Getting Straight to the Point

I recently moved into my own new home, and as a young person just starting to live alone, I've been really struggling with various household issues. The refrigerator making strange noises at midnight, bathroom ceiling getting moldy, wooden floor getting scratched by my gaming chair... These problems really had me worried.

After exploring and learning for most of this year, I finally compiled a set of home maintenance tips suitable for young people. Honestly, if someone had told me these things earlier, I wouldn't have wasted so much money on repair services. Today I'm sharing my experience with everyone, hoping to help other young people who are just starting to live alone avoid some detours.

Monthly Must-Checks

As a young person who often stays up late gaming, I deeply understand the importance of safety equipment. I remember once almost setting the kitchen on fire while cooking instant noodles at dawn, fortunately discovering it in time. Since then, I've developed a habit of checking safety equipment every month.

Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are truly essential for home safety, and checking them is super simple. Every month I take time to press the test button and check if the alarm sound is still loud enough. Once I found the alarm sound had become particularly quiet, and though I almost wanted to put it off until next month, thinking about safety issues made me change the battery immediately. This small investment can really save lives in critical moments, so never be lazy about it.

Speaking of water and electrical systems, I've really learned some lessons there. When I first moved in, because I didn't know to check, one day I suddenly discovered a water leak in the kitchen pipes that soaked all my snack boxes. Since then, I've developed a good habit of monthly checks.

How to check? It's actually very simple, just turn on all faucets to test the water pressure. If you notice the water pressure suddenly decreases, or hear strange sounds in the pipes, then it's time for an immediate check. Now I pay special attention to signs of water seepage at pipe joints, such as water stains or mold. If these small problems are discovered early, you can solve them yourself with some sealing tape, but if you delay, you'll need to call a professional repairman.

Then there's the electrical system, which is really important. Now we use more and more electrical devices, especially when gaming, with the host, monitor, speakers, and other equipment running simultaneously, the power consumption is not small. Every month I check if the sockets are overheating or if there's any wire damage. Once, because of this habit, I discovered signs of overheating in a socket in time, and if it hadn't been replaced promptly, it might have caused a fire.

Seasonal Changes

Every change of season, I give my home a thorough cleaning. To be honest, I found it really troublesome at first, but after experiencing several seasonal issues, I understood how important this step is.

Let's start with external maintenance. I have a drain on my balcony that I used to ignore. Once during heavy rain, the balcony water almost flooded into the living room, which really scared me. Later I learned that leaves and dust had blocked the drain. Since then, I thoroughly clean the drainage system every season change.

Especially in autumn when there are lots of leaves, I clean the rainwater pipes in advance. This work isn't particularly difficult, just time-consuming. I usually use a long-handled brush to clean out the leaves and garbage from the pipes, then flush them with water. After doing this, I don't have to worry about leaks on rainy days.

Air conditioner maintenance is a technical job. When I first moved in, because I didn't know how to maintain the air conditioner, it cooled poorly in summer and had a strange smell in the room. Later, after researching a lot online, I learned that air conditioners need regular maintenance.

My current practice is to do inspection and cleaning one month before winter and summer. Filter cleaning needs to be more frequent, I clean it about once a month. The cleaning method is simple: use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, then wash with clean water, and reinstall after drying.

Since I started maintaining the air conditioner regularly, the effects were immediate. Not only did the cooling and heating improve, but the electricity bill also decreased significantly. Last summer my electricity bill was nearly 20% less than the previous year, that's real savings.

Another important seasonal task is checking door and window seals. With winter coming, poor seals will let heat escape. My method is to test the gaps with a piece of paper - if it can be easily pulled out, the seal isn't good enough. That's when you need to replace the weather stripping.

Repair Tips

Speaking of repair techniques, I've learned quite a few useful tricks lately. Especially in floor maintenance, it's really been eye-opening.

Let's start with carpet issues. I have a really comfortable carpet in my living room, but because I often have my gaming chair on it, it's developed many indentations over time. At first, I thought about replacing it, but later found out ice cubes could solve this problem.

The specific operation is like this: place ice cubes on the indentations and let them melt naturally. Amazingly, the carpet fibers will naturally expand due to the moisture, and those unsightly indentations will gradually disappear. I've used this method several times now, and it works quite well.

Hardwood floor maintenance also has its tricks. Once I accidentally dropped a dumbbell on the floor, leaving an obvious dent. I was about to call someone to fix it, but then found a super useful method online. Just cover the dent with a wet towel and iron it. The principle is using thermal expansion and contraction to make the wood fibers expand again.

However, when using this method, you need to be especially careful with the temperature control and duration. I suggest starting with medium heat, and if the effect isn't obvious, gradually increase the temperature. Never start with the highest temperature, or you might damage the floor. The first time I tried, I didn't control the temperature well and almost left a brown mark on the floor.

Another trick I recently discovered is about repairing small wall holes. When renting, I had hung many photos on the wall and needed to fill the holes when moving out. I found that toothpaste can perfectly solve this problem. Squeeze white toothpaste into the small holes, let it dry, then lightly sand it with sandpaper, and finally apply some wall paint - the repair becomes completely indistinguishable from the original wall.

Daily Maintenance

The kitchen is where I think needs the most frequent maintenance - after all, who hasn't cooked instant noodles in the middle of the night?

First, let's talk about the refrigerator. I previously had no idea that refrigerators need space for heat dissipation and had it pushed right against the wall. As a result, the refrigerator consumed a lot of electricity and didn't cool very well. Later, I pulled it out 20 centimeters from the wall, and the problem was immediately solved. Now the refrigerator not only cools better but also uses about 15% less electricity.

Another maintenance point for refrigerators is regular defrosting. Although many refrigerators now have automatic defrosting, the freezer still accumulates ice. My experience is that you should defrost when the ice layer exceeds 5 millimeters. When defrosting, you can temporarily store food in insulated bags so you don't have to worry about it spoiling.

Microwave cleaning is a headache. I used to clean with dish soap but always worried about chemical residue. Later I discovered a particularly environmentally friendly method: place a cup of white vinegar in the microwave, run it for 3 minutes, then wipe while hot. This not only removes stubborn stains but also eliminates odors - killing two birds with one stone.

Range hood cleaning is also important. I now soak the filter in hot water weekly, then clean it with dish soap. Every month I also thoroughly clean the entire range hood with special cleaner. This not only keeps the kitchen clean but also extends the range hood's life.

Bathroom maintenance also needs attention. I've found that bathroom corners and ceilings are most prone to mold. The prevention method is to maintain ventilation, running the exhaust fan for at least half an hour after each shower. If mold has already appeared, you can spray with a mixture of vinegar and water, then gently scrub with a toothbrush. Remember to dry thoroughly afterward, or the mold will quickly grow back.

Lessons Learned

Through more than a year of practice, I've developed a set of home maintenance methods suitable for young people. The most important thing is to develop habits and make maintenance work part of your life.

For example, now when I return home from work, I habitually check the water and electric meter readings. If I notice the numbers suddenly increasing rapidly, it might indicate a water leak or abnormal power usage. When cleaning on weekends, I also check various corners for signs of water leakage or mold.

These small habits seem simple but have really saved me a lot on repair costs. I have a friend who never does maintenance, and last year alone spent over 20,000 on repairs. That money could have covered several years of preventive maintenance.

My current approach is to set aside a small portion of my monthly salary as a home maintenance fund. Small items like changing light bulbs and replacing air conditioner filters all come from this fund. This not only makes home maintenance more planned but also avoids scrambling when sudden issues arise.

Final Words

Honestly, home maintenance might seem troublesome, but once you develop the habit, you'll find it's actually quite simple. Plus, solving these problems yourself can bring a great sense of achievement.

I suggest everyone make a maintenance plan that suits their actual situation. You can start with basic safety checks and gradually expand to other aspects. Good maintenance not only saves money but also keeps your home comfortable.

If you have any useful maintenance tips, welcome to tell me in the comments. Maybe your experience can help other young people who are just starting to live alone like us? Let's create a cozy and comfortable home together!