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    Jan. 3, 2018

    5 Tasks Every Homeowner Should Do in January

    House hunting, huh? Cool. We'll help you stay sane.
    Do This Now - Time-saving tips

    5 Tasks Every Homeowner Should Do in January

    Start looking for that contractor NOW if you want your project done by summer’s end.

    Image: Simone Golob/Offset

    Whew. The holidays are done. The new year has rung in.

    That’s when smart homeowners know it’s time to do these five things that’ll save time, money, and hassles all year long:

    #1 Organize Your Seasonal Storage Space

     

    Wrapping Paper Stored on Closet Ceiling| Storage SolutionsImage: Frank Farm / frankfarm.org

     

    Packing away holiday decor presents a big opportunity. It’s the best time to sort, declutter, and reorganize that space where you store your seasonal stuff.

    So before simply stuffing your holiday things back in there somewhere, take inventory, then sort, filter, donate, trash, and re-home as many of your things as possible.

    It’ll help keep you more organized all year long, and make it easier to find all your holiday stuff next year.

    #2 Deep-Clean the Kitchen

     

    A gas stovetop with food crumbs, green teapotImage: Jamie Bonilla

     

    All of that holiday merriment-making is rough on a kitchen. Give it a good deep cleaning now that the glittery dust has settled.

    Purge your pantry and frisk your fridge, passing what you can on to local food banks. Scrub the walls and kick-boards, and even pull those appliances right out from the walls for a thorough vacuuming to prevent gunk (and stinks!) from accumulating.

    #3 Plan Summertime Projects Now (Especially if You Need a Pro)

     

    An outdoor space with patio furniture and a dogImage: Photo by ADZA

     

    Finalize plans for any landscaping, decks, patios, or other outdoor projects that need warm weather. Two good reasons:

    1. If you’re DIYing, you’ll be ready to roll at the first hint of nice weather.

    2. If you’re hiring a contractor or other professional, getting your bids and contracts in place now will save you from competing with the spring rush (wait too long, and you may not be able to book anyone!).

    #4 Create a Schedule to Clean ALL Your Home's Filters

     

    Two home air filtersImage: Michael Sheehan ("HighTechDad")

     

    It’s not just your HVAC. The filters in your fridge, your vacuum cleaner, your dryer, your air filter, and other household items need to be changed or cleaned at least once a year to be effective, usually more often — especially your dehumidifier. Yucky mold grows easily there.

    Check manufacturer instructions for all the filters in your home, and create a master schedule, then add them to your calendar app to remind you.

    #5 Save Some Green at White Sales

     

    A bed with white sheets and a white bedspread by windowImage: @hawkes_landing

     

    Linens and towels go on sale in January. It’s a long-standing retail tradition that started back when linens only came in white (hence the name), and still has a solid rep as a money-saver — only in more colors today.

    Cut your threadbare bath towels into rags and restock your supply, plus fill in any gaps in your bed linens you may have noticed if you had a house full of holiday guests.

    Improve, Organize & Maintain, Cleaning & Decluttering

    Image: Simone Golob/Offset

    Posted in Organize and Maintain
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