June Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist

June welcomes the official start of summer, which means pool parties, barbeques, and of course, home improvement projects. With the weather warming up and school getting out, these are a few things you can do around the house to make this summer go smoothly. 

June home maintenance checklist

With summer on the way, your fridge is about to start its busy season.

Start by cleaning out expired food items (like that salad dressing from 2020) and wiping down the shelves. Swap out that old-fashioned baking soda for a high-tech fridge deodorizer.

Then, clean out the freezer and ice maker. Swap out the ice, wash the trays, and run vinegar through the water line to clean out the pipes. You'll also want to change the filter for any water dispensers in your fridge. 

With the kids out of school and the temperatures rising, you and your family might have summer vacation on the brain. Whether you're staying home all June or planning a big vacation, conduct a simple tech checkup for the security, smart home, and entertainment devices in your home. 

We all spend more time outside this time of year, so it's the perfect time to spruce up your security along with your flowerbeds. 

1. Trim shrubs and trees to eliminate hiding spots for bad actors.
2. Put away and lock up lawn equipment and ladders when you're finished with them. 
3. Check outside lighting and replace burned out bulbs. Adding motion-sensor lights is another good idea to shoo away prowlers.
4. Make sure to close and lock all windows (especially ground-floor ones) before you turn in.
5. If you have a pool, use smart home gadgets like a motion sensor, gate sensor, camera, or water sensor to keep kids and pets safe.

With school done for the year, your kids will have a lot of free time on their hands. Between camps and summer programs, they may spend a lot of time on their devices.

Be sure the parental control settings are updated on any tablets, phones, or laptops they use. Parental control apps allow you to adjust settings as your kids age, so it helps to reevaluate what your kiddos can handle from year to year. 

We also recommend considering smartwatches, trackers, or phones for kids during the summer as they travel between activities or while they're home alone during the summer. 

When things warm up, you may want to crack a window or turn on the ceiling fans. June is a great time to wipe the ceiling fan blades, patch window screens, and swap out air purifier filters around your home.

If spring hit you hard with allergies, pollen may not be the only culprit. Before starting up the ceiling fan for the summer, clean off the blades and dust all the fans in your house. All the dust and debris could be adding to your allergies. It's also time to set your ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise. This creates a downdraft that redistributes cooler air more efficiently throughout your home. 

While you’re looking up, consider swapping out some of your old bulbs for smart lightbulbs. 

Summer is prime insect season. If every winged, crawling thing seems to find its way into your home, check your window screens. Even a small hole or rip could be a welcome sign for bugs to enter your home.

For small holes, repair tape will suffice. If the damage is bad enough, you may have to replace the screen completely.

Your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors don’t do much if they aren’t charged and connected. So test these important safety devices at least once a month (earplugs encouraged). Make it easier on yourself by stocking up on batteries to keep on hand—your smoke and fire detectors will thank you.

Kids and adults are more active during June and the beginning of summer. Be sure you and your family are stocked with medicine and first aid supplies for your adventures.

Hiking, biking, and swimming during the summer can keep you and your family busy and active. But accidents happen, so don’t forget to stock up on basic first-aid supplies like bandages, disinfectant, and more.

You can also find portable first aid kits to take with you on your summer adventures.

You probably open your medicine cabinet every day. Take a moment this month to look closely at it. Get rid of anything that’s long expired, like medications, sunscreen, cosmetics, and other personal care products.

June is nestled between tornado season, hurricane season, and wildfire season in many areas.

This calm before the storm season is a great time to take inventory of emergency supplies in your home. Batteries, flashlights, crank radios, water, food, and meds are all necessary to have on hand in case of an emergency.  

June is the time to really enjoy your front or back yard. These simple chores can make your yard healthier and more enjoyable for the summer. 

If you’ve got a jungle gym or playground in your backyard, take a close look at it before the kids can get to it. Loose screws, rust, and splinters can lead to injuries and even hospital visits without the right precautions.

June may also be the perfect time of the year to open up your pool if your has one. If you have little ones, consider adding a sensor to your pool gate so they can't sneak in without you knowing. 

For most areas, June is a good time to start thinking about your lawn sprinklers. It gives you time to test them out, repair any leaks or cracks, and set up a schedule before your lawn gets too dry. 

Getting these set up early also gives you time to upgrade your sprinklers with smarter timers and controllers so you don't even have to think about lawn irrigation. 

When insects are active in the summer, they can find their way into your home. Have your home sprayed for pests like ants, termites, spiders, and other pests. 

Pour out any standing water to reduce mosquito risks. Anything that collects puddles, like buckets, toys, or tarps, is a prime nursery for pesky critters. As the summer goes on, you can set up fans around outdoor seating and dining areas to keep the adult mosquitos away from you and your guests.

Before you jump into the gardening and outdoor season, clean out the shed and garage so all your favorite tools are easy to reach. Donate or throw away tools you don’t use anymore, especially old power tools that could be a hazard to kids.

Dangerous chemicals like antifreeze should also be stored properly and organized. Be sure to dispose of any expired materials properly too.

Most flammable liquids, including some paints, don’t hold up well under heat. Make sure you store them in the optimal room temperatures indicated on the product label.

• Safety Guide for Summer
• May Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist
• July Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist
• Room-by-Room Guide to a Safer Home

1. Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Seasonal Patterns in Criminal Victimization Trends”. June 2014. Accessed May 14, 2024.