Autumn. Cleaning and maintenance

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.?

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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