July's checklist for a Smooth Running Home

July is a great time to tackle outdoor chores, like pepping up that curb appeal before the Fourth, and to lighten up your home, from clutter to energy bills. With Independence Day right around the corner, it's also a great time to show some patriotic spirit and give back to your community by supporting local businesses or donating items to charity. Here are 12 to-dos to consider putting on your list this month.   Add to ideabook by austin outdoor design 1. Keep tabs on your Gainesville irrigation system and water usage. Make sure your prized blooms don't wilt in the heat or get over-watered by checking your Gainesville sprinkler system regularly. If your area has limits on water usage, be sure to set your timer accordingly.

2. Extend the life of your driveway and paths. Attend to small cracks and chips before they have a chance to grow.   Add to ideabook by Historical Concepts 3. Honor Independence Day with Americana, folk art and locally sourced goods. As you are out shopping this month, make a point of seeking out goods made in the USA. From vintage folk art at a summer fair to locally grown tomatoes, there are lots of things you can buy to support local businesses and craftspeople.   Add to ideabook by Shepherd Stoneworks 4. Start a garden journal. If you don't already keep one, consider beginning a dedicated garden journal. Filled with your notes on what you planted and how each plant fared, this little notebook will be worth its weight in gold when planting time comes again.

5. Donate extra produce to a local food pantry. Wondering what to do with that bumper crop of zucchini or tomatoes, once your neighbors and friends have had their fill? Ample Harvest, a nonprofit organization, helps link gardeners with local food pantries to feed those who are struggling. Check the group's website to find a local food pantry that will accept your garden surplus.   Add to ideabook by A Pleno Sol 6. Increase shade in the garden. Cool off and spend more time outside comfortably with the addition of an umbrella, outdoor drapes or a shade canopy. If you have young children, consider setting up an extra umbrella or tent over their sandbox or favorite play area in your Gainesville landscape to avoid sunburns.   Add to ideabook by Tom Stringer Design Partners 7. Cut summer energy costs. Keep window shades and curtains tightly drawn during the day to maintain a cooler temperature indoors — exposed windows will heat up your home like a greenhouse. Setting your thermostat to a higher temperature while you are out during the day will help keep costs down.   Add to ideabook by Feldman Architecture, Inc. 8. Clean fans and filters. Keep your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and air conditioning units running efficiently by cleaning and replacing filters regularly.

9. Wash windows inside and out. Let that summer sunshine in by giving windows a quick rinse with glass cleaner or a vinegar solution, then squeegee them dry. If you want to avoid using a ladder outside, reach exterior windows with a window-washing hose attachment or telescoping window washer.   Add to ideabook by Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs 10. Boost your home's Fourth of July curb appeal. Whether or not your house is on the parade route, it feels good to freshen up porch furniture, trim hedges, upgrade your Gainesville landscaping, mow your Gainesville lawn and hang those flags.

  By Laura Gaskill Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.