Decorating Guides
5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for the New Year
Give your home a practical checkup for a fresh start to 2012
Everyone has that list of things that just never seem to get done. They may get pushed to the back of your mind or shoved into your junk drawer — but that list is still there. Things like getting the carpets cleaned, adding weatherstripping to the windows and cleaning the gutters are usually on these lists. Those chores aren't fun, but they do need to be done. What better time to tackle these items than the new year? Do more than get your house organized for 2012 — follow these five steps to prepare your home for a brand new year.
1. Get your home ready for rough weather. December might be over, but there's still plenty of winter weather ahead. Whether you live in sunny Florida or chilly Minnesota, you want to make sure that you're ready for anything Mother Nature might throw at you.
- Clean out gutters thoroughly, and reattach any loose bits and pieces.
- Weatherstrip exterior doors and windows to prevent water leakage, and to keep cold air from seeping in.
- Purchase and install surge protectors to keep your appliances safe and sound during thunderstorms.
2. Be prepared for emergencies. Get your first-aid kit and home disaster kit in order. Make sure you and your family are prepared for any mishap — big or small. Instead of worrying about what the future may bring, prepare for it!
The American Red Cross has a great guide on what you should include in basic disaster kits, but generally, include enough drinking water for every family member (including pets) for three to four days, an extra supply of any special medications, blankets, warm clothes, canned food and a can opener, a transistor radio, a flashlight, spare batteries and cash.
The American Red Cross has a great guide on what you should include in basic disaster kits, but generally, include enough drinking water for every family member (including pets) for three to four days, an extra supply of any special medications, blankets, warm clothes, canned food and a can opener, a transistor radio, a flashlight, spare batteries and cash.
3. Check on your temperature and air-quality devices.
- If you haven't already, install a programmable thermostat in your home. It's a simple tool that can help cut down dramatically on heating and cooling costs.
- If you've been using a humidifier in your home during the winter, make sure to clean it regularly as it can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. Check the owner's manual for details on which parts need to be cleaned, and how.
- Maintaining your furnace will help it run more efficiently. During the colder months when you're using heat regularly, you should check your furnace monthly and replace/clean filters as needed. A good, clean filter will also improve the air quality inside your home by removing dust and pollen.
4. Check smoke and CO alarms.
Make sure your family is safe from all potential dangers by testing your smoke and CO alarms, and replacing batteries. Look at the manufacturing date on each of your alarms.
According to Consumer Reports, smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced every five. Make sure that there's a CO alarm on every level of your home, and smoke alarms in every bedroom and hallway and the attic and basement.
Make sure your family is safe from all potential dangers by testing your smoke and CO alarms, and replacing batteries. Look at the manufacturing date on each of your alarms.
According to Consumer Reports, smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced every five. Make sure that there's a CO alarm on every level of your home, and smoke alarms in every bedroom and hallway and the attic and basement.
5. Reduce your household budget.
Go greener to save money on your monthly bills. Nothing crazy is necessary — try doing a simple home energy audit (available on the Department of Energy's website) to discover which parts of your home need the most attention.
Turn the lights off every time you leave a room. Try putting a little note by all of the light switches in your house to help you remember.
Turn off heat and air conditioning when you leave the house, and turn them down or off at night.
Put up thick curtains for insulation in the summer and winter. Install CFL or LED bulbs. Turn off power strips when gadgets aren't in use.
Go greener to save money on your monthly bills. Nothing crazy is necessary — try doing a simple home energy audit (available on the Department of Energy's website) to discover which parts of your home need the most attention.
Turn the lights off every time you leave a room. Try putting a little note by all of the light switches in your house to help you remember.
Turn off heat and air conditioning when you leave the house, and turn them down or off at night.
Put up thick curtains for insulation in the summer and winter. Install CFL or LED bulbs. Turn off power strips when gadgets aren't in use.
Try composting — it's great if you have a garden, and keeping biodegradable food scraps in one place often means that you'll have to take out smelly trash less often, so you'll save trash bags.
- Buy store-brand cleaning items rather than name brands, and use coupons whenever possible.
- Invest in all-purpose cleaners, and reusable dishcloths and mops.
When all is said and done, you can put some of the money you're saving into a fund for a new home project that you've been wanting to tackle for a while!
Tell us: What fixes do you want to do around the house this year?
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