Like a car, your home needs regular maintenance and occasional tune-ups to stay in tip-top shape. Fortunately, you can complete most of these tasks yourself by following this season-by-season schedule of indoor and outdoor maintenance.

Spring Home Maintenance

In spring, focus on freshening up your home and protecting your property against the season's strong wind and rains.

Outdoor Tasks:

Clean gutters and downspouts
Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage
Touch up peeling or damaged paint
Wash all windows, inside and out
Install screens on windows and doors
Clean outdoor furniture
Service your lawn mower
Fertilize your lawn

Indoor Tasks:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks forward
If your basement has a sump pump, test it by dumping a large bucket of water into the basin of the sump pump. This should activate the sump pump. If it does not switch on or if it's not pumping water, it may need to be serviced by a professional. Also, check for and remove any debris and make sure there are no leaks
Wash and change seasonal bedding
Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house
Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine, and cosmetics

Summer Home Maintenance

In summer, complete the following projects to keep your yard lush and your home cool.

Outdoor Tasks:

Walk around your home's exterior and slide open crawl space vents at the foundation
Prune trees and shrubs
Remove lint from dryer exhaust vent with a long, flexible brush
Uncover central air conditioner and install window air conditioners

Indoor Tasks:

Change or clean heating, ventilating, and air conditioning filters. Consult manufacturer instructions for your furnace to determine whether you need to change filters more frequently
Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils
Maintain clean drains by adding a half-cup of baking soda followed by a half-cup of white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water
Drain or flush water heater

Fall Home Maintenance

In fall, prepare your home and yard for cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and more hours spent indoors.

Outdoor Tasks:

Clean gutters and downspouts
Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage
Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines
Close or install storm windows
Remove hoses from spigots and drain and store indoors, coiled and flat
Store outdoor furniture and cushions
Test snow blower and have it professionally serviced if necessary

Indoor Tasks:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall. See our carbon monoxide detector buying guide
Check windows and doors for weather-tightness and install weather stripping where it's needed
Have furnace professionally inspected
Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house
Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine, and cosmetics

Winter Home Maintenance

In winter, enjoy energy-efficient warmth and the fruits of your home-maintenance labors. Use this time of the year to thoroughly clean and care for your home's interior while taking a few precautionary measures on the outside.

Outdoor Tasks:

Walk around your home's exterior and check the crawl space vents located at the foundation. Close any that are open
Protect your central air conditioning unit with a cover, and remove and store window air conditioners
Clean and store garden tools
Move snow shovels and snow blowers to a convenient spots

Indoor Tasks:

Change or clean furnace filters. Consult manufacturer instructions for your furnace to determine how frequently the filters should be replaced
Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils
Maintain clean drains by adding one-half-cup baking soda followed by one-half-cup white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water

Print this image to use as your own personal check list: