June Home Maintenance Tips

House

• It will soon be Father's day. Don't forget to call your dad. If you need a gift but don't know what to get, try a 21 CountryGift Card. Call us for more information.
• If your father or anyone is a do-it-yourselfer, they may be looking for a new hand or power tool. 21 Country has a wide variety of quality hand and power tools ideal for anyone, whether they're a novice, a weekend builder, or a professional.  
• Check and clean downspouts and gutters of any spring debris.
• Complete any interior or exterior painting projects on your list. June is a good month to plan and complete those exterior painting projects. 
• Decide whether you want to repaint your home the same color of if you want to consider a new color scheme. We sell Valspar paint that has more than 2500 custom colors to choose from. Plus, we can match and make any other major brand paint color. 
• 21 Country stores have a wide range of quality paint and painting supplies.
• If you haven't cleaned the freezer recently, now is a good time to clear out the old and make room for stocking up on seasonal produce from farmers' markets.
•  Local strawberries are in season. Try making strawberry jam and get all your food freezing projects started. You sure will be glad you did in January when you are enjoying those strawberries. 
• Check water supply hoses on your sinks, washing machine, refrigerator, and dishwasher. If they show signs of deterioration, replace them. A broken water supply line can lead to a disaster.
• If you have central air conditioning or forced hot air heat, you should be replacing the air filter on your fan unit on a regular basis. Be ready to replace the filter at the end of June.
• With the air conditioner running for the summer forget those ineffective "cheap" filters and purchase a quality Filtrete filter manufactured by 3M.
• June is National Safety Month. Take a break from your outdoor projects and make sure your home is safe.
• Does your family have a fire escape plan? If not, sit down together and discuss how you will exit your home in case of fire. Make sure there are two exits from every room. Decide where your meeting place will be outside a safe distance from your home. Finally, and most important, rehearse your fire plan and work out the bugs. To really make sure it works, execute the plan a couple times once your children are asleep. It will freak them out at first, but they'll get the confidence to quickly escape if they have a chance to practice.
• 21 Country has a complete line of products to make your home safe for you and your family. Whether you need a lead test kit, child safety devices, a new smoke alarm, or a home fire extinguisher  we can help. 
• Clothes dryer vents should be checked at least once a year to make sure they are clear of any lint buildup that could cause a fire.

Yard

• Inspect all of your recreational equipment and make sure it's in good repair. Make sure the fence and gates surrounding your swimming pool are secure. 
• If you have wood decks, check them for signs of wear or deterioration. Repair or replace as needed. If you have nails popping up, consider replacing them with galvanized screws instead. 
• Check exterior railings and stairs. Repair if they are loose or showing signs of wear. Anchoring cement can be used to repair those loose posts that are set in concrete.

Garden

• Now is a good time to plant additional annuals.
• Depending on the year, it may be necessary to water your gardens. Consider soaker hoses, or traditional sprinklers regulated by water timers as alternatives to automated, underground sprinkler systems. Stop in and let us show you your garden watering alternatives.
• Replace any broken or worn out gardening tools.
• Continue to weed and fertilize your gardens. You may want to consider a fertilizer product such as Preen and Weed to accomplish both. There are traditional and Green alternatives spray weed killers available.
   

Seasonal Supplies

• Freezer bags and food storage containers
•  Gutter downspout guards and gutter screens
• Deck and siding cleaners
• Canning jars and canning supplies
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Paint and painting supplies
• Fire extinguishers and fire escape ladders
• Water timers, hose washers, and in-line shut offs
• Hand & power tools 
• Garden hoses, hose nozzles, and sprinklers
• Tarps & bungy straps
• Forced hot air and central air conditioning filters