Annual Household Jobs Checklist
Once-a-Year Chores and Spring Cleaning Hints
Some household chores only need to be completed yearly and it is very easy to lose track of when they were last taken care of. Creating a household chore checklist makes it much easier to ensure that important tasks are not forgotten or overlooked in the activity of everyday life.
Spring Cleaning Checklist
The arrival of spring is a great opportunity to throw open all the windows, let the fresh air into a stuffy winter home and clear the dust and cobwebs. As weather warms up, it is easier to find the energy to take on some of the more arduous household chores. Harness the energy that spring seems to release and use it productively.
- Move heavier household furniture to clean. Move lounges and other larger pieces so that the floor behind and underneath them can be thoroughly vacuumed. Obviously it is not possible to move larger cupboards and so on, but make sure that an effort is made to vacuum behind them using the appropriate vacuum attachment.
- Sort through bookshelves. Remove books and wipe down the shelves. Put aside any books that are no longer needed to take to a second hand bookshop or donate to charity.
- Sort through the filing cabinet or filing system. Skim through files to make sure that only the necessary documents are being kept. Throw out outdated price lists and menus, old receipts that are no longer needed for taxation or warranties, old school newsletters and other information that has been collected but is no longer needed.
- Wash or dry clean blankets and curtains. If washing at home, this is best done once the weather is warm enough for items to dry completely in one day.
Review Chores
Many household items or services need to be checked or reviewed every 12 months.
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors. Even though these units should be checked monthly, the batteries should be replaced annually no matter what. It is very important to make sure that these units will function correctly should a fire occur.
- Review insurance policies. As insurance policies come due for renewal, it is a good idea to check that they still adequately cover the household needs. This is particularly true for home contents and/or building insurance, where major purchases or renovations during the year may have significantly altered the amount items should be insured for. Make sure that any household inventory is also up to date.
- Policy renewal time is also good opportunity to make sure that insurance policies are competitive and good value for money by comparing those offered by two to three companies.
- Organise a pest inspection and/or pest service for the house. There are products available commercially that enable householders to spray for pests themselves. If there are any concerns about significant infestations or safety concerns with the chemicals involved, consult a specialised pest control service.
General chores
- Bed pillows should be replaced every one to two years. Pillows will last longer if kept in a pillow protector pillowcase underneath the general pillowcase.
- Fireplace chimneys should be cleaned annually by a qualified professional to prevent build up of soot and other substances that can result in house fires.
Many annual tasks are time consuming, so it is a good idea to divide them up throughout the year. Obviously tasks such as washing curtains are best done during the warmth of summer, so assign them to the appropriate months. Others can be done any time.
Mark Your Calendar for Spring Cleaning
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