Seven tricks to maintain your home and save you from major repairs

The better you look after something, the longer it will last. This applies to everything from a favourite pair of shoes to a new car.

When it comes to one of our biggest investments – our home – regular maintenance can feel like a daunting chore. But if you’re not properly maintaining your home, it could cost you a lot of money. Here are seven of the most important chores to prevent long-term, costly damage.

Freshen up your bathroom

Bathrooms can get grubby over time. Poor ventilation and water build-up can lead to discolouration of paintwork, grout and sealant.

A steam cleaner will lift most stains. Look for areas of grout that need to be refinished. Replace the silicone around showers and sinks. Fresh silicone will help these areas stay waterproof for longer and look better. Clean any paintwork and freshen up with a coat of paint with anti-mould properties.

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If you feel like your shower isn’t working as well as it used to, it might be due to limescale. Even if you don’t live in a hard-water area, the limescale will build up. Descale or replace your shower head. It’s easy to do and will improve your showering experience immediately.

Clean out gutters

Clogged gutters can lead to roof leaks or water damage in your home. You should clean them at least twice a year, or more if there are a lot of trees close to your home. You can clean them yourself and most window cleaning companies will offer this service also.

Book a boiler service

You should get your boiler serviced every year. Not only will it prolong the life of your boiler, but it will also mean your boiler will run efficiently, keeping your heating bills as low as they can be.

Refinish decking

Decking in this climate can become rotten very quickly if not properly maintained. Refresh and refinish your decking at least once every 12 months to avoid this. Regular maintenance will prolong the life of the decking and keep it looking its best.

Examine your decking for damage or decay to see if any boards need to be replaced. Clean it thoroughly with a garden hose and cleaning solution. Give it a good scrub with a stiff brush and rinse well. It’s good to treat timber decking with an anti-algae solution to protect it from rotting. If you need to stain and seal your decking, do so only once the wood is completely clean and dry.

Clean upholstery and carpets

Carpets take a lot of wear and tear, so it’s a great idea to give them a professional clean every few years. The same goes for upholstery and mattresses. Professional cleaning will keep them looking their best and help them last longer too.

If you are concerned about chemicals, some companies offer chemical-free cleaning, such as Chem-Dry, who use a green-certified solution and a proprietary hot carbonating extraction process to penetrate deep into fibres. The result is a deeper clean, a faster drying time and a healthier home.

Touch up paintwork

You won’t need to repaint every room every year but set aside time once a year to touch up or repaint areas that need it. It’s a nice idea to refresh paintwork every couple of years and an opportunity to give a room a new lease of life with a fresh new paint colour.

The same applies to exterior paintwork. Check for any peeling or chipped paintwork. You may only need a minor touch-up in some areas or a more extensive repaint. Painting projects are easy to tackle yourself. If you keep on top of them, they should never become overwhelming or costly.

Clean your appliances

Every appliance, large or small, needs to be cleaned from time to time to keep it in good working condition. Modern appliances will prompt you to let you know when they need to be descaled or cleaned. On the other hand, older machines will rely on you remembering to carry out these tasks. With good maintenance, your appliances should last many years.