Bob Vila’s 10 “Must Do” Projects for August

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It ’s August , which probably means that — depend where you live and whether you have air conditioning — you’re pass the month taste to take vantage of every last minute of warm summer conditions , or doing your darnedest to stay out of the swelter high temperature . There ’s pile to do this month both indoors and out , from horticulture duties and keeping the house cool to make the house quick for back to schooltime .

1. Change Your Air Conditioner Filter

The summer heat can put mental strain on your airwave conditioning unit , stimulate spike heel in electrical energy bills , or worse , costly mend . But if you give your HVAC system a small TLC , it will reward you with yr of continued service . Change out thedisposable HVAC filteron your air conditioner ( this is a task that should be done seasonally ) , and give thecondenser fana good cleaning to keep it in summit condition .

2. Clear Seasonal Clutter

August is a good time to declutter seasonal gear , or at least find a way to salt away it neatly in the garage . When shelves and drawers are in disorder , it usually means you have too much on hand . Take some time to go through your stuff and nonsense , saving what you take and donating what you do n’t . If you bring your thing to the garage and discover that that space could use tidying too , our guide tocleaning the garagewill help you get thing back up to snuff .

3. Spruce Up the Deck

From summertime barbeque to seasonal storms , your pack of cards conditions it all . If yours is search a piffling worse for wear , give it a boost with some lightheaded maintenance . First , sweep and rinse away malicious gossip , junk , and mildew . Then , check for idle boards or nail pop . lastly , replace boards as needed and give the Earth’s surface a coat ofdeck stainand sealer . Now it ’s ready for more memorable summer fun .

4. Clean Your Bathroom Fan

Yourbathroom exhaust fanworks severely , pump humid line out of your home and preventing mold and mold . Clean your bathroom exhaust fanevery so often to stretch its life : Turn off power to the fan and vacuum away the dust . Then , withdraw the vent concealment and dampen it with mild scoop and water . Do a straightaway cheque of the fan itself , and supervene upon any damage unity as demand .

5. Save Seeds

Backyard gardeners , take Federal Reserve note : This year ’s harvesting could feed your home all through next summertime . keep your cum now , and you ’ll have everything you postulate for next spring ’s veg garden . Once you have strike how much moneysaving seedscan save you , you may need to ascertain other strategy forstarting a garden for destitute .

6. Remove Thatch

Thatch is a stratum of industrial plant textile that builds up between the grunge and grass . In small sum it can be beneficial to your lawn , but too much of it can damage the turf . By late August , coolheaded - season grass can do good from a goodlawn dethatching . Use athatch roue , like theTrue Temper 15 - in thatch rake , to ransack the fabric from the lawn . Afterward , hold a slender layer of fertilizer according to the manufacturer ’s instructions .

7. Learn a New Skill

get over the art of home melioration can hold open stacks of money that you might otherwise drop on hire a declarer . This calendar month , invest in yourself by pick up a new acquisition , likeweldingor furniture refinish . Many hardware store offer free summertime classes that cover the basic of plumbery , tiling , or even fence building . For more specialized task , try anonline of course in landscaping , plumbing system , or horticulture .

We are n’t going to tell you how to do your schoolhouse supplying shopping , but we do have some advice about what you could do around the house to make the modulation back to social class easy : How about creating abackpack stationnear the front room access , where you could corral minor ’ schoolhouse things ? To aid make homework and scheduling easy , view equip a rough-cut area , such as the kitchen , with a prep chart orwork station .

9. Dry Your Garden Herbs

August is the expert month for home gardeners to beginharvesting herbsand preserving them for year - circle use . cull your folio early in the Clarence Day , before it ’s too hot . For best flavour , start early on in the month . Basil , parsley , and dill weed do better when stored frozen . Dry herbs sicSage , oregano , and mint savor best whenair- or oven - dried .

10. Do Something Small

With fall on the visible horizon ( the holidays will be here before you know it ! ) , now is the time to undertake theeasy home repairsyou keep think to do . If you ’ve been meaning toseal the groutin your shower or touch up the key on your mopboard clipping , cross it off your to - do list . You ’ll feel energized knowing that you ’re commence off the new time of year in an organized and proactive way .

This Is the yr for a Kitchen Renovation

Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . find out why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to rest on budget .

Young woman staining a wood deck railing