The holiday madness is nearly over, and your home may be in complete disarray from an abundance of hosting and celebrations. With 2020 quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to clean and prepare your home for the new decade. Follow these simple tips adapted from Porch and HGTV to create a seamless transition into this new chapter; your future self will thank you!
Clean the Kitchen Ceiling and Walls
Having a clean environment relieves stress, allowing for a true reprieve away from hectic day-to-day activities. Although it may sound odd, cleaning your kitchen ceiling and walls removes the build-up of moisture and smoke from the mass of holiday meals you made. To wash the surfaces, use a cleaning mixture of dish soap and warm water. Apply the mixture to the ceiling with a sponge mop, and use a sponge to apply on the walls. Once finished, rinse with warm water to make your kitchen look beautiful, spotless and new!
Flip Your Mattress
Mattresses can be an investment, so you want to practice proper maintenance for the sake of your back health and the quality of the mattress itself. Flip your mattress every 4-6 months to ensure an even wear. Also, be sure to vacuum any dust or dirt off the mattress and box spring to maintain good hygiene.
Organize Any Junk Drawers
We know how daunting this can be, but, by channeling your inner Marie Kondo, tidying your spaces can truly “spark joy.” To get started, dump everything out of the drawer, sorting through each item to determine if it’s truly needed in your home. Clean and line the drawer with a shelf liner, or perhaps leftover scraps from wallpaper, to protect the wood from damage. Use an organizer of some kind such as Tupperware, plastic organizers or ice cube trays to place the items in easy-to-find locations.
Cut Down on Your Energy Consumption
One of the best ways to decrease your carbon footprint (and monthly bills) is by going green at home! Many think that reducing your carbon footprint is costly and grandiose, but there are several affordable, easy ways to do this. Examples include switching off lights when you leave a room, installing LED light bulbs and low-flow showerheads, running the dishwasher and laundry machines only when full and turning your air conditioner off when you aren’t home.
Safety First!
As a homeowner, it is vital to make sure your home is a safe environment to live in. Firstly, small investments can save you from life-threatening side effects of dangerous gases in your home. Radon, which causes lung cancer and other respiratory problems, is odorless and colorless, but, for only $20, you can buy a test kit at a local hardware store. Carbon monoxide can be deadly if a chimney or furnace vent is blocked or leaking, causing a build-up of the gas. For an economical $40, you should install a carbon monoxide detector on every floor with a bedroom. The last safety tip is to not only clean your dryer door trap of lint but also to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. That way, you do not have to worry about the highly combustible material.
Making your home a more pleasant place to live doesn’t have to cost a fortune! By following these simple tips, you will be on your way to a more peaceful decade. If you have questions about how to prepare your home for the new year, or if you need real estate assistance, our Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty team would be happy to help! Call us today at 404.237.5000.