How-to guides

How to get windows ready for winter

1. Pick a dry day

   Work in dry, calm weather before it turns cold. A wet frame and a cold wind make it harder both to wash the glass and to inspect the seals.

2. Wash the frame and glass

   Clean the window from inside and don't lean out over the sill. On upper floors, clean the outside only from indoors, and only if the sash design allows it.

3. Inspect the seals

   The rubber seal around the sash hardens, cracks and stops sitting tight over time. Wipe it with a damp cloth and check it by touch: if it has lost its springiness, it's best to replace it.

4. Check how tightly the sash closes

   Many windows let you adjust the hardware for a tighter seal in the cold months. How to do this on your model is described in the window manufacturer's instructions.

5. Find the drafts

   On a windy day, run the back of your hand along the frame and the sill. Gaps around the window opening and sill are filled with a suitable sealant, following its instructions.

6. Clear the radiator under the window

   Don't block it with furniture or floor-length heavy curtains. Warm air from the radiator heats the glass and reduces condensation.

How to clean the range hood filter and vent grilles

1. Turn off the range hood

   Unplug it or cut the power as the manual says, and wait until the stove and the hood housing have cooled down.

2. Remove the metal filter

   Release the latches while holding the filter with your other hand. Soak it in hot water with dish soap and scrub it with a soft brush; whether it can go in the dishwasher is up to the manufacturer.

3. Don't wash a charcoal filter

   If your hood has a charcoal filter, it gets replaced on the schedule in the appliance manual, not washed.

4. Take off the vent grilles

   Removable grilles in the kitchen and bathroom are usually held by clips or screws. Work from a stepladder set on a level floor and ask someone to spot you.

5. Clean the dust off the grilles

   Wash them in warm water with a mild cleaner and let them dry. You can vacuum dust from the duct opening, but don't reach deep into the ventilation shaft; that's a job for professionals.

6. Put everything back dry

   Reinstall the dry filter and grilles, turn on the hood and check that it runs as quietly and smoothly as before.

How to test a smoke detector

1. Find every detector

   Walk through your home and note where each one is installed. Add their locations to the family chore list so none gets skipped.

2. Read the manual

   It tells you how often to test the detector, how the test button works and how to replace the battery.

3. Press the test button

   If the detector is on the ceiling, use only a steady stepladder, with someone else nearby. The alarm should be loud and clear.

4. Brush off the dust

   Gently clean dust and cobwebs off the housing in a way the manufacturer allows. Don't paint over the detector or tape it up during renovations.

5. Replace what doesn't work

   A weak alarm or no sound at all means it's time to replace the battery or the detector itself. Do it right away, not at the next check.

Read next

• Tools

  What to keep on hand for seasonal home care, from a stepladder and brushes to weatherstripping, a flashlight and a hygrometer.

• Care

  Caring for windows and doors, ventilation, plumbing, radiators, floors, the balcony, the roof and gutters, by season and by situation.

• FAQ

  Answers about the guide, seasonal home tasks and safety when working at height, with windows and around electricity.