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January Home Maintenance Tips
We are ushering in a new year and many of you will be creating New Year resolutions to get your body healthier, but don’t forget about your house! Much like having a healthy immune system to protect you from illnesses, a home maintenance program will help protect your house from unexpected major repairs. If you follow me as I provide these monthly home maintenance tips, we can keep our homes in peak condition, reducing the chances of unexpected repairs.  
 
Since January is the first month of the year, it is a good time to replace filters. If you followed my advice last month, you should already have everything you need.  
 
  • I use a 4” furnace filter and replace it every 3 months starting on January 1st. 
  • My refrigerators have water filters that I change every 6 months, on January 1st and July 1st.   
  • I have a whole house humidifier on the heating system that has a replaceable evaporator pad. I can sometimes get 2 years out of one pad, but always check it on January 1st.  
 
Here is some regular maintenance that you will want to do in January.  
 
  • I use a cleaning tablet like this, Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, in my dishwasher on the first of every month. It is also a good time to remove and clean the filter in the dishwasher.  
  • I also clean the washing machine with a cleaning tablet like this: Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. I do this at the same time as the dishwashers.  
  • The first of every month is a good time to do a thorough cleaning of the dryer as well, making sure the filters are clean and there are no obstructions in the vent. 
  • Clean the range hood. Use a good degreaser to clean around the hood. You can use the dishwasher to clean metal parts like grills and filters. Throw your dirty sponge and rags in with them.  
  • Dust places like light fixtures and bulbs, ceiling fan blades, HVAC vent registers, bathroom exhaust vents, and refrigerator coils.   
  • Shine and tighten doorknobs and hinges; tighten loose cabinet pulls and nobs; and level cabinet doors. 
 
You can feel really good about getting these things done this month. Now you can relax indoors enjoying how clean and fresh everything is.  
 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Norwalk IA Real EstateJon Niemeyer, Broker/Owner/REALTOR® at EXIT Realty North Star. I list and sell real estate in Central Iowa including Norwalk, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Cumming, Indianola, Carlisle, Waukee, Urbandale, Grimes, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill in the Counties of Warren, Polk, Dallas, and Madison. Call Jon Niemeyer at 515-490-4675.   
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