This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Cori. Congrats!
As we look towards the holidays, I have begun to set personal and professional goals that will hopefully result in some noteworthy changes. A regular exercise regimen, work-life balance, and organization are just a few “resolutions” I’ve already begun working on for 2020. While many of these ambitions are focused on personal growth and renewal, I’m also thinking about ways to prepare our home…the place we spend a significant part of our lives in…for the coming year.
While we typically don’t see weather extremes in Southern California, I remember how cold it was last year around the holidays (some mornings saw temperatures in the 30s!). We are deep into the Fall season, so in preparation for the holidays and the colder weather, here are 5 ways to prepare your home for the new year:
1. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. As I mentioned in a previous post, most home fires occur in the winter. We utilize the change in seasons to check the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them out to make sure they are working. This is also a good time to ensure your home has enough fire extinguishers (at least one on each level) and review your family’s fire escape plan.
2. Install a programmable thermostat. I’ll admit that as soon as the weather drops, I reach for the thermostat instead of a blanket. Our energy bill has always been highest during the winter months, but the use of a programmable thermostat has significantly reduced that expense. During the winter months, set the thermostat to 68 degrees and don’t forget to lower it when you leave for the day. Tip: You can do this yourself and in this post, I show you how to install a thermostat.
3. Assess for drafts. Since we’re talking about staying warm, now would be a good time to check your windows and doors for air leaks. Be sure to check both inside and out and seal any leaks with caulk since this will help keep warm air in and cold air (and insects) out!
4. Consider having your heating system/furnace/fireplace inspected and serviced. Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are easily preventable by simply ensuring your system is working properly. You might consider doing this yourself if you have someone handy around. I also recommend this article from howstuffworks which discusses furnace maintenance in great detail.
5. Change the air filter. One of the easiest ways to ensure your heating and cooling systems are functioning properly is to change the air filter ever 3 months. It’s been almost 3 months to date since we changed ours, so my husband went ahead and completed this easy task over the weekend. Along with changing the filter out every 3 months, you should get into the habit of checking it monthly. We live in an area where we see a lot of dust so we decided to implement this new practice in the coming year.
If you find that you can’t easily remember to change out your air filter, you can sign up to receive seasonal newsletters from Filtrete with reminders, healthy living tips, and more. Filtrete offers a variety of air filters depending on the needs of your home and your family. We like the Healthy Living Filter which attracts and captures 93% of mold spores, dust and pollen and microscopic allergens like pet dander, smoke, household dust, and particles that carry bacteria, viruses and odors. Each filter lasts 3 months and is easily changed in just a few minutes. Filters retail for approximately $20 and can be found at your local Walmart or hardware store. To find a location that sells Filtrete air filters, visit FindMyFiltreteFilter.com.
Win It! One of you will win a Filtrete Healthy Home Package which will include Filtrete Filters and Water Filtration Products. Simply complete the Rafflecopter form and leave me a comment with your favorite way to prepare your home for the coming year.
US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
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Deep clean everything, and also give away what we do not use anymore or do not need!
I prepare my home for the new year by cleaning out everything in the house. Time to start fresh.
I love to organize all the closets & drawers & cabinets at the beginning of every year!
On New Years Day we change all the batteries in the smoke detectors.
I usually clean up from Christmas-LOL!
I change all the smoke detectors and call the ac guy to clean our systems- before they need it!.
I do spring cleaning in January! I have allergies and live in Florida, so it’s very important to give the house a thorough cleaning a few times a year.
We change smoke detector batteries, clear the pine needles from the roof, and and clean the dryer vent to the outside wall!
We change the batteries in the smoke detectors!
We change batteries when the clock changes and we also changed our heater filter at that time, in the fall, and we have one that needs to be washed and can be reused for our heater. We close the vents under our house for the winter and put a plastic bag to cover our wind turbines on the roof to help keep so much cold air from coming into the house.
Well, we just changed our furnace filter. I’ll take the tree down soon too. That’s about it!
First all chhristmas stuff put away. check batteries in alarms and clean chimney out from all the holiday fires
Remove the Christmas tree, vacuum up all that mess and change the vacuum bag after that. Check all the filters in the house to see which need to be changed and/or cleaned.
I go through my things and get rid of the things that I no longer use or that need to be thrown away. I donate what is worthy of donation and dispose of the rest.
After packing up all the Christmas decorations, we clean up and clean out…closets, old paperwork, etc..
Thank you!..
Put all the Christmas decorations away and clear out old toys to make room for the new ones.
We don’t do any cleaning or preparation specifically for the new year; we try to do regular home maintenance year-round.
i try to remember to change the batteries and change the filters in the house and the water filter.
WE CLEAN UP AFTER CHRISTMAS AND PUT EVERYTHING AWAY.
Go through the closet to clean it up, get it more organized, and get rid of “what was I thinking” clothing purchases and things I know I will never wear again.
We don’t do anything specific on the house for the new year. Most maintenance we do is in the spring and late fall. On New Years, the only thing that usually goes on is taking down the Christmas tree.
I really need to do a deep cleaning after we had a lot of family blow through our house. I will also need to take down the christmas decorations. Thank you for the giveaway
To prepare our home for the New Year, I add pure mint extract to mop rinse water, 8 drops per gallon; this freshens the air and sets a new upbeat tone.
clean the house up, and get ready for spring
We clean all the linens and curtains!
We make sure all the filters are clean
We check our fire alarms
I’ll be doing my “New Year’s” cleaning, which involves changing air filters and checking on household stuff.
After all the christmas dust has settled and decorations down we like to change the filter in furnace
get organized.
An old family custom is to clean the entire house, wash all clothes and pay all bills before the new year.
Before the winter months I always make sure there are no knew holes in and around the windows and doors where air and mice could get in and caulk if it’s needed but I’ve already done that. I can’t think of anything I actually do to get my house ready for the new year.
We like to clean out the clutter and do some organizing.
I usually clean out drawers and closets
We change the filters and all the batteries in smoke alarms.
I have a written down list of all the winter cleaning that needs to be done. Goal is to get it done by the end of January each year!
acartwrightmorell at gmail dot com
I need to clean my room
We really do not do anything. I loved reading some of the posts. I know we should be doing more now.
We declutter and change the batteries in the smoke detector.
I clean the carpets after the holidays.
We make sure the smoke detectors are in working order.
We like to organize our home before the new year, including donating clothing and items that we no we no longer wish to keep around.
Entered the rafflecopter as “Wild orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
We like to check the insulation in the attic.
I go through a “winter cleaning” and make sure there’s no clutter.
cleaning the basement…
I do an early spring cleaning and try to organize things that have gotten out of hand over the holidays!
We clean out our sons old toys that he doesn’t use anymore
We are going to clean the garage
I do cleaing in Jan when I am stuck in the house for winter
I cleaned my whole house – good to start out the year with nothing on my “to do” list.
We get our boiler serviced
I give it a good cleaning!
we give the home a good cleaning.
I do a major housecleaning.
I do a deep winter cleaning.
Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
I always take a whole day to re-organize everything in the house when the new year starts!
We start off the new year by fixing all of the little things that went broke over the year!
Oh for us…its time to get ready for the really cold winter months! We make sure our windows are covered well to help keep drafts out and we put blankets by the front door as we get such drafts coming in there. We always get a furnace checkup to make sure our furnace works good thru the cold days! Monday our high is -14! Woohoo! 🙂
We reorganize the office and clean out the file cabinets to get ready for tax season.
we do check smoke detectors; organize files for taxes; and we do check the flters…
After all the Christmas stuff is put away, I try to go through and weed out anything that we haven’t used in the past year.
We check our fire alarms
We always get our gutters cleaned right after the holidays.
Check batteries in alarms
Start cleaning out items we aren’t using
I do a deep cleaning
Nothing really, for New Year’s. I do a few things in the Spring. I have a thermostat that reminds me it’s time to change the furnace filte.
It gets cold here in October, but we usually wait until around the end of the year, or new year, when it gets really downright stinking cold, before we put plastic on all of our north facing windows!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Get a schedule together for dates when we need to change the filter, replace batteries in smoke detectors, and a cleaning schedule!
We put new batteries in our smoke detectors.
We do a clean out of everything……spices, pantry, old clothes, toys, et, etc.
A great big new years deep clean and decluttering.
my wife makes me do all kinds of things.clean up the yard,cover windows and seal every thing off.she does not like to pay a high bill and makes sure it is all right!
I get rid of old clothing and items in the house and donate them.
Take down and put up all the holiday decorations.
clean closets
we do a little spring cleaning to prepare for the new year
I get a head start on my spring cleaning and we change our filters, we have a daughter with asthma.
Clean out all the closets.
We usually clean out some clutter to make room for all of the new gifts.
Organize all the closets and donate whatever no longer fits or is not worn.
cleaning really well
We dust (yes, one time a year. That’s sad).
cleaning out closets and drawers
We check our smoke and Carbon alarms.
To start the new year I do some organizing and I get rid of stuff we don’t need nor use anymore!
I do a big clean.
One way I prepare my home for the new year is to clean thoroughly and then re-arrange furniture to get a new feel to the rooms.
I try to find a better organizing system!
we thoruoghly clean our home each year
We prepare by buying new batteries for flashlights, radios, and clocks!
I don’t really do anything special. Actual home maintenance and upkeep happen all year long.
I clean out the clutter & scrub everything clean
Shampoo my carpets!
At the end of the fall, we redid our roof, windows, and siding. Thankyou
I clean n new years eve so I can start New Years off in a fresh, clean house
We changed filters and made a list of needed repairs.
I take down all the Christmas decorations and tree, give everything a good vacuuming/wipedown and clean out my fridge and pantry – everything is clean and organized for a new year!
Cleaning up from Christmas is a big job! Thanks so much for the chances to win this.
[email protected]
Clean out some junk and clutter
We do a thorough housecleaning and rent a Rug Doctor to ensure we start the year with a clean home.
Thanks for the giveaway…carpet, drapes, & upholstery cleaned !
As I put the Christmas decorations away, I give everything a good cleaning and new look.
Deep clean the house
Change the batteries in the smoke detector
i do like a big spring cleaning i dont like clutter
I prepare by eating foods to bring luck for the New Year, and also by praying for the New Year coming.
My resolution, every year, is to organize the house. I organize for about six months, so I guess that’s good…
We clean out the gutters.
donate clothes.
We clean out our drawers and closets to make way for the new clothes we got for Christmas.
We deep clean every room in the house. Changing batteries and making sure our detectors are up to date is right up there on the list too. We check out the dryer vent and make sure it is clear. This year we plan to get rid of the carpets in the living room and put in wood. Same for the outdated laminate that is in the kitchen and bathroom.
I prepare my home for the new year by cleaning the whole house including back and front yards and get rid of any items not needed.
I prepare my home for the new year by re-caulking the bath tub.