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5 Home Maintenance Items to Grab During Holiday Shopping

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Real Estate Agent with Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 228209

5 Home Maintenance Items to Grab During Holiday Shopping

’Tis the Season! Along with homeownership comes home maintenance tasks that should garner our attention periodically. To keep their home in tip-top shape, use this shopping season when you’re out and about anyway, to stop at the local hardware store. Pick up items that you can use yourself as evening or weekend projects to keep up with your home maintenance.

Here are a few items to grab when you’re out shopping:

Do It YourselfBottle of vinegar and an ice cube tray:  Yes, crazy as it sounds, the best way to keep your garbage disposal blades clean and sharp is to run vinegar ice cubes through it!  This simple task can eliminate odors as well as maintain your garbage disposal unit for years to come.

 

9-Volt Batteries & a Fire Extinguisher:  If you didn’t test the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors when the time changed last month, check them before you head out to go shopping. You should also check to make sure that your fire extinguisher is not nearing its expiration date. If it is, you’ll want to grab a new one!

 

HVAC filters:  Keeping your HVAC filters clean and free of pet hair, dust and debris needs to be done on a monthly basis and are critical in prolonging the life of your HVAC unit(s). Now is a great time to pick up those filters in bulk and have them handy for your monthly filter change.

 

Caulk:  Water intrusion is one of the most, if not THE most destructive issues we face as homeowners. Prevention of water intrusion can come in multiple ways but, something we can perform as homeowners ourselves comes in in the form of a simple, cheap maintenance item - caulk! Showers, tubs, sinks and backsplashes are primary areas that require caulk that is intact…and it’s a quick and easy task too!

 

Vacuum Attachment:  This one is something that we all tend to overlook but, can be one of the biggest safety hazards in our homes. Cleaning the clothes dryer filter with each use is not enough to prevent ‘straggling’ lint from accumulating just beyond that filter, filling the vent and potentially causing fire damage. Purchase a narrow attachment for your vacuum cleaner and USE IT regularly! You’ll be amazed at the amount of lint that you’ll remove when you actually get beyond the removable filter!

 

These simple items can be used routinely to maintain your most expensive investment - your home! For more maintenance items that require contractors assistance, give us a call; we have a list of preferred professionals that we can recommend to you!

 

 

Do It Yourself

 

 

© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | 5 Home Maintenance Items to Grab During Holiday Shopping

 

Originally posted at: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/5-home-maintenance-items-to-grab-during-holiday-shopping/

Comments(38)

Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

George Souto - LOL I can't believe I'm not the only one who hadn't heard of this! Try it - it really does work!

Dec 07, 2016 11:48 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Debe

There are some great suggestions here that are pretty simple, and good ideas to share with clients. I recommend, due to CA law, that buyers replace their smoke detectors with the new ones that have 10-year batteries (they are now required).

I knew about the ice for the disposal and do that regularly but hadn't heard about the vinegar ice. Seems to me someone recommended lemon pieces to also helo with any odors.

Jeff

Dec 07, 2016 04:28 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Vinegar is so cheap and useful! Everyone should stock up on it and use it for cleaning. 

Thanks for the tips!

Dec 07, 2016 05:36 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Interesting about the frozen vinegar!  I like to use small pieces of lemon or orange for the nice citrusy smell.  Who wants to smell vinegar?

Dec 07, 2016 06:20 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Jeff Dowler!  Great advice about the smoke detector batteries for your clients. And, yes, that vinegar ice works wonders to sharpen the blades and freshen up the disposal.  I used to use the lemons and it works great for any odor but, dulls the blades (according to my contractor)!

Dec 07, 2016 07:32 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

I had no idea about the Vinegar & Ice Cubes... we have been putting lemons into the disposer, smells good not sure what it does for the blades:)Endre

Dec 07, 2016 09:41 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Debe.  Like Endre Barath, Jr.  , I had no idea bout the vinegar ice cubes.  Otherwise, I can see the need to have a fire extinguisher handy

Dec 08, 2016 02:30 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Patricia Feager - I couldn't agree more!  It's cheap and efficient - and I love having an all-in-one cleaner! 

Dec 08, 2016 07:01 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 - I use it all the time for cleaning and the smell doesn't bother me!  I have cleaned my disposal with the vinegar ice cubes and then run a lemon rind through it so that it smells 'citrusy' though!

Dec 08, 2016 07:02 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Endre Barath, Jr. - the contractor said that it dulls them so, I stopped putting the rinds in the disposal as often as I used to!

Dec 08, 2016 07:03 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

James Dray - My next trip out, I too, have to buy a new fire extinguisher - mine is out-dated this year so, time for a new one!

Dec 08, 2016 07:04 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Debe,

 Ice cubes and vinegar, and the vacuum cleaner bag is a great, HVAC filters too!

Dec 08, 2016 11:54 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I'll have to tell Abigail about the ice cubes and vinegar trick.  I have a septic tank so no disposal for me. 

Dec 08, 2016 02:17 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert - I have several on that list yet to do myself!  This post is a good 'list' for me too!  LOL

Dec 08, 2016 06:55 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Tammy Lankford, - It works - I think Abigail will like it - pretty nifty trick!  

Dec 08, 2016 06:56 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Good evening Debe Maxwell ,  Thanks for the reminder.  I need to inspect the clothes dryer hose and vent.

Dec 08, 2016 07:42 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Great tips for everyone Debe Maxwell particularly the dryer vent...there is always more lint lurking...

Dec 08, 2016 07:46 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Debe

Some great tips my friend and vinegar ice cubes for the garbage disposal, Bonus

Dec 08, 2016 08:21 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks Debe.  These are great tips.  I've never heard about the vinegar ice cube one before.

Dec 09, 2016 04:56 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great home maintenance tips for anytime of the year! Buyers want a well maintained home!

Dec 09, 2016 07:28 AM