Autumn. Cleaning and maintenance

Can you clean out the gutters and drains? I'm looking for a handyman for that.

I have lived by myself now for some twenty five plus years. TBH even when my ex was there, I was the one who did all those jobs.

My solution, as I got older, was to move to a flat. No gutters, drains or garden to worry about. Window cleaner for outside, I still do the inside ones myself. No particular or different housework whatever time of year it is.

My window cleaner will do the gutters for extra fee and I clean the drains if needed.

I usually do these jobs in silence, always happy in my own thoughts and it gives me time to ponder. I realised that I was following some maintenance with specific cleaning and this was dust that had fallen around the windows from the open windows and dry air blowing dust in, that is part of autumn cleaning

Lubrication of every moving part of all windows and doors. Mine is now done. This specific maintenance is important to do every year and silicone spray must be used, definitely not wd40.

While in my bedroom, I continued with autumn cleaning ie bottoming, I did not need to move beds as I have quickstep flooring and just used a long microfibre flat duster. I did under drawers under bedside tables too. Then the skirtings

I do this more often but this is specific ready for autumn, ready for the new season

Out in the garden, I have kept up with all the pot cleaning and so on. Nothing accumulates as I hate that job when the weather is bad. I know where the outside tap insulation is and that will go on in november, the same time that I make sure my water butts are 2/3 empty. Then I disconnect the inflow and pop a cork in the tube into the water butt, to prevent insects going in

I put two coats of osmo oil on my benches the other week, otherwise that would soon fall apart. I know where their winter covers are. I would be preserving outside wood now, if needed, thankfully not needed here.

kircubbin, I would if I was in a bungalow and felt safe up a ladder, otherwise do ask a window cleaner

I checked my outside air vents the other day, the ones outside the house. All are nice and clear but leaves can blow and clog so keep an eye on them during autumn

I agree, karmalady, this is a big problem when we find ourselves living alone. I used to do a lot of it myself, pretty much painted everything in the house. And I'm lucky to have two sons who are very helpful, - don't know I would manage without them really. These days I have a gardener to mow the grass and tidy the shrubs, and he also is happy to clean the windows and gutters and facias etc.
I still manage to repair some things myself with string, superglue or duct tape!
I do hope you find someone reliable to help you, if the need arises. Reliable is the word; they are not all reliable. So good luck.

P.S I just read your second message. Sounds like you are doing brilliantly.

I have primed my GCN that conker collecting season is about to start. We collect some every year and they line the windowsills as a reassurance to my GD that they will keep the spiders at bay.
That means I need to get going and do the Autumn clean before they arrive!
Thank you for the prompt Karmalady.

Meanwhile I'm gradually putting the garden to bed, cleaning and tidying as I go. The fence painting is half done so really hoping it doesn't rain for a few days.

I use conkers as a moth preventer and they seem to work. I was told about this when very young by an elderly neighbour. Replace each autumn.

I’ve noticed that our conker trees seemed to have prematurely shed their confers in the drought. Very few on the trees.

Thanks karmalady I must get myself organised. The only point you made that I didn’t understand, is that WD40 is silicone based, so it’s perfect for cleaning moving parts on windows and doors.

Just remembered I had a man do this about 3 years ago. I didn't really like him but he was cheap so I'll look for his number.

Gosh - I live on my own too but have done no autumn cleaning. Come to think of it, I don’t do any spring cleaning either. It’s the normal slipshod cleaning for all seasons.?

crazyH, same here, no special cleaning (spring, autumn or Christmas) just the usual haphazard stuff - when I notice it and can't ignore it any longer. I've been widowed for 25 years, so I do it all myself (eventually). If or when I can't manage it, there's a local council handyman scheme. I may, one day, have to get a window cleaner and/or have the lawns cut but I take pride in doing it - and it's good exercise.

I'm with Hetty, no massive clean, but do things as I notice or think of them - or not...... I do have a window cleaner though, who comes once a month.

Casdon, WD40 is a petroleum based penetrating oil, really good for releasing rusted nuts. You use silicone spray on eg drawer runners that are reluctant and or on curtain rails to help curtains slide easier. Windows and door movement systems only need silicone to reduce friction. Any oil gets sticky eventually and atracts dirt and gunk

I saw lots of spider nests lurking in the patio door hinges, those conkers may well be needed. I did clear the nests away before lubricating but no doubt they will be back. I also saw a cluster fly outside a window frame, on the edge, looking for a home

Henetha, yes I am managing very well on my own, I have always been a practical person but maintenance is so important otherwise minor tasks can become big jobs that need an expert

More house maintenance: a moving mixer tap in my kitchen. If you are able, clear the space and look underneath with a torch. There is a fixing set- up below the actual tap. Mine just needed a couple of wrenches and a quick turn to tighten. Saves a fair bit of money when you don`t need a plumber. A head torch is a good thing to have

Leaking taps may just need a new ceramic washer, they just need an allen key and a new washer.

If your central heating is not working properly, have a look at the pressure gauge on your boiler. It should be at 1.5 bar. If too low the ch will not work. It is again an easy job, there are taps below the boiler and one needs to be turned so you can see the bar increase and also hear water going in. You may need to find your boiler instructions wrt tap position on your boiler

No work now, I am going to settle back to watch the procession to westminster

Hetty yes re the good exercise. It certainly is that, good for body and mind and very satisfying

another job, not season related, one I did last week and need to repeat every 12 months

A smoke alarm went off full blast at 5.30am and I had to suddenly wake up and check all areas. I have fixed it by changing each battery for a new duracell pp9. I used an easychange tool, cheap and there is a video on the site, made it very easy

I have 4 alarms in my house, heat alarm in the kitchen, smoke alarm in hall and on landing and a heat/carbon monoxide alarm in lounge. They are all wired and when one goes off they all go off. I needed 3 batteries, for the 2 smoke alarms and the one heat alarm. The heat/carbon monoxide sensor has a notice `not a changeable battery` this means that the whole unit needs to be changed every ten years because the sensors degrade over time. I have seven years to go and will employ an electrician for that

I have a good safe lightweight aluminium ladder, tall enough so I can reach the ceiling from the step below the top step and there is also a taller section that allows a handhold or to lean against, I feel safe and not wobbly

If you have an alarm that pips every so often, then the battery also needs changing. The smoke alarm electric circuit needs to be turned off. Look in the fuse box, each fuse will be marked and should have its own switch. If you cannot find it then turn the power off and wear a head torch so you can see. It is a quick job so no worries about the electric being off

Next year no second guessing. It is in my diary

karmalady This is the WD40 I use, it’s definitely silicone, from B&Q, I’ve had it years.
wd40.co.uk/product/high-performance-silicone-lubricant/
There must be more than one formulation, I didn’t realise.

I'm on my own too and the only thing I hate cleaning are the gutters and fascia boards as I hate going up too high on a ladder, even though it's a bungalow lol.
I painted all my fencing through the summer and next doors as the MAN dropped a hint about doing his too while I was at it! After that I painted the floor of my garage and I've just fed my grass and power washed my slabs.

casdon it is not worth the risk. It is solvent based. I have that in my workshop/garage but would not use it on my window fittings. I never used a cloth as in the link, just sprayed

www.safestyle-windows.co.uk/ask-an-expert/window-and-door-maintenance/how-to-oil-your-windows-moving-parts/

four years ago, widowed by then and getting the house ready for sale, The upstairs verandah needed painting and had wooden painted pillars right up into the roof. I went up a long ladder and tied the top with rope to the verandah rails. I did the painting after using an electric sander up there too. Would not do it now but I did a very good job, hanging on for dear life but happy that the ladder would not slip

I used to go rock climbing and it was safe if 3 limbs were in contact, same when up a ladder. You can get safety stuff to keep a ladder in place at the bottom, to stop it slipping as it could on plain tiles or concrete

You are a fearless superstar alioop. I put jigsaw shaped foam tiles down in my garage before I moved in. Hate concrete dust which is so bad for lungs and I can kneel to service my bikes.

Nothing but nothing is impossible for a female provided it is not too heavy or high and youtube is your friend

I love WD40, always have some in my cupboards, and use on creaky hinges, etc.

Like others here I do not do any specific seasonal cleaning, do things as they are required.

However, recently my very large and heavy sliding patio door came off its bottom runner. The man who came to sort it out for me, did say that it was an advantage that, at no time, had anyone put any sort of oil or silicone lubricant on that runner as that could well damage the way it operated. Told me just to wash with mild soap and water for future.

yes of course that is good advice franbern, there is no way you would want to reduce the friction at the bottom of a heavy sliding glass door. It is obvious really