Work Holiday Projects

Work holidays provide a great opportunity for a variety of house projects, although these projects can be done at any time of course.  Some tasks should happen every work holiday.  Others depend on the needs of the house and what your members choose to focus on.

Essential Items:

1. Clean out all hallways and stairways. (Label non-guff items in advance.)
2. Clean out storage areas. (Label non-guff items in advance.)
3. Take large or excess garbage to Drop-Off Station. (Reserve ICC Truck in advance.)
4. Deep clean cooking stove and exhaust hood.
5. Clean coils on refrigerators and freezers.
6. Defrost any non-frost-free freezers.
7. De-lime sanitizer as necessary.
8. Clean out bath fans.
9. Clean exterior dryer vents.

General Maintenance:

1. Repaint rooms, hallways, stairways, etc. (Repair holes and dents in advance.)
2. Paint murals / decorate common spaces. (Repair holes and dents in advance.)
3. Repair / replace any missing or damaged window screens.
4. Replace any missing or old smoke detector batteries.
5. Lubricate door locks with WD40.
6. Lubricate door hinges and door closers with WD40.
7. Lubricate window tracks with SILICONE SPRAY. (WD40 will destroy vinyl.)
8. Re-caulk bathrooms.
9. Fire-caulk around any cable or pipe penetrations through walls.
10. Repair / replace any damaged or missing gutter downspout extensions.
11. General grounds-keeping.

Specialized Maintenance:

1. Repair holes and dents in drywall (or plaster).
2. Bleed air from heat system radiators.
3. Label breakers on breaker panels (& fuses on fuseboxes).
4. Repair / replace old electrical outlets.
5. Get all bedroom and hallway doors to self-close and latch.
6. Refinish wood floors.

All supplies should be gathered before the work holiday.

Essential Items:

1. Clean out all hallways and stairways. (Label non-guff items in advance.)

2. Clean out storage areas. (Label non-guff items in advance.)

3. Take large or excess garbage to Drop-Off Station. (Reserve ICC Truck in advance.)

• Pickup truck
• Gloves

4. Deep clean cooking stove and exhaust hood.

• Cleaning products
• Steel wool
• Sponge / brush
• Paper towels

5. Clean coils on refrigerators and freezers.

• Brush
• Vacuum
• Compressed air
• Foam coil cleaner

6. Defrost any non-frost-free freezers.

• Towels
• Bucket & rags
• Blow-dryer

7. De-lime sanitizer as necessary.

• De-limer
• Sponge / brush

8. Clean out bath fans.

• Ladder
• Brush
• Compressed air

9. Clean exterior dryer vents.

• Needle-nose pliers

General Maintenance:

1. Repaint rooms, hallways, stairways, etc. (Repair holes and dents in advance.)

• Sandpaper
• Bucket & rags
• Tape
• Tarp / plastic / newspaper
• Paper towels
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint can opener
• Hammer
• Paint mixing sticks
• Brushes
• Rollers
• Roller covers
• Trays
• Ladder
• Painting pole (roller extension)

2. Paint murals / decorate common spaces. (Repair holes and dents in advance.)

• Same as above

3. Repair / replace any missing or damaged window screens.

• Ladder
• Measuring tape

4. Replace any missing or old smoke detector batteries.

• 9V Batteries
• Extra smoke detectors
• Drill (for wall anchors)
• Screwdriver
• Ladder

5. Lubricate door locks.

• WD40
• Master key

6. Lubricate door hinges and door closers.

• WD40

7. Lubricate window tracks.

• Silicone spray (WD40 will destroy vinyl.)

8. Re-caulk bathrooms.

• Utility knife / razor blade
• Caulk
• Caulk gun

9. Fire-caulk around any cable or pipe penetrations through walls.

• Caulk
• Caulk gun

10. Repair / replace any damaged or missing gutter downspout extensions.

• Corrugated drainage pipe & adaptors
• Sheet metal screws
• Power drill
• Hacksaw

11. General grounds-keeping.

• Gloves
• Lawn bags
• Rakes
• Shovels
• Gardening tools

Specialized Maintenance:

1. Repair holes and dents in drywall (or plaster).

• Paint scraper (stiff putty knife)
• Flexible putty knife
• Joint compound (or patching plaster)
• Drywall hand sander & sandpaper sheets

2. Bleed air from heat system radiators.

• Bleeder key / screwdriver
• Cup & bucket

3. Label breakers on breaker panels (& fuses on fuse-boxes).

• Cell phones
• Sharpie & pen
• Voltage detector / outlet tester

4. Repair / replace old electrical outlets.

• GFCI receptacles
• Cover plates
• Screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Voltage detector
• Outlet tester
• Utility knife
• Flash light / head lamp

5. Get all bedroom and hallway doors to self-close and latch.

• Screwdriver
• Hex keys
• Hinge pins

6. Refinish wood floors.