Let’s face it. Between your job, kids, partner, friends, and personal goals, the last thing you probably want to do is worry about home maintenance. However, unless you do, you’ll wake up with a leaking roof, an insane amount to pay for repair and replacement, and a less-safe property.
The good news is you can take care of your house without spending too much time doing it. Begin with these four tips:
1. Schedule an All-out Maintenance Once a Year
This one can last for about a week, but you need not do it by yourself. Some jobs need experts. These include:
- Roofing and gutter
- Insulation and energy efficiency
- Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system
- Electrical lines
- Plumbing
These activities can help catch problems before they get worse, and you need to spend more to fix it. Specialists can also give you tons of tips to manage your home easier and faster.
2. Paint It Black
Are you worried about dirt and grime that can accumulate on your main door and even the fence? The best solution is to paint them black. A black aluminum fence doesn’t only fight corrosion but also makes stains visible. It’s the same thing with your door.
How about your interiors? Black might not be the best color choice, but you can still camouflage the dirt with other more neutral or earth shades, such as brown or coffee, navy blue, and olive green. They can even serve as accents to brighten up or add more character into the space.
This hack doesn’t mean you can already avoid cleaning your walls, but at least the color will help you buy time until you can schedule the chore in your calendar.
3. Get the Kids to Help
If you want to teach kids about responsibility, accountability, and discipline, one of the best ways is to let them handle household chores. You can even begin training them when they’re 2 or 3 years old provided their tasks are age-appropriate:
- Toddlers can already make their beds or put away their toys.
- Eight-year-olds can already mop the floor or take care of the pets.
- Ten-year-old children can wash their clothes.
4. Automate It
You can also help yourself with home maintenance by making the most of the available technology:
- Invest in a cleaning robot like Roomba. It enables you to vacuum your place even if you’re not around. Set the schedule and let it learn the floor plan, and you’re good to go.
- Use a smart thermostat to regulate temperature and humidity. Controlling these can reduce the risk of mold, mildew, and other allergens.
- Buy a self-cleaning litter box, which gets rid of poop and urine immediately.
- Get an air purifier. It can maintain a cleaner indoor air by getting rid of dirt and even filtering harmful microorganisms.
- Buy smart appliances. Many of these work with your mobile device so you can keep track of their performance on the go.
Here’s the truth: You cannot run away from home maintenance. You need to do it to keep your household safe and healthy and spare you from costly repairs later. However, shortcuts are abundant. These ideas prove it.
