USPS proposes maintenance, repairs during Mailbox Improvement Week

The United States Postal Service is using this week to remind homeowners across the country to take a few minutes to inspect and spruce up their mailboxes.

Mailbox Improvement Week runs May 18 through 24.

Designated annually during the third week of May, the initiative encourages homeowners with box-on-post mail delivery to examine their mailboxes for wear and tear and make any needed repairs or upgrades. USPS says that simple, routine maintenance — much like spring cleaning — can go a long way toward ensuring mail, packages, and special deliveries arrive on time, safely, and securely.

The postal service notes that mailbox wear and tear often goes unnoticed by homeowners until it becomes a problem. Among the most common fixes USPS recommends this week are checking and tightening any loose hinges on the mailbox door, applying a fresh coat of paint to a rusty or peeling box, making sure the post is secure and standing upright, and ensuring that house numbers are clearly visible and easy for carriers to read at a glance.

Beyond maintenance, USPS is also calling attention to mail security. Residents are encouraged to collect their mail promptly after delivery to reduce the risk of theft. Anyone who witnesses mailbox tampering should contact local police immediately. Mailbox vandalism can also be reported directly to U.S. Postal Inspectors by calling 1-877-876-2455.

USPS partners with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service year-round to protect postal employees, the mail stream, and the public through education, awareness, and enforcement of laws that safeguard the nation's mail network.