Home Maintenance and Deep Cleaning Checklist

It’s important to maintain your home and prevent any major damage from occurring, especially during the winter months. When the weather gets bad, it can wear and tear on your home, which might cause some costly repairs. Make sure you take care of these home maintenance items before the snow completely covers your home this season!

Keep reading for the list below, or use this link to download and print the checklist:

DOWNLOAD EDITABLE PDF CHECKLIST

The List:

Driveway, paths, fences, walls…

□ Inspect walkways & driveway for cracks, heaves, settling, broken pavers

□ Inspect mailbox and post

□ Check retaining walls for cracks, leaning

□ Inspect fence for rot/rust, repairs, fading, animals tunneling under

□ Adjust fence gates for proper latching

□ Sweep common areas, sidewalk, along curb

Yard

□ Pick up branches, rake leaves

□ Aerate and fertilize lawn

□ Remove dead plants from plant beds

□ Mulch plant beds to protect perennials

□ Prune trees and bushes, especially against house, ones that could be weighted down with snow/ice

□ Inspect gazebo, arbor, trellis for rot, cracks, leveling, fading

□ Inspect shed structure interior, exterior, roof for damage

□ Clean out storm drains, catch basins of debris and vegetation

□ Check for proper drainage and water flow away from house or garage

□ Turn over and compost garden

□ Plant bulbs, divide perennials

□ Protect cold-sensitive plants

□ Empty flower pots/containers, clean and put away

Deck, Porch, Patio

□ Inspect deck/porch railings and stairs for loose rail, cracks, splits, rot/rust

□ Check deck/porch floor for cracks, rot, popped nails/screws, loose boards

□ Power wash and stain/seal deck surfaces

□ Check patio slab for cracks, heaves

□ Clean cobwebs from porch and entry light fixtures

□ Close pool (cover/drain/take down) House Exterior & Garage

□ Clean gutters & downspouts, check seams & connections for leaks

□ Examine roof, soffits, eaves for damage

□ Examine siding/trim for damage, peeling paint

□ Wash siding, remove mildew

□ Examine brick/stucco exterior for cracks, loose mortar

□ Examine chimney for cracks, loose mortar, white powder

□ Have chimney professionally cleaned

□ Spray perimeter for pest control

□ Inspect garage door operation, including safety reverse

□ Sweep out the garage

□ Clean car inside & out and get out ice scrapers and other winter supplies for car

Windows and Doors

□ Clean and store window & door screens

□ Clean and install storm windows/doors

□ Clean exteriors of windows/doors

□ Clean interiors of windows/doors, including sill, frame, trim

□ Test and adjust door closers

□ Clean sliding patio door tracks

□ Check window and door seals, weather stripping, thresholds

□ Check caulking/flashing around doors, windows, skylights, joints

□ Clean welcome mat

Exterior Equipment

□ Clean A/C condenser unit of leaves and debris and cover

□ Clean and store or cover outdoor furniture

□ Turn off outside spigots (inside & out), and cover if necessary

□ Turn off and drain sprinkler system

□ Clean, winterize & put away lawn mower, trimmer, garden tools

□ Bring out and prep snow blower, shovels, salt

□ Clean and put away or cover grill

□ Disconnect/confirm shut-off of propane

□ Disconnect hoses, drain, and store

□ Clean and inspect outdoor lighting

□ Adjust outdoor lighting timers

□ Clean trash and recycling bins

□ Test generator

General Interior, Basement, Utility Areas

□ Have furnace cleaned and inspected

□ Replace furnace filter

□ Inspect and start humidifier

□ Test and inspect sump pump

□ Close crawl space vents

□ Switch forced air vents to winter mode

□ Check basement for wet areas and check for rot, mold, insects, rodents

□ Inspect/treat for pests in attic, basement, kitchen, pantry

□ Check for water stains/damage, mold, insects or rodents in attic

□ Inspect water heater for leaks, corrosion

□ Drain and refill hot water tank

□ Inspect water softener, whole-house filters

□ Examine washing machine hoses and connections for cracks, leaks

□ Clean dryer exhaust vent

□ Check fire extinguishers are fully charged

□ Replace batteries in smoke/CO alarms

□ Look for wetness under sinks, around tub/shower, dishwasher indicating leaks

□ Remove window air conditioners

Kitchen & Laundry

□ Clean oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher

□ Clean coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc.

□ Empty out and clean inside refrigerator & freezer/defrost freezer

□ Clean refrigerator/freezer exterior, plus under & behind & beside, including the coils

□ Wash kitchen cabinets (inside & out, top), backsplash

□ Wash pantry/cabinet shelves, discard expired food, rotate items based on date

□ Clean grease from range hood

□ Wash all utensils that sit out on counter

□ Scrub tile floor grout, and along baseboards & cabinet kickboards

□ Clean out spice rack

□ Clean out and organize storage containers & lids

□ Polish fixtures, stainless appliances

□ Clean laundry area of lint and soap spills

□ Clean front-load washing machine

Bedrooms

□ Wash all bedding including pillows

□ Clean under bed (move bed if possible)

□ Turn mattress

□ Clean summer clothes, put in storage

□ Gather non-washables for dry cleaners

□ Bring out winter clothes and wash them

□ Go through drawers for clothes to fix, alter, toss, sell, save for later, or donate

□ Go through closet for clothes and shoes to fix, save for later, toss, sell, store, or donate

□ Go through jewelry box for items to fix, toss, upcycle, sell, or donate

Bathrooms & Linen Closet

□ Give toilet thorough cleaning (around &

behind)

□ Scrub tile floor grout, and along baseboards

& cabinet kickboards

□ Clean out medicine cabinet and drawers,

discarding expired medicine & makeup

□ Clean vents/fans

□ Make shopping list for medicine & first aid

supplies

□ Replace toothbrushes

□ Wash hair brushes, makeup brushes

□ Polish fixtures

□ Reorganize linen closet

□ Rewash towels & linens if musty

□ Scrub tub, shower, shower door

□ Clean or replace shower curtain

Bathrooms & Linen Closet

□ Give toilet thorough cleaning (around & behind)

□ Scrub tile floor grout, and along baseboards & cabinet kickboards

□ Clean out medicine cabinet and drawers, discarding expired medicine & makeup

□ Clean vents/fans

□ Make shopping list for medicine & first aid supplies

□ Replace toothbrushes

□ Wash hair brushes, makeup brushes

□ Polish fixtures

□ Reorganize linen closet

□ Rewash towels & linens if musty

□ Scrub tub, shower, shower door

□ Clean or replace shower curtain

Office

□ Wipe down electronics (keyboard, mouse, remotes, phones, tablets)

□ Vacuum or blow out dust inside CPU box & keyboard

□ Clean out files in office/desk, sort/file papers

□ Clean out unwanted emails & files

□ Perform computer maintenance & backups

□ Organize printed and electronic photos & videos

□ Update home inventory for insurance

□ Review and update insurance coverage

Any room checklist

□ Take down and wash or dry clean draperies

□ Wash window blinds/shades

□ Clean valances (vacuum fabric, dust top)

□ Wash window glass, sill (in and out), frame

□ Dust tops of window and door trim

□ Remove cobwebs from corners and ceiling

□ Wash baseboards, doors (especially in grab zone), and walls, touch up paint if necessary

□ Move furniture to clean under and behind

□ If carpeting, use vacuum crevice tool against baseboards

□ Deep clean (shampoo) carpeting, bring area rugs to cleaners

□ Dry mop then wash hard flooring

□ Wax/polish hardwood floor

□ Clean light switches and cover plates

□ Clean/ polish door hardware (knobs, hinges)

□ Dust lamps, knickknacks, electronics

□ Dust or vacuum air vents

□ Dust ceiling fan/ceiling light fixtures

□ Remove items and clean closet floors

□ Vacuum furniture and decorative pillows

□ Wash slipcovers, pillow covers, throws

□ Dust frames and glass of wall hangings

□ Remove items from all surfaces, dust & polish

□ Decide what you really want to put back

□ Go through toys, games, stuffed animals to see what to fix, toss, sell, store, or donate

□ Wash any glassware on display (bar, hutch)