Typically, our New Year’s resolutions revolve around eating healthier, going to the gym more often or spending more time with family.
But this year, why not set a few goals for your house? After all, it’s where you spend most of your time when you’re not working — and it probably deserves a little more of your attention.
From maintenance to organizing, here are nine easy-to-follow New Year’s resolutions for your home.
1. Create your dream space
Have you been wanting to turn that spare bedroom into a yoga studio for a while? Or maybe you’re daydreaming about creating a “man cave” in the basement?
This is the year to finally get around to making those dreams a reality. Give the team at Closetbox a call and they’ll come pick up the belongings that are taking up space in those rooms. Closetbox will transport them to a private vault, where their team of experts will securely store them until you want them back.
With your belongings in storage, you’ve got a blank slate for designing the perfect new space for your home in 2018.
2. Clean your dryer vent
Don’t put off cleaning out your dryer vent in 2018. Even if you diligently clean the lint trap after every single load of laundry, tiny fibers can still build up in the vent, which means your dryer has to work extra hard.
Keeping the vent clean can help your dryer use less energy, which will reduce your monthly bill.
“When a dryer vent is clogged, the appliance will have to overwork to adequately dry a load of laundry,” according to Dave Lavalle, founder of Dryer Vent Wizard.
3. Give the heater a break
You probably don’t realize it, but tiny gaps around your windows and doors mean your home is losing heat throughout the winter.
Install weatherstripping so that warm air doesn’t leak out, suggests J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman. Even a seemingly small gap around a door or window can cause big problems. Sassano says having a ¼-inch gap around a door or window is like having a gaping, 9-inch hole in your house. And who wants that?
4. Insulate your water heater
Consider insulating your hot water heater in 2018. By wrapping your hot water heater with an insulated blanket (available at many home improvement stores), you can expect to save some money by making the heater more efficient, says Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric.
You can save between $20 and $50 per year with this simple, inexpensive hack, Worthington says.
5. Hang more hooks
This year, resolve to stop throwing your clothes on the floor, your bed or a chair. Reduce the temptation to toss your clothes wherever by buying a handful of inexpensive hooks at your local home improvement store and hanging them in your closet or on the back of your bedroom door.
Do the same in your kids’ rooms for a tidier 2018.
“Everyone has their favorite pieces of clothing that they like to keep out for easy access such as cardigans, jeans or a baseball cap,” says Liat Tzoubari, founder and CEO of the online boutique Sevensmith. “Hanging these items on hooks is the perfect for solution for keeping your favorite clothes handy and out of site at the same time, ensuring your room looks neat and tidy.”
6. Add baskets
Random items tend to pile up by the front door, especially during the winter months. Place two small baskets in your foyer to help keep the area clear of clutter, Tzoubari suggests. That way, when you walk through the door after a long day at work, you won’t be greeted by a mess.
“A smaller basket should be used to keep keys, small change and other loose items you often lose track of. Another larger basket can be used to keep your scarves, mittens and hats organized and easily accessible,” she says.
7. Tend to the fridge
You probably regularly toss leftovers from the fridge. But when was the last time you pulled everything out for a deep clean? Add sanitizing the refrigerator to your list of 2018 resolutions.
While you’re at it, defrost and clean your freezer, too, suggests Catherine Burns, a kitchen cleaning expert at Fantastic Cleaners.
“You’ll prolong their life, improve food quality and hygiene,” Burns says.
8. Set a cleaning schedule
While it’s easy to let all the chores pile up until Saturday, consider making a cleaning schedule for the entire week.
With a little bit of cleaning each day, you won’t let grime build up, which will make each task easier, Burns says.
January is also a good time to start fresh when it comes to household tasks you typically put off until the next day. Make a resolution to load and unload the dishwasher every night before bed, rather than letting the dishes pile up in the sink.
9. Get organized
It’s hard to keep track of the various home maintenance tasks you need to complete at various points throughout the year. That’s why Ann Zanon, a certified professional organizer, recommends creating a binder or a virtual system for tracking those tasks.
You can make a spreadsheet or simply grab a notebook. Write down the last time you changed your furnace filter, for example, and be sure to add the brand name, item number and other notes. Create a listing for regular home maintenance tasks such as cleaning the windows, blowing out the sprinklers and checking the garage door.
