Upkeep List Bootstrap
Here is a quick-start guide to help you build your own upkeep list. It starts with a few tasks mining exercises to collect as many tasks as possible and finishes with a list of task examples to give you some ideas. As we do the exercises, we want to be thorough as much as possible, but remember, collecting tasks and updating the list is an everlasting process.
What goes on the upkeep list?
What goes on the upkeep list? All recurrent unscheduled tasks. This is, tasks that need to be done at regular intervals but not at a fixed time and date. (See Task Types)
Execice One: Do a Brain Dump
Start by writing everything that comes to your mind. Don't organize, just write you can sort later if it is upkeep list material. Think of all the things you do (or should do) each day, each month, each year. Think of what you:
- clean, wash and refill
- check to see if it is ready to use
- update to make sure it stays current
- verify if it is secure
- sort and put back to place so it can be found later
- empty to make room for more
Excercice Two: Walk Arround The House
Go from room to room and search for things that need to be done, repaired, sorted and cleaned. Try to take different points of view, literally, kneel, lay on the floor, use a stepladder and look from above.
Excercice Three: Review Your Owner Manuals
Ask yourself: How, and how often, should I care for that thing that I own? Read the operations manual of what you own and look for any recurrent maintenance tasks.
Task Examples
The following tasks examples are provided for informational purpose, as an example of how one may do them, they do not constitute advice or instruction on how to do them. You should always refer to your appliances owners manual or the advice of an expert to find the proper way to care for your appliances. Certain task and their frequency may depend on the regulations where you live. For each task, the period is specified in days, at the end of the title, between parentheses. It is a starting point to be adjusted for your needs.
Backup documents offsite (60 days)
Store a backup copy of important documents in a different location then the principal one.
Change bedding (14 days)
Bed sheets should be changed regularly to control the buildup of dust, proliferation of mould, bacteria and dust mites. If you are allergic and depending on your sleeping habits, the frequency of the cleaning may need to be increased. Either use hot water (60°C) to wash or tumble dry at high temperature.
Clean bathroom sink drain (120 days)
Disassemble and clean the p-trap under a sink to remove accumulated hair and prevent it from clogging.
Clean coach (30 days)
Clean cushions. Vacuum all sides and cracks. Disinfect.
Clean dryer exhaust duct (270 days)
The dryer’s exhaust duct should be cleaned regularly to prevent it from accumulating lint, which hinders its function and presents a fire risk.
Clean inside the refrigerator (7 days)
Discard spoiled food, wipe all the glass shelves to remove any spills. Remove the drawer and clean the inside. Clean the bottom of the refrigerator (under the bottom drawers). Clean the door gasket. Wipe the door handle.
Clean oven (15 days)
Wipe the inside of the oven to remove any spills and avoid accumulation which could become a grease fire hazard. Clean the door's glass to keep a clear view into the oven.
Clean the car (30 days)
This task could be divided into two: clean the inside and clean the outside of the car. This is because depending on the season, cleaning the outside of the car may not need to be done as often as the inside. Use this opportunity to check that all the equipment and documents for the car are present. Functionality and safety come first; cleanliness is secondary. Clean all lights, mirrors, windows and cameras for better visibility. Remove any debris and clutter that could move around and impair your driving.
Declutter (7 days)
Find unnecessary items such as broken, unused or in surplus and dispose of them properly. Regular decluttering will first help to downsize, if needed, then help maintain the optimal number of possessions.
Descale coffee maker (30 days)
Overtime, due to hard water, limescale deposit can build inside the coffee maker and partially or completely clog its tubes. Fill the coffee maker reservoir with a mix of 1:1 of water and white vinegar. Start it and wait for the water to drip. When it does, stop the coffee maker and let it sit for 30-60 minutes then restart it and let the cycle finish. Rinse the coffee maker with two cycles of clean water.
Descale shower head (90 days)
Descale showerheads to remove limescale and prevent blockages and bacteria proliferation.
Empty inbox (7 days)
Inboxes are any devices physical or virtual that are used to capture the information you receive. They need to be emptied regularly to ensure that the new information is processed and classified properly. It is preferable to keep the smallest number of inboxes possible. For an in-depth how to collect and process inputs read Getting Things Done by David Allen.
Inspect washing machine hose (365 days)
Washing machine hoses should be inspected every year to prevent leak and damage. Look for signs of wear, including cracks, blisters, or bulges, especially around the connection.
Replace smoke detector batteries (365 days)
Replace the battery of each smoke detector in the house and test each detector with smoke to make sure it is working. Smoke detectors have an expiration date and should be replaced.
Review credit report and score (365 days)
Request your credit report from the different credit bureaus and review it to correct inaccurate or incomplete information. It can't also help detect fraud early.
Test smoke detector (30 days)
Use the test button to make sure your smoke alarm is working.
Update the first aid kit (90 days)
Check the first aid kit and medicine cabinet to see if some items need to be re-supplied, if expired medication needs to be disposed off and if emergency information is up to date.
Wash shower curtain (30 days)
Use soapy water with vinegar to wash the shower curtain. If it is machine washable, put it in the machine with towels or sheet, use the normal cycle with warm water. Do not spin, but hang to dry. Frequency of this task may need to be increased if the bathroom is not well ventilated.
Wash walls (30 days)
Depending on the room, the vertical surfaces in our homes will require different cleaning. Kitchen walls are exposed to grease from cooking, the bathroom walls are exposed to moisture, the doors collect dirt from being touched, corridors wall get scuff marks easily and the bedrooms and living room mainly accumulates dust. Beside scuff marks, dirt builds up gradually, making it difficult to tell when the walls need cleaning. For this reason, regular cleaning is preferable. When cleaning the wall, be sure to use the right technique and products to avoid damaging the surface, dust first and protect the floors.