Category Archives: Home Maintenance

As the electricity ⚡️ comes back on, water 💦 begins flowing normally again, and outside temperatures 🌞 hit above freezing, we will all exhale into some normalcy in our homes.  But before you exhale, it’s time to put on your own home inspector hat and pull out the notepad and phone. 🔎
This time is crucial for picture 📲 and note 📝 taking for insurance claims and more.
As things thaw out and settle, sometimes the hidden issues arise. 🚨 Let’s think about some home inspection tips (some you probably have not thought of) for after this unprecedented winter storm to get your home back up and running quickly.

Four Home Inspection Tips You Never Thought Of After the Texas Winter Storm

How To Inspect Your Home After The Texas Winter Storm

​Check your home like you are Sherlock trying to solve a crime. 🔎
Inspect rooms you rarely go into over the next few days (and month) often. 
​Areas including:
✅closets
✅the flooring
✅the window sills and baseboards
✅and especially in rooms you aren’t in often.
Water damage 💦sometimes doesn’t show up immediately. So consistently inspect areas you rarely pay attention to.While offering Austin cleaning services, we clean many areas our clients rarely notice in detail as we do. We tend to always see the water damage in the window sills, or the mold building up in hidden areas after a rain storm.
​We are gearing up on high alert after this Texas winter storm, to be on the lookout for more than dust when our Austin home cleaning schedules open back up

.NEED HELP CLEANING UP AFTER THE TEXAS WINTER STORM? CLICK HERE AND WE WILL GET STARTED!

Ice Machines and Bacteria 🦠

With Austin and most surrounding areas having a city wide boil notice, even though you may not have used your ice, toss it. The freezer and cold temps do not kill bacteria. Some ice makers like the one shown in the photo, are consistently making new ice. Keep tossing the ice it makes until the Austin boil water notice (and surrounding counties) is lifted.

Update or Create A Home 🏡 Emergency Contact List.

Remember back in the day, our parents had that emergency contact list for us, the babysitter, and more…on the fridge or the wall?
Well, your home needs one for its needs, too. You need a reliable source of contacts for your home for emergency situations – BEFORE an emergency arises.
And, if you already have a list, you may want to take a look at it. Is it old? Does it need some updating? You may need to update contact information or create a new relationship. The keyword here is UPDATE. Take some time to look at it now, before you need the information, so that it will be ready if/when you do.
Here is a list to get you started:
Home warranty number:
Electrician:
Plumber:
Appliance repair:
Carpet cleaner/water extraction:
Garage door repairman:
Pool repair:
Sprinkler repair:Helpful Tip: Build relationships with these contacts by sending them thank you 😊 🙏 cards (for example: during the Thanksgiving season).  Your home 🏡 is most likely your biggest 💰 investment, that houses most of your material possessions.
​Having a team of professionals on standby for your home is a must. ☎️
(Home Depot and you can’t fix it all every time).

The Garage

The garage is still considered a room, and is sometimes used to house many liquids that cannot take extreme temperatures like these we’ve had during this Texas winter storm. 🥶

Any cleaning supplies or liquids that have not returned to a normal appearance after thawed to room temperature and being shaken or stirred are most likely unusable.

If you must discard them, please check your local hazardous materials department for proper disposal details.

A Personal Note From Penny

Knowing that Austin Plumbers are most likely going to be on the top of everyone’s list this upcoming week, I’m one step ahead of you.
Here are a few local businesses I recommend for your Emergency Home Contact list.

Plumber: Alta Vista Plumbing (512) 713-0226
Carpet: BB&B Carpet and Tile (512) 589-6406
Insurance: Christopher Washington Goosehead Insurance (512) 599-9111
Electronics Fix: Longhorn Mac Repair (512) 902-3789
Garage Door Repair: Lake Travis Overhead Doors (512) 910-3667
Personalize your list to meet you and your home’s needs.

I hope you are staying safe and warm. This Texas winter storm showed us Texans what we’re made of. We saw neighbors helping neighbors – folks providing food, heat, water and shelter to some they had never met before. That’s what we’re really all about. 

Please continue to care for one another and, hopefully, these home inspection tips have helped you care for your home as well.

What are some tips you have for inspecting your home after this brutal Texas winter storm? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.  And please don’t forget to follow us on social media!

Any kind of housework doesn’t seem like a sexy thing to do for a man, but there’s a secret to the sexy part. It’s all in….the idea of doing things that go unnoticed, but require a mans touch. Housework shouldn’t really be a sexist chore, but it can be sexy and easy at the same time. Thank me later by anonymously sending me wine to my office with a note 📝 that this blog was a winner 😉

CHANGE  LIGHTBULBS AND CHANGE HER MORNING MOOD!

Men, If you haven’t realized it already, lighting matters! Whether it’s for a selfie, or applying morning makeup, it matters to most women. Take a moment and look around your house and change the lightbulbs that are out. There’s so many different kinds and places that they are hiding, that they end up just getting overlooked. The rangetop on the stove, outdoor lightbulbs and more can get you a smile for sure if you change then. 💡

How To Make The Dryer Dry Faster Could Get You To The Bedroom Easier.

Ask her how the dryer is working lately and if you need to take a look at it. You don’t have to call a technician 👨🏻‍🔧 first if the dryer isn’t drying well when you’ve got a flashlight 🔦 and muscles.😉
A clogged vent trap and low circulation of air is a big problem in the laundry room that rarely gets detected till it doesn’t work. Check behind the dryer to make sure the flexible ducting isn’t kinked. Sometimes if flexible ducting is too long it makes the dryer work harder as it isn’t a direct line of heat out the wall but a kinked line of heat mashed up against the wall. When all else fails don’t be afraid to google it. Extra heat can damage clothes and start a fire and the only fire you want is in the bedroom between you two, not in the dryer vent.

It’s Not Just The Trash That Stinks

Taking out the trash is appreciated, but we all know that going the extra mile makes a woman smile. Take the trash cans around the house outside and spray them down with a household disinfectant. Then spray them with the hose and let them air dry. By this point she’s going to be shocked at the effort you’re putting into things around the house with your own chore list. Making her smile now just might make you smile later in other areas of the house 😉

Do You Know How Many Filters Your Home Has?

We all usually think AC air filters when someone asks have you changed your homes air filters right? There are at least 4 filters that your wife would love for you to change for her on a regular basis.
1. The Air Filters on the walls and in the Ac Unit.
2. Range top Filters above the stove that catch grease in the air while cooking.
3. The Refrigerator has a water filter that should be changed at least once every 6 months.
4. The Household Vacuum has a filter that traps dirt and smells that needs to be changed, washed and cleaned at least once a month or more depending on use.
I know it sounds silly by this point, but remember that you’re fixing problems before they exist to make her smile. When she sees you doing things routinely it makes her feel helped happy and grateful.

Hiring Help Gives You Back More Time

We can only do so much before we wear ourselves out. Don’t wait till Mothers Day, her birthday, or the day she’s thrown a grown woman fit, to realize she’s worn out and needs help. You spend a lot of time working and the free time you have shouldn’t be wasted on cleaning blinds and baseboards when it can be shared together making each other smile. Sharing household responsibilities can be appreciated but before you wear yourself out trying to show up and show out, feel free to reach out to us for help. We’ve been providing Home Cleaning Services in Austin for 23 years. Understanding every homes personal needs helps us provide a personal touch to bring your home peace.

After stepping out of bed into water drenched carpet I realized I couldn’t blame the dog and had to blame myself. This was preventable by simply opening the….

INSPECT/DRAIN YOUR HOT WATER HEATER

hot water heater closet at least once a year to check inside. I would have noticed my drip pan was full and there was moisture in the closet. Yep that’s right my Hot Water heater had leaked from the garage, to the closet, to the bathroom, to the bedroom.
PREVENTION: Ask yourself when was the last time you INSPECTED your water heater. 🤔 hmmmm yeah me either. That’s not a closet I frequent. We usually don’t inspect till there’s a problem. Inspect the drip pan to see if it’s full of minerals and murky water.
​FLUSH THE WATER HEATER
This yearly procedure clears out sediment and minerals like calcium and lime that could prevent proper performance. Having a Pro do it could cost about $80-$100
PENNY’S PERSONAL TIP Strongly consider placing your water heater in the garage (if building or remodeling a house) and adding a discharge pipe so that if it does happen to overflow, the water will be directed outside rather than through your walls.
​

CLEAN & CLEAR THE DEBRIS FILTER ON YOUR WASHING MACHINE

Afyer a cycle was supposed to be complete I opened the washer to soaking wet clothes. I cursed and then fixed it.
​PREVENTION:
Unplug the washing machine from the electrical outlet.
Place a towel down under the machine as much as you can and place a large bowl on the towel.
Open the square box and unscrew the emergency drain. Get ready for the water to flow out so hold the cap and pull it off slowly.
Unscrew the debris filter and wash and clear any dirt you find.
Look inside where the filter was to make sure there is no more debris in there.
REOLACE ALL PARTS AND THANK ME FOR SAVING YOU MONEY 😁

CLEAN THE AC CONDENSATION DRAIN LINE

I’d rather come home to cold wine than a hot house so let’s prevent that months in advance. Mold and mildew can build up inside the condensation drain line and form a clog. This clog can cause water to back up and overflow inside the AC Unit.
PREVENTION:
Pour a cup of distilled vinegar in the access opening in the drain line by the AC unit to kill any mold or mildew that has formed.
Yoy should be able to see the liquid and all that it pushed out of the drain on the outside of your AC unit.
PENNY’S PERSONAL TIP
Some people reccomend using bleach but since our pets hang out in the most odd places in the yard let’s kee the bleach away from there outside dwellings.

CHECK PIPE AREAS UNDER SINKS

Expired items and mold could be lurking under your cabinets where water pipes are.
PREVENTION
Check under sinks! Leaks, broken caulking, or bubbling surfaces are signs of water damage and the longer they go unnoticed the more damage they can cause.
PENNY’S PERSONAL TOUCH TIP
While checking under the sink take a bag with you to remove expired items.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TIME AND LESS DIRT

CLEAN/CLEAR OUT THE DRYER AIR VENT DUCT OUTSIDE

We usually think that cleaning out the filter trap is enough but it’s not. The dryer has air vent duct that leads from the dryer, to the wall and outside. Sometimes animals can build nests in there as well as our own build up from the dryer. Clogged Dryer Vents have been known to cause house fires so check it yearly.

So you’ve opened your washing machine door after the cycle  is complete expecting to just toss the items in the dryer and you are faced with a situation. 

Dollar bill signs are probably coming across your mind and you’ve probably said a word or two that your mother may not approve of.

Let me make you smile with two ways to go about this…

One – the easy way that you can do yourself (And I am about to show you in this blog)
Two – the hard way that will probably cost more than a dollar. Now let’s try the easy way first….

OPEN
There is a small compartment at the bottom of the machine.  Open it.

CATCH

Grab a a towel and or bucket because this is about to get messy, icky and dirty.  Open the large round knob SLOWLY and catch the water that will come out. 

CLEAN
 Now that you have unscrewed the Drain Filter you will see all the icky stuff trapped inside of it.  Clean off the filter.

REPLACE
Now you can screw the clean drain filter back in and all parts back to how they were.

RUN
Run a quick RINSE AND SPIN cycle and let the machine do it’s work.

IF THIS DIDN’T FIX THE ISSUE GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT WORD AGAIN THAT YOUR MOTHER WOULD’NT APPOVE OF. ( I’ll close my ears)

Something may be clogged in the drain hose in the back.
REMOVE the drain hose on the back (again have a bucket handy as water may come out.

RINSE 
Take the drain hose outside and run the hose on a strong force through the hose to push anything that may be clogged in out.  (A small sock could even cause this damage).

REPLACE 
Now it’s time to put the hose back on ( Making sure everything is TIGHT & RIGHT before you go to the next step).

RUN
Run the RINSE AND SPIN cycle and let’s see if you’ve become your own HandyMan for the day.

IF THIS WORKED CALL ME AND THANK ME…..THEN POUR YOURSELF A GLASS OF WINE BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT.
​

IF THIS HOWEVER DID NOT WORK…DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME CALLING ME AS I WON’T ANSWER….CALL A HANDY MAN

School is out and summer vacation begins.  It’s something you’ve been planning for quite some time.   Vacation destinations, hotel, restaurants and shopping to try have all been squared away  but don’t forget about home before leaving home. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE PLANNING A SUMMER VACATION IT DOESN’T MEAN YOUR HOME IS!

Here are 6 tips to prepare yourself and your home for your summer vacation:

Now go and enjoy your vacation!

While you are busy packing for your upcoming holiday trip think twice before checking into your local airport or updating your status on your favorite social media site.Thieves not only look for piled up newspapers as a sign of vacation, they view your comings and goings online as well.
So with all the excitement of the holiday season stay alert and keep your home and it’s valuables safe by not letting the thieves know you are on vacation. Post pictures upon your return.
Set automatic timers on lamps inside your home.
Stop the newspaper service while you are gone.
Ask a neighbor or two to be on the lookout for your home and any suspicious activity.
Make sure your trash cans are not left on the curb for days.
Most of all just be aware and also make your children aware that posting your personal whereabouts on Facebook or any other social media sites not only let our friends know where we are but also strangers.Santa isn’t the only one watching.

With the New year coming in, we begin to plan for many changes that usually fall by the waste side by February or March. Although our homes are usually the biggest lifetime purchases we make, they tend to get forgotten too in the New Years resolutions. However by using calendar alerts and reminders on our cell phones and computers, it can also be easy to stay on track with these new found goals for our homes. For example: Just type in on your calendar for February1st to change your air filters. Life will become busy ( I can guarantee that!) But you are on your computer and cell phone daily,so when you least expect it….A reminder/alert will pop up that you put in, in the beginning of the year. You are now reminded to change your air filters!

Here are a few things that tend to get forgotten. Take the time to mark these in your calendar alert system today so that you are reminded throughout the year.

ALERTS/REMINDERS Get air conditioners and heating systems checked

Have air ducts cleaned

Clean behind the dryer and inside the dryer air vent

Have the chimney cleaned professionallySteam clean the carpets

Clean out the gutters

Take the comforters, duvets and curtains to the dry cleaners

Have the area rugs professionally cleaned

Schedule window cleaners

Set reminders monthly to change air filters on air conditioner units