Stepladder
You'll need it for ceiling detectors, vent grilles and upper sashes. Set it only on a level floor, open it fully and use it only when someone else is nearby.
Tools
Tools
Seasonal home care doesn't call for a workshop. Almost everything on our calendar can be done with a small kit that fits in a closet or on a shelf by the door. Below is what you'll need to wash windows, check seals and ventilation, seal small gaps and keep an eye on humidity. We don't name specific models: choose ones that are reliable and feel comfortable in your hand.
A kit for seasonal jobs kept in one place saves more time than any clever gadget.
How this section works: tools are grouped by task, and we don't name brands, models or costs. For how to use each tool or product safely, see its instructions.
For reaching high and cleaning
Things that help you reach windows, grilles and detectors and get them clean.
Bucket and brushes
A bucket, soft brushes, sponges and microfiber cloths are the basics for spring window washing and fall grille cleaning. Save stiff brushes for surfaces where the manufacturer allows them.
Gloves
Rubber gloves for working with water and cleaning products, and sturdy work gloves for the balcony, the gutters and the post-winter cleanup.
For sealing and monitoring
A small kit to find a draft, seal a gap and understand what's going on with the air in your home.
Weatherstripping and sealant
Spare weatherstripping for windows and doors and sealant for small gaps around the window opening and sill. Choose them to suit your windows and apply them as the manufacturer instructs.
Flashlight
Helps you look under the tub and sink, behind the radiator and into a dark corner of the closet, where the first signs of a leak are easy to miss.
Hygrometer
A simple device that shows the humidity in a room. It helps you notice when the air has become too dry in winter or when dampness is building up, so you can air the place out in time.
Heating season (in Russian)
Read next
- How-to
How to get windows ready for winter, clean the range hood filter and vent grilles, and test a smoke detector.
- Care
Caring for windows and doors, ventilation, plumbing, radiators, floors, the balcony, the roof and gutters, by season and by situation.
- Planning
A yearly home plan: which jobs to leave for spring, summer, fall and winter, how to keep a chore list and how to share tasks as a family.
What we rely on
- Manufacturer instructions for windows, appliances and equipment
- General household fire safety guidelines
- Kissdesign editorial materials
Everything on Kissdesign is general guidance based on manufacturer instructions for windows, appliances and equipment and on household fire safety rules. For the specifics of caring for your own window, appliance or detector, see its manual; check with your building management before any work in an apartment building, since rules differ by country; and leave gas, heating, electrical work and roofing to professionals.