Your Home’s To-Do List for January

Introducing my new monthly series called “Your Home’s To-Do List.” I hope to inspire you each month with my blog, which will highlight things you should consider taking care of in your home for that particular month and time of year. It will include basic maintenance reminders but also suggestions for other ways to enhance your home’s value and how to “Dwell” happily.  Enjoy!Monthly Home Maintenance & Enhancement SeriesA new year always feels like a clean slate and the time to get things right from the get-go. You may have your own personal resolutions, but what about New Year’s resolutions for your home?That’s why I’ve created a new monthly series called “Your Home’s To-Do List.” I hope to inspire you each month with my blog, which will highlight things you should consider taking care of in your home for that particular month and time of year. It will include basic maintenance reminders but also suggestions for other ways to enhance your home’s value and how to “Dwell” happily.My suggestions are really just a starting point; you also should make your own list of specific projects you need to get done and have postponed for way too long.  You can even list the necessary groundwork for future projects, such as visiting Ikea for kitchen design ideas or getting referrals for contractors if your home needs a major renovation. Writing things down forces you to make them happen! Always feel free to reach out to me for any contractor recommendations. So sit down and make your own list this month. This is also the first item on my January checklist below! Here goes….January gives you an opportunity to look at your home with fresh eyes and realize new ways to improve your home. This month is the perfect month to organize your stuff, pare down, and even brainstorm big projects or small tasks that will make your home even more special to you and your family.Write down your specific home resolutions for the year and schedule certain applicable tasks on your calendar.Need to waterproof your deck, retile the bathroom, or paint your bedroom? What about saving up for that midcentury couch or gorgeous rug you saw online? Now is the time to plan out what you want to do in the year ahead. Having a big picture of these projects and the timing also keeps you more aware of how much you need to budget and by when.Purge the old, the outdated, the unloved, and the expired throughout your home.Spend a cold weather weekend getting rid of things in every room of your home. You can donate, recycle or sell; and trash only as a last resort. Everywhere there are things you don’t or shouldn’t use any longer – old sheets in your linen closet can find a second home at an animal shelter, expired or duplicate spices in your pantry taking up space, and travel shampoo bottles or cosmetics hiding out in the back corners of your toiletry drawer.Here are some other ideas to inspire your “home cleanse”:

• After you purge clothes in your closet, hang all your items in the closet with the hanger facing backwards. Once you wear an item, return the hanger the proper way. At the end of next year, look to see what clothes are on backward hangers. They obviously aren’t your favorites, so it’s their turn to say bye-bye. You can do the same with shoes.
• Get a handle on your paperwork by shredding, scanning and organizing. Do you still have manuals from old appliances? Time to trash or shed them. Give your paper files a once-over to see what can be scanned, purged or consolidated. Create a better system to deal with mail, school notices, and other papers when they come into your home. Check out this video for ideas.

Tackle the once-a-year tasks so they become a January habitThis month is perfect for scheduling certain tasks that you may only need to do once or twice a year. Here are some ideas:

• Sharpen kitchen knives to keep them in top shape. Don’t let them get dull. You can purchase a knife sharpener for home use but can also check local hardware (Ace Hardware) or also a kitchenware store (Sur la table or William Sonoma) to see if they offer a professional service for a small fee.
• Replace batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors. It goes without saying that you should pick the same time each year and 6 months later to do this so you don’t forget.
• Seal your granite countertops. You were probably swayed by your home’s beautiful countertops when you were the buyer. Now as a homeowner, do you still have that true love for it? Take care of your counters, whether granite, marble or any other material, to keep them looking good and to avoid unnecessary damage. Follow your vendor’s advice on DIY sealing or hire a professional to bring it back to its glory!
• Condition your leather furniture. Winter heat can wreak havoc on leather, making it crack. Make sure you heed the manufacturer’s instructions, usually conditioning once every 6 months.
• Clean behind your appliances. Your guests won’t ever see behind your refrigerator, but it’s still a very good idea to pull it out for a good cleaning. Vacuum the coils and floor behind it; don’t forget to wipe the walls too. The dust, oil, and spilled food behind your kitchen stove can be just as gross. Do the same for this space.
• Get your family command center into 2016. Every year brings new challenges or activities and deserves your reflection on how to keep it all organized. Are you more “old school” and prefer to have an organizational chart/calendar posted in your kitchen or perhaps carry a throwback Day Runner? Or, do you would prefer a digital family calendar so everyone is in the know for each day of the week? Check out apps such as Cozi, Hub Family Organizer, Tiny Calendar and others for ideas. No matter what, make it a habit to get your calendar system (whether paper or digital) in order now.

Revisit cold weather tips and highlights in my December blog, “Brrr … Is Your Home Winter-Ready?” If you haven’t yet gotten around to the items on my checklist sent back in December get to it! There is still time to get many of these winterizing tasks done before we’re hit with days of frigid weather. Our tips and must-do’s will help protect your home and also make it more energy-efficient, both of which can save you money. Check it out here.Hope you enjoy my new series, “Your Home’s To-Do List.” All of our January projects are just some of the ways you can show your home life more love and care. I’ll be back in February with some ideas and projects perfect for that month. Let us know if you have any questions or your own suggestions for future topics.I’ve created a handy PDF List of all of these tips so you can access this list from your smart phone or print it out. Enjoy a safe, fun and cozy January in your home!