Three Quick Tips for Maximizing Residential Mailboxes

November 21, 2024
Whitehall Post Mount Mailbox

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t give our mailboxes much thought. It’s just… there, right? But here’s the thing: your mailbox is one of the first things people notice when they pull up to your home. With a little love, it can go from “just functional” to a real head-turner that adds charm and personality to your space. So, here are three super easy tips to help you get the most out of your mailbox—you’ll thank yourself later!

Step One:  Address Your Mailbox

The first step to maximizing your residential mailbox is to affix your home’s address on it with Mailbox Address Plaques or Mailbox Address Numbers.  By affixing an address to residential mailboxes, you help ensure that your postal carrier places the right mail in the right mailbox.  Additionally, by placing your address upon your residential mailbox, you provide a helpful and easy-to-spot guide to your home for guests and service personnel who are unfamiliar with where to find your home. For instance, this added benefit can make your home more appealing if you decide to put it on the real estate market.

When placing mailbox address numbers on your residential mailbox consider placing them along the side of the mailbox or along the top (using a mailbox topper). This is preferable to placing mailbox address numbers on the door, as opening the mailbox door makes the numbers invisible.

Placing mailbox address numbers on both sides of home mailboxes is ideal, as this ensures they are visible from either direction. However, if you choose to place numbers on only one side, select the side facing the nearest traffic to your mailbox.

As with any mailbox alteration, it’s always best to contact your local postmaster to see if there’s a community standard for where to locate the mailbox address and what height or sizes the mailbox address numbers should be.

Special Lite Locking Insert
Step Two:  Locking Mailboxes

Due to the rise in mail theft over the past decade, one of the most important upgrades homeowners can make to their home mailboxes is to install a locking mechanism or to invest in new Locking Home Mail Receptacles.

Step Three:  Maintain Your Residential Mailbox

The first impression given to guests, neighbors and those driving by your home is your residential mailbox. To keep your residential mailbox looking top-notch, focus on three primary maintenance tasks:

First, once every season (four times a year), follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and clean your mailbox.  Many recommend using a mild cleaning solution and a wet towel so just take those items out with you when you go to retrieve your mail.  Then wipe down the exterior and interior to keep your residential mailbox looking its best.

Second, after you clean the residential mailbox, take a few moments to check all its moving parts.  Often, when we retrieve mail, we are in a hurry or we send a child to retrieve the mail and we don’t really look to see if the mailbox is in good working order.  So, once you clean your residential mailbox take a look to see if any parts need to be replaced or sprayed with a lubricant such as WD-40.  If a part needs to be replaced, you can order a new one through The MailboxWorks, the web’s largest supply of mailbox replacement parts.

Third, in late Spring or early Summer, check to see if your residential mailbox is plumb.  You don’t need a plumbline, just look at your mailbox from three or four directions and ensure that it is standing tall.  If you find your residential mailbox leaning to one side or another,  the late Spring or early Summer is a good time to correct it as the ground is no longer hard from the winter ice nor hard from a summer drought.

By considering these three quick tips, you can maximize the use and effectiveness of your home’s residential mailbox.

Give Your Mailbox the Love It Deserves

Ready to upgrade your mailbox game? Explore a wide range of address plaques, locking mechanisms, and replacement parts at The MailboxWorks. With a few simple changes, you can turn your mailbox into a standout feature that’s as reliable as it is eye-catching. Don’t wait—take the first step toward maximizing your mailbox today!

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