Introduction
Your home is your castle, but you are also the maid, the custodian and the groundskeeper. Most homeowners are pleased to be doing their own maintenance and clean up work. This might explain the rise of numerous home improvement stores around the country, such as Home Depot and Lowe's. The home maintenance and improvement industry employs many people on the local level at local stores that sell the tools and products that you need to effectively pull off these tasks on your own. On the national level, home improvement experts have TV shows and publish articles in magazines to attempt to provide the best advice for people wishing to perform their own home improvement and maintenance. Although there is an abundance of resources to make sure you correctly and safely pull off various household projects and tasks, you should follow a few additional tips that can help in almost any scenario.
Step 1
Always refer to your owner's manual first, before starting any home improvement and maintenance projects. Technology is advancing the appliances and equipment that we use in home to the point where information from experts is too generalized or completely outdated. Many appliances are so computerized, you have to connect them to the Internet to update the software within. For example, to increase the efficiency of a household refrigerator or washer, the manufacturer might publish an update for the appliance. You also interact with these advanced appliances via a push button or touch screen controls.
If your appliance is fairly conventional and standard, you should still refer to your owner's manual first before starting home improvement projects. Many manuals have a troubleshooting section that explains how you can fix problems on your own, if something should malfunction. These manuals also explain how to properly clean an appliance or a piece of equipment in your household.
Step 2
Always have safety in mind when you perform home maintenance and improvement projects. For example, read the label on the back of household cleaners to examine the chemical ingredients. You may be surprised to learn about some of the potentially harmful and toxic products found in household cleaners. Many of the chemicals, the average person has never heard of before.
Also consider making your own cleaners that are less dangerous to your health and safety as well as those that benefit the environment. For example, vinegar is generally a safe and effective cleaner, including being able to eliminate mold and mildew as well as destroy stains around the home.
Always wear gloves while cleaning and wear a mask if you are dealing with chemicals that emit noxious gases. For example, if you like to clean with chlorine bleach, you might consider wearing a mask in an enclosed area, such as the bathroom.
Step 3
Partner with members of your household to accomplish maintenance and home improvement. For example, if you have a spouse or older children, ask them to help you with your projects, as a way of bonding and creating a sense of accomplishment throughout the household. This also adds a measure of safety, such as when you have to lift up on appliances.
Tips
Although hiring someone for home maintenance and improvement sounds expensive, you might be surprised how cheap it is to get someone to simply mow the lawn. This helps you save money on having to buy a mower or gas.
Sources and Citations
None.
