How Often Should You…? A Household Maintenance Schedule for Busy Families

Every household runs on a list of things that need doing "every so often." Change the furnace filter. Replace the toothbrushes. Book the dentist. Test the smoke alarms. Rotate the tires.

Nobody hands you that list. You piece it together from appliance manuals, a pediatrician's handout, the sticker the oil change place put on your windshield, and whatever you half-remember your parents doing. Then you carry it around in your head, which is exactly where these tasks go to get forgotten.

So here's the list, in one place, with the recommended interval for each task and where that recommendation comes from. You don't need all of it. Skim for what applies to your home, and skip the rest.

How to read this list

Each item says how often, and what the clock counts from:

• From the last time. The interval starts when you actually did it. If you changed the filter two weeks late, the next change is three months from that day, not from when it was due. Most of this list works this way.
• Fixed date. The task belongs to a season or a date, whenever you last did it. Winterizing the outdoor faucets happens before the first freeze, every year.

This distinction is the reason these tasks slip. A calendar reminder set for "every 3 months" keeps firing on the original schedule no matter when you actually did the task, so after a few rounds it's out of step with reality and easy to ignore. I wrote more about that in why irregular tasks are so easy to lose track of.

This list summarizes general recommendations from the organizations cited, as of October 2026. It isn't medical advice. Your doctor, dentist or other provider may recommend a different schedule for you or your kids, and your manufacturer's instructions come first for appliances, alarms and your car.

Health and appointments

These carry the highest cost when they slip, and they're the hardest to remember, because the interval is long and someone else's calendar decides when you can get in.

• Dental checkup and cleaning: Because individual factors make a big difference, the ADA now suggests consulting with your dentist for a suggested interval. From the last visit. (American Dental Association)
• A child's first dental visit: By the first birthday, or when the first tooth appears. (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry)
• Well-child visits: At 3–5 days old, then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 months, then every year from age 3. Counts from birth, so these are effectively fixed dates. (American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures schedule)
• Adult checkup: Yearly is common. How often you need one depends on your age and health, so ask your doctor. From the last visit.
• Cancer screenings: Cervical, breast and colorectal screenings each start at a set age and repeat on a schedule that depends on the test. (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) If you're at higher risk for skin cancer, for example because of a personal or family history or a lot of moles, ask a dermatologist how often to get a full skin check; once a year is common. (American Academy of Dermatology) Ask your doctor which screenings apply to you, and note the date of each one. From the last screening.
• Eye exams for kids: Once between 6 and 12 months, at least once between ages 3 and 5, before first grade, then every year. (American Optometric Association)
• Eye exams for adults (18–64): At least every 2 years, or yearly if you wear glasses or contacts or your eye doctor says so. From the last exam. (American Optometric Association)
• Flu shot: Every year, for everyone 6 months and older, ideally by the end of October. Fixed date (fall). (CDC)
• Toothbrushes: Replace every 3–4 months, or sooner if the bristles are matted or frayed. From the last replacement. (American Dental Association)
• Medicine cabinet: Check for expired medications once a year and dispose of them safely. Fixed date. (FDA)

If appointments are the part that keeps slipping in your house, I wrote a whole post on how to keep track of doctor appointments for a family.

Home safety

These are quick, and the stakes are high.

• Test smoke alarms: Monthly. Press the test button. From the last test. (National Fire Protection Association)
• Replace smoke alarm batteries: At least once a year, unless the alarm has a sealed 10-year battery. From the last change. (NFPA)
• Replace smoke alarms: Every 10 years. The manufacture date is printed on the back. From the manufacture date. (NFPA)
• Test carbon monoxide alarms: Monthly. Replace the alarm when the manufacturer says to, typically after 7–10 years. From the last test. (NFPA)
• Fire extinguisher: Check the pressure gauge monthly. Replace or service it according to the label. From the last check.
• Clean the dryer vent duct: At least once a year, more often if drying takes longer than it used to. Clean the lint screen every load. From the last cleaning. (U.S. Fire Administration)
• Test GFCI outlets: Monthly, using the test and reset buttons. From the last test. (Electrical Safety Foundation International)
• Car seats: Check the expiration date, which is usually 6–10 years after manufacture and printed on a label on the seat. Replace a seat after a moderate or severe crash. (NHTSA)

Heating, cooling and water

• HVAC or furnace filter: Check monthly; replace at least every 3 months. Thin fiberglass filters, pets and allergies can mean monthly. From the last change. (ENERGY STAR)
• HVAC tune-up: Once a year by a professional. Cooling in spring, heating in fall. Fixed date. (ENERGY STAR)
• Water heater: Flush the tank once a year to clear sediment, or as the manufacturer recommends. From the last flush. (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Refrigerator water filter: Every 6 months, or when the indicator light comes on. From the last change. (Manufacturer)
• Chimney and fireplace: Inspect once a year, and clean as needed. Fixed date, before heating season. (NFPA 211)
• Sump pump: Test every few months and before spring rains by pouring water into the pit. From the last test.

Kitchen, laundry and cleaning

• Dishwasher filter: Clean monthly. From the last cleaning. (Manufacturer)
• Washing machine: Run a cleaning cycle monthly. From the last cleaning. (Manufacturer)
• Refrigerator coils: Vacuum every 6–12 months. From the last cleaning. (Manufacturer)
• Range hood filter: Clean every 1–3 months, depending on how much you cook. From the last cleaning. (Manufacturer)
• Kitchen sponges: Replace every 1–2 weeks. From the last replacement.
• Vacuum filters: Check monthly. Washable filters usually need rinsing every 1–3 months; replaceable and HEPA filters usually last 6–12 months. Your manual has the exact interval. From the last cleaning.

Outside the house

• Gutters: Clean twice a year, in late spring and after the leaves fall. Fixed dates.
• Outdoor faucets and hoses: Disconnect hoses and shut off or drain outdoor faucets before the first freeze. Fixed date.
• Sprinkler system: Winterize before the first freeze by shutting off the water and draining or blowing out the lines, then turn it back on and check the heads in spring. Fixed dates.
• Lawn mower: Change the oil and sharpen the blade once a year, before mowing season. Fixed date. (Manufacturer)

Bedrooms

• Rotate the mattress: Every 3–6 months, unless the manufacturer says not to. From the last rotation. (Manufacturer)
• Replace the mattress: Consider it around 7–10 years, or sooner if you're waking up sore.
• Replace pillows: Every 1–2 years.
• Kids' shoe sizes: Check every 3–4 months for young kids, every 4–6 months for older ones. Feet grow faster than you'd think. From the last check.

The car

Your owner's manual is the real source for most of these, and modern cars often go much longer than the old rules of thumb.

• Oil change: Follow the manual. Many newer cars go 5,000–10,000 miles between changes; the 3,000-mile rule is mostly a relic. From the last change.
• Tire rotation: Every 5,000–8,000 miles, or as the manual says. From the last rotation.
• Tire pressure: Check monthly and before long trips, with the tires cold. Include the spare. If your car has an inflator kit instead of a spare, check the sealant's expiration date. From the last check. (NHTSA)
• Tire tread: Check monthly along with the pressure. Use the penny test: put a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head pointing down, and if you can see all of his head, it's time for new tires. From the last check. (NHTSA)
• Wiper blades: Every 6–12 months, or when they start streaking. From the last replacement.
• Cabin air filter: Every 15,000–30,000 miles, or yearly. From the last change. (Owner's manual)
• Wash and wax: There's no official interval. Washing every couple of weeks and waxing every few months is common advice. In winter, wash more often, including underneath, if your roads are salted. From the last wash.
• Registration and inspection: Yearly or every two years, depending on your state. Fixed date.

Paperwork and money

Life admin has intervals too. They're just long enough that you've forgotten the last one by the time the next comes around.

• Passports: Adult passports last 10 years; passports for kids under 16 last 5. Start renewing about 9 months before expiration, because many countries require at least 6 months of validity to enter. From the issue date. (U.S. Department of State)
• Driver's licenses: Every 4–8 years, depending on your state. From the issue date.
• Credit reports: Checking every few months is plenty for most people. From the last check.
• Insurance policies: Review once a year, usually at renewal. Fixed date.
• Subscriptions: Review every 3 months and cancel what you don't use. From the last review.
• Emergency contacts at school and daycare: Update at the start of every school year. Fixed date.
• Will and beneficiaries: Review after any major life event, and every 3–5 years otherwise. From the last review.
• Back up phones and photos: Monthly, if backups aren't automatic. From the last backup.

Pets

• Vet checkup: Yearly for most adult pets; more often for puppies, kittens and seniors. From the last visit. (AVMA)
• Flea, tick and heartworm prevention: Usually monthly, depending on the product. From the last dose.

You don't have to hold all of this in your head

Reading this list, you may have felt a small wave of dread. That's normal. Most of these tasks are too infrequent to become habits and too important to ignore, which makes them a perfect recipe for mental load. It's also why so much of this list quietly lands on one person in the house. (If that person is you, this checklist for reducing mental load might help.)

Here's a simple way to start:

1. Pick the ten items that matter most for your home. Health and safety first.
2. Write down when you last did each one. A rough guess is fine.
3. Work out when each is next due, counting from that date, not from the start of the year.
4. Put the list somewhere everyone in the house can see it, so it isn't stored in one person's memory.
5. When you do something, update the date. That's the step that keeps the list true.

Paper works. A spreadsheet works. For the full version of this system, see how to remember the adulting tasks you always forget.

This is also exactly the problem I'm building Gantry to solve. Each recurring task comes due based on when you last did it, and the whole household can see what's coming up. If that sounds useful, you can join the waiting list.

For more on keeping a household running without carrying it all yourself, browse the household management posts.