7 tasks for your June maintenance checklist

By Jeanne Huber

The Washington Post

Summer officially begins later this month, but there’s no penalty for getting started on seasonal home maintenance tasks early. Focus your energy on chores that will make summer more enjoyable, or that are a lot easier to do before it gets too hot.

1. Battle mosquitoes

Dining outdoors is great — until the mosquitoes attack. Lighting candles may help, but only if you are where the smoke drifts. Slathering yourself or your clothes with insect repellent gets around that issue, but the stuff stinks and who wants to wear pesticide to dinner? A better solution that’s almost foolproof: Set up a fan above or to the side of your outdoor dining table. Mosquitoes aren’t likely to try to fly through what to them must feel like a hurricane, so as long as you and your guests are bathed by the breeze, you should be safe.

It also helps to eliminate the habitat that mosquitoes need to reproduce, especially if your neighbors take similar steps. Mosquitoes lay eggs only in still water, so empty any buckets, toys or plastic tarps that trap water.

2. Feel the breeze

Fans perform summertime magic indoors, too. If you have a ceiling fan that’s still set for wintertime operation, switch the direction the blades move so you can feel air flowing down when you are standing directly underneath.

(In winter, the fan should push air down close to the walls; under the fan, the air should be flowing upward.) You can switch the direction on most fans by pushing a button on the remote or fan switch. If you have an older fan, you might need to use a step stool or a ladder to reach a switch on the fan itself.

Using a ceiling fan can save on your electrical bill — but only if you also adjust the thermostat so the air conditioner switches on at a higher temperature, use energy-efficient lights (if your fan includes them) and turn the fan off when no one is in the room.

Ceiling fans cool people by helping sweat evaporate.

3. Clean out the garage

Carve out some time to sort through boxes and sweep away any dirt that collected over the winter. Instead of simply dividing items into piles to keep, toss or donate, establish more specific categories. For example, set out boxes labeled for things your friends might use, ones you will donate to a thrift shop or your local Buy Nothing group, and those you might try to sell.

4. Purge toxic materials

At the back of the garage, you may find old containers of finishes, pesticides and other nasties. If you don’t plan to use them, get rid of them through your local household hazardous waste program. The Environmental Protection Agency has links for programs in each state, and the state webpages typically include a tool that allows you to search for a program near where you live.

To get advice about where to recycle or dispose of specific items, search for “household hazardous waste” in or near your Zip code at Earth911.com. Or call

800-CLEANUP (800-2532687).

5. Deal with ice

I know, it’s summer; I’m talking about the ice in your freezer.

Cleaning and changing the filter on your ice maker helps ensure a steady supply of good-tasting ice and cold water. GE Appliances cleaning tips start with a warning to unplug the refrigerator before you begin. But if the plug is behind the refrigerator, don’t try to roll it out; the weight might damage the flooring. Instead, switch off power at the circuit breaker. Clean the ice chute with water mixed with a little hand dishwashing soap, then wipe with clean water and dry. Use an old toothbrush or cotton swabs to clean crevices. For the glass cradle or pad, use soapy water or vinegar and water. If the dispenser tray has mineral deposits, soak it with undiluted vinegar until you can wipe them away, which might take a half-hour.

6. Clip weeds

Letting weeds take over your yard isn’t just unsightly, it violates the law in some communities, and tall, dry weeds left to form seeds become a fire hazard. Plus, all those seeds get carried by birds and the wind, leading to more weeds.

To remove weeds permanently — if that’s even possible, given that weeds have adapted to growing without coddling — you can pull them out roots and all, burn them with a flame-throwing burner or spray them with an herbicide.

7. Test outlets

Before you plug in that electric weed cutter or the rotisserie on your barbecue, take a few minutes to test the ground fault circuit interrupters on your outdoor electrical outlets, as well as those in the basement, garage, bathrooms and kitchen. To test a GFCI receptacle, plug a night light or other lamp into the outlet and switch on the light. Press the “test” button on the GFCI. If the GFCI is working correctly, the “reset” button should pop out and the light should go out. Press “reset” to restore power to the outlet. If the reset button doesn’t pop out, replace the GFCI.

EAST LONGMEADOW Scholarship recipient

Branden Hrdlicka and his family attended the annual meeting of the East Longmeadow Barden Club on May 25 at the First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow. Diane Tiago, scholarship chair, presented him with a certificate representing the Esther A. Rosati Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for the second consecutive year. In May of 2022, Hrdlicka addressed the members of the club and told them that he was concerned about the environment of our planet. He stated that he wanted to be an active participant and leader to find solutions that will eliminate pollution and global warming. In order to reach is goal, Hrdlicka has completed his freshman year at Westfield State University where he is enrolled in its Environmental Science Program.

NORTHAMPTON Garden tour

The 29th annual Forbes Library Northampton Garden Tour will take place on June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. This tour raises funds for the Friends of Forbes Library that supports Northampton’s historic public library. At each garden, there are handouts available that describe the plantings and volunteer garden guides to answer questions. There are also opportunities to enjoy music or observe a plein air painter. Tickets provide driving directions to this self-guided auto route as well as a recommended bicycle route, courtesy of their collaboration with the friends of Northampton Trails. Tour tickets are $20 if bought in advance and can be purchased through June 9 at Bay State Perennial Farm in Whately, Cooper’s Corner, State Street Fruit Store, Gardener’s Supply Company in Hadley, Wanczyk’s Nursery and Forbes Library. Pre-pay online at forbeslibrary.org/ friends to reserve tour tickets through Wednesday, June 7, for pick up at Forbes Library only on June 8 from 4 to 8 p.m., June 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and June 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are available on the day of the event only at Forbes Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are $25. The Northampton Garden tour also offers a raffle of items that appeal to both gardeners and other library supporters. Win a weekend farm stay in

Maryland, a garden bench, a hand-crafted rug, organic compost, gift certificates and much more. Purchase raffle tickets at Forbes Library and at one of the gardens on the day of the tour. Ticket prices are 2 for $5, 5 for $10 or 12 for $20. The raffle drawing will take place at the end of the tour.

STOCKBRIDGE Upcoming events

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents these upcoming programs:

• “Cyanotype on Fabric: Make Your Own Bag,” June 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Magical and simple, cyanotypes are a camera-less technique that results in graphic blue and white prints. Developed in 1852, this alternative photographic process uses a light-sensitive solution on fabric, sunlight, and pressed plants to make a beautiful botanical image — in this case, on a tote bag. All supplies, including pressed plant material, will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring objects or pressed plants with interest- ing silhouettes from home to use in their compositions. Cost $55 members, $60 nonmembers.

• “Botanical Dyeing Intensive,” June 10, 1 to 4 p.m. This craft-and-carry class is designed to walk students through the process of natural dyeing. Participants will use communal dye baths to create fabric swatches, cotton market tote and a silk scarf for students to take home with them. Plus, everyone will receive Maggie’s Natural Dyeing E-Course ($50 value) so they can dye at home. Led by Maggie Pate. Cost $150 members, $165 nonmembers.

• “Water is a Verb: Eco-Art Wellness Workshop,” June 10, 3 to 5 p.m. In this eco-art wellness workshop, participants contemplate the water element to discover which most closely relates to their own lives at this moment. Participants create individual nature circles to dive deeper into understanding and celebrating how we live our best lives like water.

This mandala workshop includes an introduction, short introspective writing, the creation of individual nature mandalas, and meaningful discussion. Mandalas are ephemeral and will not be taken home. Photographs are encouraged. Cost $35 members, $45 nonmembers. For more information or to register for these programs, visit berkshirebotanical.org; Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.

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