Monthly home maintenance checklist

A few jobs around the house come due every month, and none of them takes long. They're the safety tests that only matter if they're done regularly, and the small cleanings that keep appliances from building up the grime that turns into a repair. Together they take 30 to 60 minutes a month, and the habit of doing them on a fixed day, the first weekend of the month or the day the water bill arrives, is what makes them stick.

Walk the list in order. The safety tests come first, because they matter most, and the cleanings follow in the order you'd meet them walking through the house.

The checklist

• Test the smoke and CO alarms: press every test button until it sounds.
• Test the GFCI outlets: test and reset each one in the kitchen, the bathrooms, the garage and outside.
• Check the fire extinguishers: a glance at the gauge, the pin and the date.
• Test the garage door auto-reverse: a board on the floor and a wave at the sensors.
• Replace the HVAC filter: check it monthly and change it when it looks gray.
• Clean the AC condensate drain line: a cup of vinegar during cooling season.
• Clean the garbage disposal: the deeper clean, with baking soda and vinegar, plus the weekly ice.
• Clean the dishwasher and its filter: twist out the filter and rinse it.
• Clean the washing machine: a cleaning cycle and a wipe of the gasket.
• Clean the range hood filter: a hot soapy soak, more often if you fry.
• Check the water softener and add salt: a look in the brine tank and a bag if it's low.
• Clean or replace air purifier filters: vacuum the pre-filter and check the main one.

Tips

• Pick a fixed day and put it on the calendar. The jobs are easy; remembering them is the hard part.
• Do the safety tests as a round: alarms, outlets, extinguishers, garage door, in one walk through the house.
• Keep the supplies together: spare filters, vinegar, baking soda, dishwasher cleaner, washer tablets and softener salt, so nothing waits on a shopping trip.
• Tie the appliance cleanings to the kitchen cleanup you already do, and they stop feeling like extra work.
• If a test fails, deal with it that day. A dead alarm or a garage door that won't reverse is a hazard, not a chore.

FAQ

What should be checked monthly in a house?

The smoke and CO alarms, the GFCI outlets, the fire extinguishers and the garage door's safety reverse, plus the HVAC filter and the AC drain line in cooling season.

How long does monthly home maintenance take?

About 30 to 60 minutes, once the supplies are on hand and the round is familiar.

Do I really need to test smoke alarms every month?

Yes. A dead battery or a failed alarm gives no sign, and the test button is the only way to know. It takes a minute per alarm.

Which appliances need monthly cleaning?

The dishwasher's filter, the washing machine, the range hood filter and the garbage disposal. Each takes a few minutes and prevents the smell and the clog that would otherwise follow.