September is a time of change, so get your home ready for the season ahead by ticking off these to-dos, from adding cozy layers to scheduling necessary maintenance — and then curl up in your favorite chair and savor the comforts of home.

Tasks To Accomplish In An Hour Or Less

Cozy Up With Warm Layers 

Have you felt that first nip in the air? When you do, think about swapping out lighter-weight bedding for flannel sheets and fluffy duvets. Bring added warmth to the other rooms with throws and pillows in rich fabrics. Thicker area rugs and curtains not only feel cozier, but they also can actually help your home feel warmer — and cut down on your energy bills.

Order Firewood

If you have a wood stove and use it for actual warmth or just for coziness, now is a good time to order firewood. Don’t store large quantities of wood directly against the house, which can encourage pests, but keep it protected from rain and snow beneath a shelter.

Check Safety Devices 

Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed.

Set Up Kids’ Schoolwork Area 

Give children an area to do their schoolwork that is comfortable, attractive and well-organized. Ideally, make a large surface available for spreading out big or messy projects. The dinner table can work, but if you have the room, consider adding a dedicated project table or large desk surface and keep the necessary supplies nearby.

Tackle These Over a Weekend

Clean Leather Furniture 

It’s important to know whether your leather furniture has a finish before treating it with any products, so check labels or look up the item on the retailer’s or manufacturer’s website before you begin.

• For unprotected leather (also called aniline), less is more when it comes to cleaning: Wipe with a clean, dry or slightly dampened cloth with distilled water.
• For protected leather (also called semianiline or pigmented), you can make your own cleaning solution by adding a few drops of mild nondetergent soap to distilled water, or use a commercial leather cleaning product. Apply with a microfiber cloth.

Remove Window AC Units 

If you use window air-conditioning units, now is the time to either remove them or cover them outside with protective insulation. Removing the units is the better option because this will allow you to close the windows, minimizing winter heat loss. If you choose to leave them in over the winter, be sure to pick up insulating covers made for this purpose and securely attach them.

Add Weatherstripping

Newer double-pane windows may not need weatherstripping, but it will help most older windows retain heat and stop drafts. Check areas with previously applied weatherstripping and remove or replace as needed.

Freshen Up Your Fall Wardrobe 

Take the opportunity to sort through your wardrobe and remove pieces you no longer wear. Collect clothes that need repair and move summer clothes to an out-of-the-way spot so that your fall wardrobe can be front and center. Polish shoes, remove pilling from coats and sweaters, and clean out handbags and totes.

Inspect The Roof And Gutters 

It’s generally fine to wait until most of the leaves have fallen in autumn to clean out the gutters and downspouts, but giving these areas a quick visual inspection now is a good idea. Pull out any sticks or other debris blocking the gutters, and make note of any worn-out seals around vent pipes and chimneys. If you do not feel comfortable on a ladder, or have a home of two or more stories, hire someone to do a quick inspection for you. Schedule any needed repairs now so that your home will be ready for winter.

Maintenance and Extras to Budget for This Month

Schedule Chimney And Furnace Maintenance 

Make sure your fireplace and heating system are clean, safe and ready to go by having a pro look at them now. Having your chimney cleaned will also ensure that you don’t try to start a fire when an animal family (or an old nest) is inside. And if you don’t have a chimney cap yet, speak with your chimney expert about adding a one. The metal cap with screened sides can prevent critters from getting in and helps protect your roof from burning embers.

Maintain The Washer And Dryer 

Cleaning out the dryer vents can be a job you do yourself, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing so (or if you’ve been putting it off), you may want to hire a pro to do washer and dryer maintenance for you. Washing-machine hoses need to be replaced from time to time, and a cracked hose can cause a leak — which can mean costly damage to your home. Clean dryer vents and hoses will help your machine work more efficiently and reduce the risk of fire.

Consider Increasing Insulation 

Looking for a way to save on your energy bills this winter? You may want to think about adding insulation to your attic space or inside walls. This can make a big difference in how well your home retains heat in winter and stays cool in summer.

Most people loathe household chores. But is any cleaning task more difficult to stick to than squeegeeing shower walls and doors after use? The squeegee rule, a seemingly reasonable request to reduce hard-water stains, mineral buildup and mildew, is great unless you’re short on time, patience, energy or all of the above.

In fact, for the squeegee-averse, opting to use the guest bathroom and its shower with a curtain instead of a glass door is a timesaving trick that is not uncommon. There’s got to be a better way. And I think there is.

First, the bad news. Hard water and soapy buildup allowed to accumulate on glass shower surfaces can cause etching and permanently damage the glass. If glass shower doors have a cloudy look, this may be the culprit. Cleaning will eliminate buildup, but it will not reverse etching, which is why the first and best defense is to prevent it from happening by wiping down the shower after each use with either a squeegee or a microfiber cloth.

Squeegees And Microfiber Cloths

A squeegee is a windshield-wiper-like tool with a handle and a long, flat rubber blade used to clean or remove something from a surface.

Some squeegees have suction cups for attaching to walls for easy access and storage, while some come in colors or stainless steel for the style-conscious. Do they all work the same? Yes.

For many, microfiber cloths are the weapon of choice against water spotting and buildup and are prized for their ability to get into hard-to-reach places, such as beneath door handles or in tight corners.

After each use, experts advise, wring the cloths out tightly, and launder them at least once a week.

Daily Shower Cleaners

Either way, once the shower has been wiped down, finish the job with a quick misting of daily cleaner or make your own. The best part about daily maintenance: You won’t need to deep-clean the shower as often and the glass will stay sparkly.

Make Your Own Daily Shower Spray

In a 32-ounce spray bottle mix:  

1.5 cups hydrogen peroxide 0.5 cups of rubbing alcohol 

1 tsp liquid dish soap 1 Tbsp dishwasher rinse aid 

Fill the bottle with water mix gently. Store away from sunlight.

OR

In a 32-ounce spray bottle mix:  

1.5 cups water1 cup white vinegar     

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol1 tsp liquid dish soap 

15 drops lemon essential oil    15 drops tea tree essential oil

Deep Cleaning

Life happens and daily maintenance can take a backseat. For glass shower enclosures, this means buildup, grime and the bath time blues. Sadly, it also means it will take more than a simple squeegee to get back to clean.

For scrubbing scum and hard-water stains, many consumers swear by products such as the Magic Eraser sponge, while others suggest repurposing dryer sheets, simply wet and scrub. Since these products contain chemicals, wear gloves to protect your skin.

A Natural Alternative

A mixture of baking soda and water makes a scum-fighting scrub that many swear by. Measurements for the mixture will vary depending on how much you need. To get started, try using a half-cup of baking soda, then add water as needed to make a thick paste. Using a nonabrasive sponge, scrub the glass and rinse it with vinegar then squeegee.

Long-Term Solutions

Once you’ve achieved a clean, sparkly surface, there are a few things you can do to make it last longer.

The big idea here is that hard water and soap scum won’t build up if they can’t stick to the surface. Several products are designed to wick water away from surfaces, but they weren’t created for bathroom use. Rain-X and Water Armour, both found in the automotive department, can repel water off glass-walled showers.

How To Apply:

Spray the product on clean glass (being careful to avoid tile, metal and the shower floor) and reapply every three to four weeks. 

Cleaning Metal Tracks

To clean the buildup and grime that accumulates in the hard-to-clean metal tracks that often frame glass doors, plug any drainage holes or crevices in the track and fill it with vinegar. Let the vinegar sit overnight and wipe clean in the morning.

Ban Bar Soap

Finally, if you want to significantly reduce the amount of soap scum on glass without eliminating showers: Ban bar soap.

Almost all bar soaps contain talc, which produces the buildup. Consider switching to a non-talc-containing soap, or opt for liquid soap instead.

Of course, there’s no escaping water spots, so some regular maintenance will still be required. It just won’t be as much.

Fireworks, swimming and clambakes. With summer in full swing, the month of July can seem to zip by. Make the most of your month with these to-dos.

Things to Check Off Your List In an Hour or Less

Clean Porch Lights

If you have glass light fixtures that are easily removed, bring them inside and wash in a dishpan of warm water with gentle soap. If the fixtures must stay in place, turn the power off and carefully wipe the exteriors with a damp microfiber cloth; dry with a soft cloth. When finished, change lightbulbs as needed.

Unfurl a Flag For Canada Day

Get in the Canada Day spirit by putting up an Canadian flag on your porch in time to celebrate the July 1st. Don’t have room for a full-size flag? Try lining your walkway with mini flags, or hang a pleated fan above the door instead.

Check Safety Devices

Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors should be tested monthly; replace batteries as needed, and replace the entire device if it is more than 10 years old. Interconnected smoke detectors (when one alarm goes off, they all sound) are the safest because it is more likely that everyone in the house will hear the alarm. Also, take a moment to check the expiration date on any fire extinguishers in the house and replace them if needed.

Care For Furry Friends

Summer poses some unique challenges for our pets, but with a little extra care, you can ensure your furry friends are healthy all season long. If you will be traveling this summer without your pet, be sure to plan ahead to set up care. Most pets are more comfortable in their own homes, so consider using a professional pet sitter rather than a kennel, which can be stressful. To keep pets safe in the heat, you should provide access to shade and ample fresh water and never leave pets in a car unattended.

Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

Clean Windows Inside and Out 

Keep that summer sunshine streaming in by giving windows a quick rinse with glass cleaner or a vinegar solution, then squeegee them dry or wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. If you want to avoid using a ladder outside, reach exterior windows with a window-washing hose attachment or telescoping window washer, or hire a window-washing service to get the job done.

Check Window Screens for Holes 

It’s summer, and the mosauitoes are out in full force. If you’ve been getting bitten inside the house, check your window screens and screen doors for small holes and tears. Use a screen patching kit to repair any damage, and keep those pesky bugs outdoors where they belong.

Refresh Summer Whites

Fresh, clean and crisp, nothing says summer quite like white linens. Keep your white textiles looking their best by laundering slipcovers, cushion covers and curtains, or sending them out for dry cleaning if they’re not machine washable. Keep white upholstery and Roman blinds looking fresh by vacuuming them regularly using your vacuum’s upholstery attachment.

Conserve Water

Cut down on unnecessary water use by watering your lawn and garden during the cooler, early morning hours. If you water when the sun is high, much of the water will simply evaporate instead of sinking into the soil where the roots can access it — and it can even scorch tender leaves. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using a WaterSense-labeled timer for your sprinkler system, which acts like a thermostat for your lawn and can reduce water use by up to 15 percent per year. Inside the house, keep an eye out for leaky faucets and have them repaired promptly.

Keep the Landscape Fire-Safe

If you live in an area with dry summers, it’s important to remove weeds, fallen leaves, needles and other items that could become fuel in a fire, particularly from the area immediately surrounding your home.

Maintenance and Extras to Budget For

Check Fences and Repair or Replace 

Inspect fencing and gates around your property. If you find damaged areas (for example, broken boards, sagging areas and soft or rotted wood) schedule repairs or replacement as needed.

Upgrade Pool Safety Measures 

If you have a pool in your backyard, it is essential to keep it securely fenced with a self-closing, self-latching gate at least 4 feet high, to prevent children from jumping or falling in. Place a safety cover on your pool when not in use, and never allow anyone to swim in your pool alone. The American Red Cross also recommends installing a pool alarm that will go off when anyone enters the pool. And if you have children, it’s important to make sure they all learn to swim well, whether or not you have a pool of your own.

Add Shade To The Yard

Make your backyard more comfortable with an umbrella or shade sail. With ample shady spots to sit, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to spend more time in your outdoor space — and shade is a must for summer backyard gatherings.

Keep Your Home Safe When You’re Away

Before you leave on a trip, take some time to put safety precautions in place. Let your neighbors know when you will be away and ask a friend to check on your house from time to time. Motion-sensing exterior lighting, timed interior lighting and well-trimmed hedges can make your home a less appealing target for break-ins. If you will be away for a longer period of time, have your mail held for you at the post office and hire a lawn service to keep your yard from getting overgrown while you are away.

With summer just around the corner, there is plenty of incentive to get those outdoor spaces ready to enjoy. From scheduling house painting to organizing your outdoor cooking tools, tick these items off your to-do list so you can: hang out around the bbq, kick back on the porch and savour the season.

Check Off Your List In An Hour or Less

Check Outdoor Lighting

Make sure all outdoor lights are in working order, including porch lights, landscape lighting and motion-sensing security lights. Replace bulbs or schedule repairs as needed.

Give Potted Plants TLC

If you have potted plants that stay indoors over winter, bring them out once the danger of frost has passed. To help your plants acclimatize, find a protected spot out of direct sun for the first several weeks outdoors.

Inspect Kitchen and Bath Fixtures

Keeping an eye on these areas can help prevent costly water damage and repairs later on. Make a plan to regrout or recaulk around counters and tile as needed. If you come across any slow leaks, have these repaired as well.

Check Safety Devices

Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and replaced every 10 years — even if they still appear to be in working order. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if necessary.

Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

Get Ready For BBQing

Giving your BBQ a deep cleaning before the start of the season will help it work more efficiently and prevent flare-ups. Clean the grates and interior with a grill brush and wash the exterior with warm, soapy water. Clean and organize your grilling tools and pick up charcoal or propane if needed.

If you have a gas grill, be sure to check the fuel line for cracks and clean out any clogged burner holes.

Maintain and Repair Garden Paths

Create neat edges, pull weeds, fill in gravel paths with fresh gravel and replace or reposition broken steppingstones.

Clean Walls and Touch Up Paint

Use a dusting attachment on your vacuum or an electrostatic duster to remove dust from walls, paying special attention to corners and baseboards. For a deeper clean, wipe down walls with warm, soapy water after dusting. Rinse with clean water, using a lint-free cloth. Touch up paint as needed on interior walls and trim.

Clean Items On Open Shelves

Infrequently used items stored on open shelves can get pretty grimy over time. For items with a thin layer of dust, swipe with an electrostatic duster. If there is a thicker layer of dust, of if the items are in the kitchen, where cooking grease can be an issue, wash each piece in a tub of warm, soapy water. Rinse and allow everything to dry before replacing.

Refresh Bedrooms

Rotate the mattresses on all beds and flip over if possible. Dust nightstands, lamps, headboards, blinds and decor. Swap heavy duvets for lighter-weight bedding for the warmer months.

Thoroughly Clean The Laundry Room

Run the washing machine with a specialty tub cleaner or with vinegar for a natural solution on a hot water cycle. Wipe the rubber rim inside the washer and dryer doors and remove lint from the dryer vent with a vent brush or vacuum attachment. Clean countertops, mop floors and restock supplies.

Maintenance and Extras to Budget for

Plan to Paint or Stain Your Home’s Exterior

Longer days and generally milder weather makes May a good month to think about painting your house. Contact painting pros to find out if they are currently working or will resume later, and reserve a spot on their schedule. If your home has a wood-shingled exterior, replace any damaged shingles and have a fresh coat of stain applied if needed.

Add a Porch Feature

Make your porch an inviting place to relax and hang out with the addition of a porch swing, rocking chairs or a glider. Too much sun? Crisp white outdoor curtains can provide shade and look chic. Just add a tall glass of iced tea or lemonade, and you’ll be ready to savor the season in style.

Freshening your house with a deep spring-cleaning right now can feel really good. If you’re ready to go beyond the basic vacuum-and-mop weekly clean, pick and choose from these deep-cleaning tasks, and get ready to enjoy your sparkling clean house.

Light Fixtures and Lamps

Ceiling-mounted light fixtures, fans and table lamps can accumulate an amazing amount of dust over time — which can dull the surface and block light. Get your light fixtures gleaming with a soft microfiber cloth or duster.

Doors, Knobs and Handles

It should take only a few minutes to go around the house giving knobs and handles a quick swipe with the cleaning product of your choice, but this little task can really make your space look cleaner. Give the front door some extra love by cleaning it inside and out with warm, soapy water on a well-wrung-out soft sponge, and dry it with a soft cloth.

Wall Scuffs and Dings

Using a damp, soft cloth and a bit of dish soap, or a product like Magic Eraser, swipe off scuff marks. Fill any dings in the wall and touch up with paint.

Tops of Window Frames

The baseboards are more likely to get cleaned during a cleaning spree, but what about the higher spots? Get out the stepladder and carefully get to work wiping away built-up dust and grime from the tops of window frames and upper moldings.

Bookshelves

Shelves full of books and decorative objects can become quite dusty. Working shelf by shelf, remove the objects from one section, dust and return them. For bonus points, declutter your books and decor as you go.

Underneath Area Rugs

Move the furniture aside, roll up the rug and rug pad, and vacuum underneath. It sounds like a lot of work, but when you see what’s under there, you might be inspired to do this more frequently!

Picture Frames And Mirrors

Clean the glass fronts of picture frames and mirrors, and wipe away dust from the frames. Don’t spray picture frames, since liquid can potentially get in and damage the photo or artwork; use a barely dampened glass-cleaning cloth instead.

Upholstered Furniture

Get out the vacuum attachments and vacuum upholstered furniture, including under and between cushions. Rotate sofa cushions when possible for more even wear.

Oven And Range Hood

If you want to avoid oven cleaners, a thick paste of baking soda and water applied and left on overnight can do the trick — wipe it off with hot water the next day. Grease and dust tend to accumulate on the range hood. Stand on a step stool so you can see what you’re doing, and clear away the gunk using warm, soapy water.

Small Appliances

Spiffing up your microwave, toaster, blender and mixer doesn’t take long at all, but the cumulative effect of gleaming small appliances will make your kitchen really shine.

Grout

Light-colored grout looking icky? Remove grout discoloration and stains by scrubbing with oxygenated bleach.

Inside Kitchen Drawers

Never mind how the crumbs got in there; the important thing is to give your drawers a fresh start now. Remove everything, wipe out the drawers and return the items.

Food Storage Jars

Storing dry goods in sealed storage containers can help them stay fresh longer and prevent bug problems. But that doesn’t mean the stuff in your jars will never go bad. Inspect the contents of your canisters for freshness, check expiration dates and toss old or stale food. In the future, remove the last bits of food, for instance, flour before filling the canister with fresh food, then put the old bit back on top where it will get used up first.

Underneath Beds And Behind Furniture

Instead of sticking with the easy-to-reach spots when you vacuum this time, really get in there and hit the hidden, tucked-away places where dust goes to hide. Any allergy sufferers in your household will be grateful for the extra effort!

Laundry Room Dust

What is it about the laundry room? The areas on top of and around the washer and dryer tend to be some of the dustiest in the house. Vacuum around the appliances and wipe down the surfaces.

Vents And Hoses

If you don’t want to get in there and clean out your dryer hose yourself, hire a pro to do it for you. Whichever method you choose, it is important to get it done, because lint buildup inside your dryer and hose can potentially cause a fire.

Kids’ Toys

Little ones — especially toddlers who are still exploring the world by putting things in their mouths — can benefit from regular cleaning of toys, particularly when colds are going around. Hard plastic toys can get dunked in warm, soapy water, kids usually enjoy helping with this; most soft toys can handle a gentle wash in the machine but be sure to check labels first. “Loveys” and special stuffed animals should be hand washed and air dried, just to be on the safe side.

Shower and Tub Walls

It’s natural to focus more on the tub floor when doing a light cleaning of the bathroom, but the walls can get just as much soap scum buildup. To maximize the cleaning power of whatever product you like to use, leave it on for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing.

Bathroom Shelves

Shampoo, lotions and soaps can leak onto shelves in the medicine cabinet and beneath the sink. Give your bathroom a fresh start by removing all products, wiping down the shelves and returning only the items you use.

Tech

Computer screens and flat-screen TVs can get spotty. Pick up a cleaning spray or wipes designed specifically for monitors, and give all your screens a cleaning. Use a can of compressed air to clean crumbs out of your keyboard.