Customizing, improving, and yes, even maintaining your home are all perks of being a homeowner. Tackling some maintenance projects around the house is a great way to make your home more comfortable and efficient. Choose the right projects, and you might even add significant value to your home if you ever decide to sell. But home improvement and maintenance projects can also be a major time drain... unless you know the right home maintenance hacks to make life easier.

We've got you covered. Our REALTORS® at Wright-Patt Realty have put together 10 home maintenance hacks that will help you save time, and sanity, including some quick cleaning tips that are perfect for preparing for an open house.

Home Maintenance Tips: How to Make Life Easier around the House

1. A Box for Every Tool – The simple act of keep a well-stocked toolbox may not seem like a home improvement hack, but it's really the first thing you should do if you're serious about home maintenance. A screwdriver, hammer, measuring tape, pry bar, and pair of pliers are essential. It's easier to find the motivation to do the job, when you're not scrambling to find the basic tools you need.
2. Painter's Tape – Painting is messy work, but painter's tape makes the job much easier. It's usually blue in color, and can be found with the painting supplies in your favorite hardware store. Apply the tape where two surfaces meet, do your painting, then remove the tape after the paint is dry to reveal clean, straight lines.
3. Snakes in the Drain – Use a drain snake to clean out clogged drains, and improve the efficiency of your bathroom. This is especially useful for the shower drain, where hair builds up and is tricky to remove without the right tools.
4. Headache-Free Insulation – If you're just insulating a small space or sealing a draft, forget about the frustration of fiberglass insulation rolls. Spray-foam insulation is affordable, easy to use, and perfect for smaller jobs.
5. Classic Cleaning – Vinegar is an incredibly versatile, effective cleaning agent around the house. It's especially useful for cleaning water stains, kitchen messes, and even your dishwasher or microwave.
6. Gleaming Grout – Scrubbing the grout in your bathroom and kitchen is not a fun task, and that's being kind. Save your knuckles some stress, and use a bleach gel-pen to clean grimy grout around the house.
7. Potted Plants – Adding some indoor plants can be a great decorating touch, and might even improve the air quality around your home. Visit your favorite garden store, and ask an expert about the best plants for your region.
8. Lemon Fresh – Just like vinegar, lemons are among the best natural cleaning tools you'll find anywhere. Cut a lemon in half, and use the wedges to clean metal fixtures in your kitchen and bathroom.
9. Dust-Free Blinds – Natural sunlight does wonders for the interior of your home, but dirty blinds keep all of that goodness from making it inside. Use dryer sheets to wipe down your blinds, and get rid of dust with minimal effort.
10. Replace HVAC Filters – Your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system will work much more efficiently if you replace filters based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Filters are cheap, available at any hardware store, and very easy to install.

Still searching for the right place to settle down, and put our home improvement hacks to work? Learn more about how to buy homes for sale around Beavercreek, OH, or contact Wright-Patt Realty to kick-start your search for the perfect Ohio home.