Easy & Overlooked "To Do" Homeowners Miss!

Do you remember walking into your first home and soon, that "to-do" list grew? PUASE - let's talk about the simple things that surprisingly don't make it on the list!

We often ignore the little things in our homes. We get used to the dipping shelf, work around the drafts, and tiptoe around problems, telling ourselves it's no big deal in hopes of saving money.

As long as it doesn't fall apart, right?

In the end, it all adds up, and it's not exactly something we'd like to spend money on at this time.

Here are some "little things" that may be bothering you, too.

2026 Spring Home Tips

1. Dipping Cabinet Shelves

When I first moved into my home, I was absolutely in love with the kitchen. The Home Inspector gave great notes, so I, of course, immediately started placing my items in.

That's when I started to notice the cabinet shelves were dipping in the middle from all of my wonderfully gifted containers.

Over the years, I learned how to balance them out. Where to place each item. Even reorganizing the cabinets and learned the art of minimalism. All was well until one too many Tumblrs caused all the shelves to come tumbling down.

It was that moment that caused me to do a little research. I didn't want to replace all the shelves at the time. That little bit of research helped me find support pegs. The shelves themselves were in good shape, so that made this project easy.

Some of the pegs went into the empty holes.

I also made some additional pin holes.

Simple. Easy. Saved myself from numerous future headaches.

2. A New Fire Extinguisher Every 10 years

Did you know you're supposed to replace fire extinguishers every 10-12 years?

Kitchen fires are something I'm sure we all learned about in Junior High, but here is a refresher. It's important to check yearly and replace fire extinguishers due to the dry chemical agent compacting. The date and instructions should be on the label.

Here's a guide to follow: GUIDE

ALSO, a fire blanket! For everything the extinguishers cannot extinguish, such as oils, paints, flammable liquids, or persons! Dangerous to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. A friend got their pajama pants imprinted into their skin for life!

And of course, test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Changing the batteries as needed.

3. Maintaining the Maintenance Supplies

Speaking on replacing items. Toilet brushes are to be replaced at least every 6 months to a year. Often overlooked because we barely look at them.

The easiest way to remember to replace them is to incorporate it into your spring-cleaning routine. When it's time to renew and refresh.

A decent alternative if you have a hard time remembering is these disposable toilet brush wands. A bit costly and you'll have to remember to buy refills with just about every other grocery trip, but on the bright side, you won't need to remember to replace the toilet bowl cleaner.

4. Not just for Safety, Bathmats Help with Stains!

Talking about maintenance, moving on to the bathroom!

I renovated my guest bathroom with a "more cost-affordable" brand of tub.

It scuffs and stains so easily. I was a bit taken aback.

I hadn't properly used it for a while.

I had to learn the art of using Barkeepers Friend cleaner, ceramic coatings strictly on the walls, and a proper washable bath mat. Just rinse and dry to keep from soap scum buildup.

A mat protects the tub surface from:

• scratches

• dye transfer from products

• rust from metal bottles

• general wear

Mats can act as a barrier to keep porcelain or acrylic from discoloring.

Lower maintenance - loofah-style mat without the suction cups, and it dries fast!

And voila, a usable bathtub!

5. April Showers Bring May Flowers and Pests!

Springtime is that fantastic time of year when those pesky pests emerge.

Ants, spiders, and several wonderful creatures that are thawing out from winter.

Periodic or scheduled pest control can save your home in the long-run and give you peace of mind in the short-run. A pest technician was able to find a few places where wasps and ants were able to get in.

A few Items to keep handy:

Raid - kills on contact. For those insects, your peripherals catch scurrying across the room.

Chemical Defense Spray - spray the exterior perimeter of the home, windows, vents, or doors. My husband worked for pest control, and this is his go-to!

Alternative to Chemicals:

Electric Fly Swatter - extends to get those spiders or flies near the ceiling!

A few drops of peppermint oil in a steam floor cleaner, peppermint oil repellent spray, Castile Oil Peppermint soap incorporated in your cleaning products, or peppermint packets to keep in discreet places.

There are so many possibilities! And honestly, my favorite option.

Door Gap Seals - protect against drafts and anything that may think about crawling under. A simple and efficient method.

Ultrasonic Repellers

I keep a Bat Repeller on the Upper Floor near the attic.

Ever since then, the unexpected chirps and ceiling scratches have stopped.

6. Storage Cabinets with Locks!

   
   

Great for a tenant or roommates who want their belongings secure, mixed up with someone's similar items, or keeping it out of reach from our teens. But, for me, the last item on my DIY list was to restore a rusted cabinet in my laundry room.

In the end, it was deemed too far gone, and I opted to replace it.

Before this happens to you, there are ways to save your cabinet before it's too late.

First, determine if it is worth saving for your safety.

An easy cleaning solution most of us have on hand is vinegar and water.

There are rust removers, rust dissolvers, and rust converters.

Depending on the structure, make sure to select the best one for you.

What do you think is overlooked?

Enjoy your spring cleaning! Now more time outdoors - another tackle!

The mild temperatures are ideal for tackling projects!

Whether it’s refreshing paint, fixing winter damage, upgrading insulation, or finally remodeling that outdated kitchen, spring offers the perfect conditions to get it done efficiently.

Protect yourself, your property, and your investment.

And enjoy your refreshed living space this spring!

-HomebyYvonne

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