February Home Maintenance Tips
Simple tasks before the big Spring Clean!
February 2025 Home Maintenance Tips for Seattle
February is a great month to take care of those smaller home maintenance tasks before we dive into spring cleaning. With just a little effort now, you’ll set the stage for a clean, organized, and refreshed home as we move into the warmer months. Below are my top February home maintenance tips for homeowners in Seattle.
1. Clean the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and February is the perfect time to give it a thorough cleaning. Here are a few areas to focus on:
Garbage Disposal: Freshen up your disposal by running a few ice cubes through it to sharpen the blades, followed by a slice of lemon or a splash of vinegar to deodorize. For an even deeper clean, sprinkle baking soda in the disposal and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing with hot water.
Oven: Many ovens come with a self-cleaning function, but if yours doesn't, you can easily clean it by applying a baking soda paste (baking soda and water) to the interior, letting it sit for a few hours, and then wiping it away. For stubborn grime, a mixture of vinegar and water works wonders. Don’t forget to wipe down the racks and replace any old oven liners!
2. Check Lightbulbs and Upgrade to LED
This is the perfect time to go through your home and check for any burnt-out lightbulbs. Consider upgrading to energy-efficient LED bulbs, which last longer and save money on your energy bill.
Organize Old Bulbs: Go through any old bulbs you’ve been holding onto, clean out what you don’t need, and properly dispose of them. Don’t forget that many older lightbulbs contain mercury and should not be thrown in the trash. Here’s where you can properly recycle lightbulbs in Seattle.
Lighting Tip: For a warmer, more inviting space, opt for soft white LEDs in living areas, and daylight LEDs for task-oriented spaces like the kitchen and bathroom.
3. Inspect Bathrooms
February is also a great time to do a quick inspection of your bathrooms. Beyond the usual cleaning tasks, here’s one that often gets overlooked:
Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet: It’s easy for expired medications to pile up. Go through your medicine cabinet and properly dispose of any expired or unused medications. Never flush medications down the toilet unless they’re on the FDA’s list of flushable items. You can check the FDA’s can flush list here and the can't flush list here.
Seattle Medicine Disposal: Seattle offers several locations for safe disposal. Find a medication take-back location near you to ensure you’re following safe disposal practices.
4. Prepare for Spring Cleaning!
With spring just around the corner, February is the perfect time to prepare for a deep clean. Next month, I’ll be sharing a more comprehensive spring cleaning schedule to help you tackle your home from top to bottom. But for now, you can either get a head start by doing smaller cleaning projects (think organizing drawers, decluttering closets, or deep cleaning one room), or take it easy knowing that a full deep clean is just around the corner.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of these small tasks now will make your home feel more organized and ready for the busy months ahead. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re staying on top of your home’s upkeep. Stay tuned for next month’s spring cleaning schedule, and let’s tackle this together!
