Top 5 Resolutions for Your Home!!!
We all have New Year’s resolutions we try to fulfill each year. Some of us may set a goal to lose weight while others may vow to save more money.
But do you ever make a New Year’s resolution where your home is concerned?
Below are the Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for making home improvements in the new year and the best ways to make them come true without breaking your resolutions.
Do you have lots of possessions that you don’t need or use?
If you want a cheap and effective way to improve the interior of your home, then you should think about getting rid of the clutter.
First, go through your desk drawers and cabinets and throw away anything which is cluttering up your space in them. Go to each room of your home and look for items that you could do without. Rather than throw them away, donate those items to charity.
Make Your Home Safer
You may have a gorgeous looking home, but that doesn’t mean it is a safe home. There may be risks of a fire or to your health that you may not even realize exists. That is why you should inspect your home to see if these dangers are present.
You can start by looking for an odorless, colorless gas called radon. Approximately 21,000 people die of lung cancer each year because of radon. It contains radioactive particles which get stuck inside your lungs, making it difficult for you to breathe. Since there are high levels of radon in about 7% of homes, this threat should be taken seriously. Install a
radon detector
to protect your home.
Fortunately, it is easy to test your home for traces of radon. Just go to your local hardware store, and you’ll see testing kits for sale that are priced at about $20 or so. It is a cheap investment which could ultimately save your life.
In addition, each bedroom in your home must have a
carbon monoxide detector
and smoke detector. The carbon monoxide detector is important if there is ever a leak or blockage in your furnace vent or chimney flue. That way, you’ll know carbon monoxide is building up in your home because of it. You’ll want to get that problem taken care of quickly or else you could die from it.
Did you know dryer lint is highly combustible? Most people don’t realize how dangerous lint can be around a hot dryer. For this reason, you should clean the lint out of the ducts and vents in the back of the dryer periodically. This will reduce the chance of a fire.
Ventilation in your attic, bathrooms, and bedrooms is vital too. Outside air must be able to reach these rooms to prevent mold growth in them. If your attic or bathroom doesn’t have a vent installed, then you might want to remodel those rooms in order to add a vent to them. Homes built prior to 1978 usually don’t have vents in those rooms.
In fact, they often have asbestos in the flooring and lead in the paint. If your home is that old, please test for lead and asbestos. They are dangerous chemicals that can cause people harm. Have a professional remove those substances safely if they’re detected.
Save Money
Green energy doesn’t just apply to hybrid cars and solar panels on your roof. You can develop a green energy mindset by reducing the amount of energy you consume in your home. Start by practicing the following tips:
- When you leave a room, turn off all lights and electronics.
- When you leave your home, turn off the heater or air conditioner.
- Replace your halogen light bulbs with LED light bulbs.
- Use low-flow shower heads.
- Wash dishes manually rather than with a dishwasher.
- Dry your clothes on a clothesline outside.
- Put your computer on sleep mode if you’re not using it.
Clean Your House Weekly
Establish a daily routine and weekly routine for cleaning your house.
Daily
- Put all the dirty clothes in the laundry hamper. All clean, dry clothes get put away back in the closet.
Weekly
- Store your cleaners, soft cloths, and rubber gloves in a mobile carryall which can move from one room to another.
- When cleaning rooms, wear a builder’s apron and put your cleaning items in the loops on the waist area. Put your all-purpose cleaning spray and glass cleaner in them so that you can work freely with your hands.
- Clean one area at a time.
Make Your Home Entertaining
Do you like to invite friends and relatives over to your Florida home? If so, then you should redecorate your home and make it look more entertaining and inviting to them.
This doesn’t mean you should spend thousands of dollars on remodeling your kitchen or bathroom. Simply make a few minor updates and additions to your rooms, such as adding new plants on the mantel or new paint on the walls. Maybe you could put down a cool artisan-style rug on the floor in your living room and a series of colorful pillows on your sofa. Just get creative and have fun with it.
Also, try to arrange your furniture in a circular formation so that it is easier for people to socialize with each other.
