August Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist

The dog days of summer show no sign of abating, and it’s too hot to do much outside, so we’ll focus on prepping indoor areas for the start of school. If changing schedules are making you stressed out, don’t despair about doing it all. Just choose a few items to get started and you’ll be ready for fall in no time. Check out our printable checklist for high-priority tasks to knock off your list first.

Six months of nuked canned chili isn't appetizing anyone. Clean the microwave the easy way by putting a bowl of water inside and warming it for a minute. The steam will make it easier to scrub off all those caked-on leftovers.

Remove guards and burner covers to give them a good scrub and polish to make your stovetop shine. And while the self-cleaning setting on your oven is easy, we don't recommend it (see why in the callout). Instead, apply some elbow grease to get your stove sparkling and ready for yummy autumn baking. 

Quick oven cleaning tips:

• Remove oven racks and pre-treat or soak.
• Use a damp washcloth or paper towel to wipe out crumbs and other loose debris.
• Use warm soapy water (we recommend dish soap to cut through grease) and a sponge or scrubber to wipe down oven walls, door, and the floor.
• If you've got stubborn spots, let them soak and then wipe clean (repeat as needed).
• For really tough areas, apply a paste of baking soda and vinegar, scrub, then wipe clean.

If you’re standing near the sink and wondering what that smell is, your disposal is the culprit. Ensure the disposal is safely disconnected, and then eliminate all that food waste with a good scrub and disinfectant.

Whether your kids are going back to school or entering a classroom for the first time, August is the perfect time to update your collection of records for them.

Keep an up-to-date description and important information about your child handy in case of an incident. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a printable child ID kit that can help.

You might also want to consider a GPS tracker for kiddos heading to school alone for the first time.

Shifting furniture to cover that spot that just won’t come out is a rookie move. Rent or use your own steam cleaner to shampoo carpets before cooler weather hits. To clean stains and spills, use a solution of vinegar and water or a mild detergent and blot (don't rub) the affected area. And always test any cleaning product in an inconspicuous area (under the sofa or a chair) before using it on your carpet.

When school starts, your entryway will become a disaster zone for backpacks, coats, and all manner of mess. Start the season off organized and reduce the inevitable chaos of back-to-school schedules. If you've got the room, give each kiddo their own hook and/or a bin to drop their coats, shoes/boots, and backpacks.

If you haven’t upgraded your lightbulbs to new, energy-saving compact fluorescents, there’s no time like the present (especially with shorter days on the horizon). These bulbs also last longer, so less work for you means this is a win-win.

Squeaking isn’t necessarily a problem, but it sure is obnoxious. Fixing that annoyance is as simple as a little grease and a turn of the screw. We recommend a lubricating spray for the best results — it's cost-effective and easy to use. You can also use something you probably already have in the kitchen: vegetable oil.

You might not have been down here since you stowed away your holiday decorations, so it’s time to revisit crawl spaces and your basement. Suspicious moisture could indicate leaking pipes or water damage that could undermine your foundation. While you're down there, add a water leak sensor to make sure you can stop a potential flood before it starts.

Confused? Don’t be. These are the little buttons on your outlets that allow you to reset the connection. Make sure they’re working and check for any loose cords on electronics that could be potential fire hazards.

Twice a year, check your water heater for residue. If you notice sediment buildup, you can drain the tank and flush it per the instructions in this video tutorial.

Drip, drip, drip. Your shower heads are constantly handling spotting and sediment from water, so give them a good soak in a vinegar bath to remove hard water stains and gunk. Removing shower heads is usually as simple as turning a few screws, but consult the fixture manufacturer’s website for details if you get stuck.

Now is the perfect time to inspect caulk and grout between bathroom tiles and around fixtures like faucets. If you notice cracks, discoloration, loose material, or missing sections, it's time to repair or replace that worn-out grout and caulk. 

I always like to change things up around the house for each season. With cooler temps and school days just around the corner, consider swapping out bath mats, towels, washcloths, and shower curtains for fresher options. If towels are musty, relegate them to rags for the garage or shed and replace them with quick-dry towels that will last (and smell fresh) longer. 

These important safety devices don’t do much if they aren’t charged and connected, so test both your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors regularly. Stock up on those AAs and get it done. Earplugs are required.

As the days start to get shorter and the bedtimes get earlier, make sure little feet (and older ones, for that matter) have safe passage for nighttime trips to the bathroom. If you already have night lights, make sure they're still working and have the proper brightness. If you don't have any, pick one up with motion or light sensitivity to help light the way.

This sounds easy, but come August, keeping your lawn green will be a serious challenge. Adjust sprinklers and system times to ensure your lawn’s brown spots are kept to a minimum. Depending on where you live, a dry lawn can be a danger during wildfire season.

If you didn’t get to it earlier this year, this is your last chance to fix some of these gaps before the cold weather drives a wedge in things.

Get all your tasks taken care of before the summer is gone by scheduling a task per day on your calendar. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to fall in love with another season in your well-maintained home.