Every now and then it’s incredibly important to take a look at your home.

That way you can fix whatever issues that you’ve been neglecting. Whether you have a small apartment or a large four-story home, it’s very important to spend some time examining your house and looking for issues that might require a bit of extra effort to fix. In this article, we’re going to go through several of the most common household tasks that people hold off.

Task #1: Cleaning and clearing out kitchen appliances.

One of the most common areas in your house that you might neglect is the kitchen. More specifically, it’s your kitchen appliances such as your fridge, your oven and even countertops. Even with a strong extractor fan, you’re eventually going to get thin layers of grime and dirt sticking to all of your appliances, and you’ll need to clean out the oven if you use it on a regular basis. Even your fridge could be harbouring bacteria, and any spills that occurred in the past might have left some lingering residue that isn’t helping.

Start with the larger appliances that you use on a regular basis and try to time your clean when they’re not in use. For instance, if it’s almost time to fill your fridge and freezer again, then you may want to move everything out of the appliance, give it a good clean, and then put all of your new stuff inside.

Task #2: Giving carpets a deep wash.

Carpets can take a long time to clean if you don’t do it on a regular basis. If you don’t exactly have a history of cleaning your carpets, then it might be time to start. The more you clean them, the easier the next time is because you’ll not only have less to clean, but you’ll also have more experience on the matter so that next time you do it, you don’t have to spend as much time.

Task #3: A deep clean for your bathroom.

Bathrooms are common places where grime and dirt can build up especially if you’re not cleaning it on a regular basis. This is often due to the steam that comes from showers and baths. The easiest way to get rid of these problems is to ensure there is good ventilation such as from a fan or a window, but if you haven’t cleaned your bathroom in some time, you should focus on issues like mold, limescale and glass surfaces.

Task #4: Inspecting your home appliances.

Over the course of a year, appliances such as your fridge, alarms, computers and so on could start accumulating dust, grime or even work less efficiently than usual. It’s vital that you inspect your fire alarm and other crucial appliances to ensure that they work effectively for a long time. Keep them well-maintained, replace their batteries, install upgrades if needed and buy a replacement if needed.

Task #5: Cleaning out the inside of your microwave.

If you use the microwave on a regular basis to heat up leftovers, you may want to consider steam cleaning your microwave and giving it a thorough clean. The inside can get rather dirty especially if you heat up anything that has a sauce. It’s prone to heating up and splashing around, meaning you could end up creating a lot of mess. There are some easy steps to clean your microwave that include cleaning the interior and exterior.

Task #6: Dusting high shelves and bookcases.

Bookcases and shelves can get surprisingly dusty, especially if they’re not used on a regular basis. Many people use their shelves for storage and this means placing objects that typically aren’t moved around very often, and this results in frequent dust buildup. Make sure you wear a mask if you’re dusting a high place so that it doesn’t fall onto you, and consider using a vacuum cleaner with a long extension.

Task #7: Getting rid of excess items in your storage.

Storage can quickly pile up and overflow, creating a mess and an unsightly room. Items in shelves, drawers, cupboards and so on should be cleaned out and organized. Make sure you throw out anything that you don’t see yourself using or consider donating it to charity in order to get rid of it. Avoid having too many items in the first place by purchasing less, being more frugal and being more considerate about your purchases.

Task #8: Replacing unwanted or unworn clothing from your wardrobe.

Wardrobes are also storage areas that will quickly pile up and cause a mess. Not only do unworn clothes generate a lot of dust if they aren’t covered, but they’ll just waste space and make it harder for you to pick out clothes in the morning. Make sure you get rid of anything that you don’t need, donate old clothes and consider packing away clothes that you don’t see yourself wearing for a long time, such as formal or summer outfits.

Task #9: Painting old and chipped walls.

Over time, your walls will slowly start to chip, crack and wear down. One of the quickest ways to give them a brand new look is to simply paint over them. You can either find a matching color or consider painting your house an entirely different colour. This will give your home a much nicer look and you can even try a different color palette to give your home a brand new theme. You’ll need to purchase some supplies such as paint and equipment, but you’ll also need to cover your furniture so that paint doesn’t accidentally splash onto it.

Task #10: Dealing with utility problems.

Utility problems can include low-pressure showers, leaking taps or even pipes that appear worn and damaged. It could also include electricity problems such as switches that don’t work, lights that flicker or even worn socket plates. Electrical problems are dangerous and as such, you should always speak to a trained and professional electrician. Plumbing issues can also be dangerous, but simple tasks like replacing a faucet can be done with a bit of experience.