Hey Kiddo!
Take some time this weekend to take care of the following tasks around your house, to ensure safe, efficient, and healthy living/driving situation. You got this!
Task 1: Household - Spray for Bugs and Set Rodent Traps
🎯 Why it matters: Pests multiply rapidly, spread diseases, cause structural damage, and hurt your home's value and reputation.
⚙️ The process:
Spray pesticides around entry points to your house
Set traps along walls and corners, (check weekly)
Cost: $20-50 monthly DIY or $300-600 annual professional service
⚠️ What's at stake: Skipping pest control risks:
Health & Safety: Disease transmission (salmonella, hantavirus), asthma triggers from cockroach allergens, electrical issues from chewed wires, structural damage from termites
Financial Costs: Termite repairs ($1,000-10,000+), electrical work ($500-5,000+), emergency treatments ($200-1,000+), medical expenses, 5-20% property value reduction
Social Impact: Guests noticing visible pests, awkward hosting situations, neighbor complaints about pest migration, damaged reputation for home maintenance
Legal Issues: HOA violations and fines, potential health department intervention requiring professional remediation in severe cases
💡 The reality: Prevention costs very little compared to the health, social, and financial consequences of infestation.
Task 2: Automotive - Check and Replace Your Windshield Wipers
🎯 Why it matters: Worn wipers reduce visibility during storms and signal poor maintenance to everyone who sees your car.
⚙️ The process:
Check wiper blades for cracks, tears, or streaking
To Replace: Lift wiper arm, press release tab, slide off old blade
Snap new blade into place until it clicks
Cost: $10-30, Time: 5-10 minutes
Consider applying Rain-X treatment on your windshield as well
⚠️ What's at stake: Ignoring worn wipers risks:
Health & Safety: Reduced visibility in storms increasing accident risk, potential citations for unsafe vehicle operation
Financial Costs: Windshield replacement from scratches ($200-500+), traffic citations ($100-300), increased insurance premiums, reduced vehicle resale value
Social Impact: Passengers and colleagues noticing maintenance neglect, perception of unreliability, friends hesitating to ride in bad weather
💡 The reality: Twenty dollars and five minutes protect your safety, preserve your reputation, and maintain your vehicle's value.
Task 3: Household - Clean Your Washing Machine and Filter
🎯 Why it matters: Dirty washing machines breed mold and bacteria, contaminate your clothes with unpleasant odors, and can cause flooding.
⚙️ The process:
Run a cleaning cycle with vinegar or commercial cleaner
Locate filter (usually front bottom), place towels/bucket underneath to catch water
Drain, Unscrew, rinse filter thoroughly, reinstall securely
Cost: $5-15 monthly, Time: 15-30 minutes
⚠️ What's at stake: Skipping this maintenance risks:
Health & Safety: Mold spores affecting family members with allergies or asthma, flooding from clogged filters, electrical hazards from water damage
Financial Costs: Machine replacement ($500-1,500+), water damage restoration ($1,000-10,000+), mold remediation ($500-3,000), replacing contaminated clothing
Social Impact: Clothes retaining musty odors at work and social events, visitors noticing unpleasant smells in your home, reputation for poor home maintenance
Legal Issues: Potential HOA complaints and fines if odor or mold issues affect neighboring units in shared living situations
💡 The reality: Fifteen minutes and a few dollars monthly prevents thousands in damage and saves your social reputation.
⚠️ Disclaimer ⚠️
The information provided in this email is intended for educational purposes only. By using this guide, you acknowledge and agree that you are fully responsible for your actions and decisions while performing the tasks described herein.
The author and publisher shall not be held liable for any damages, injuries, or negative consequences that may arise from the application of the information contained in this email, or its attachments. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the necessary skills, knowledge, and safety precautions in place before undertaking any tasks. Always seek professional advice or assistance if you are unsure about any procedures or actions.
Proceed at your own risk.
Congrats on a job well done! Keeping up on these Proactive Maintenance Tasks will help improve your health & safety, save money in the long run and maintain property values. Keep up the good work Kiddo!
Enjoying DadMinders? Refer a Friend, Get Rewards!