How to Keep Your Home Brand New Year-Round

The dawn of a new year brings about the most opportune time to put together a to-do list that will keep your home squeaky clean and running efficiently. With the sheer volume of things to do around your home, it can be a little overwhelming; there’s a lot to keep track of. Fortunately, we’ve got your back. With the help of this checklist, you’ll have no problem staying on top of your year-round chores.

Weekly Tasks

Even though these tasks are best done weekly, they are still an integral part to keeping that home looking brand new. Rake leaves and other debris away from the foundation of your home, as well as any other structures on your property. Vacuum your carpets and anywhere else where dust might be accumulating; your vents will thank you! Touch up any surfaces by removing the objects that rest on them and giving them a quick wipe with a pad or cloth. Luckily, your weekly tasks are pretty easy to do and won’t take up too much of your precious free time.

Monthly Tasks

Inspect your HVAC filters and change them out for new ones if necessary. We suggest using cheaper filters so that you can swap them out more often without breaking your piggy bank. Clean your kitchen sink disposal to ensure that it functions properly at all times. The best way to do this is to freeze vinegar in an ice tray and run the frozen cubes through the disposal to both freshen it and sharpen the blades. Check your toilets and sinks for any signs of leakage; unchecked leaks can lead to hundreds of dollars wasted each year. Inspect the filter over your kitchen vent hood and replace if necessary. Keep in mind that this will be more likely to require a change if you do lots of cooking!

Quarterly Tasks

Test your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors with the simple push of its “test” button. If you don’t hear the beep, your detectors could require new batteries or a cleaning. Flush or run water through any low-usage areas of your home, like guest bathroom toilets or hand sinks. Read the gauges on your fire extinguishers to make sure that they are still properly pressurized; these are absolutely vital in a pinch when you need them. Test your garage door’s auto-reverse feature with the use of a 2x4 or anything else that can take your place while the door is closing. It should reverse after a second of colliding with the object.

Bi-Annual Tasks

Keep your water heater running efficiently by testing its pressure relief valve, all you have to do is give it a twist to prevent mineral buildup and leaks. Change the batteries in all of your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, the price of batteries every six months will never be worth more than the possible damages to your home! Move things that are typically stationary like furniture and give your home a deep clean, making sure to hit every nook and cranny, to keep the inside of your home looking shiny and new. In order to keep your refrigerator running as optimally as possible, it is necessary to vacuum its coils twice a year. Keeping these coils clean means the refrigerator will require less power to operate, which keeps more money in your pocket!

Using all of these tips as a baseline, you are primed to keep your home in tip-top shape and make your next-door neighbors envious.