint that need it on your railings, deck, or trim.
• Make sure all of the windows and doors are properly caulked and re-caulk if needed. 
• Make sure all doors and windows close tightly. Apply weatherstrip if needed.
• Clean up all of your summer toys and furniture if you haven’t already.
• Wash the outside windows.
• Have chimneys inspected before you are using them often.
• Clear out the gutters to prepare for the wet season. 

Do anything that you need to do outside before it gets too cold to do it.

Indoor Chores--

Indoor chores can be just as important as outdoor chores before wintertime hits, especially with all of the upcoming holidays and gatherings that you might hold in your home.

• Focus on high-traffic, “public” rooms where people tend to gather, like the living rooms, kitchen and dining rooms. 
• Clean from top to bottom. Dust the blinds and ceiling fans, wipe down the walls, and vacuum the floors. 
• Vacuum furniture. 
• Wash the inside windows. 
• Get your carpet professionally cleaned, or shampoo it yourself. (How often do any of us do that?)
• Wash all of the bedding, especially if you have any guest bedrooms. 
• Deep clean the kitchen to prepare for holiday cooking - clean out the fridge, was the oven, and clean out the sinks. 
• Replace air filters in HVAC system. 
• Wash light fixtures.
• Clear kitchen counters of appliances to make more space. 
• Get your furnace inspected. 
• Fill up propane tank (if you have your own, to make sure you don’t leave anyone cold this winter). 
• Deep clean the bathrooms, especially the sinks and toilets. 

Get all of those once or twice a year chores done now before they cause problems when you have a bunch of people over for the holidays. You’ll be glad you did.