The start of a new year is the perfect time to reevaluate all aspects of your life — from your eating habits and fitness goals to your budget and screen time. January 1 is a fresh start built into the calendar — a chance to introduce habits and rituals that serve us and remove the ones that don’t.
It’s also the perfect time to refresh our living spaces, by tackling some projects around the house to make it feel renewed and restored. Plus, there’s something about a clean and organized space that allows us to succeed and thrive in all areas — physically, emotionally and mentally, as our environment is so closely tied to our wellbeing.
So take a weekend to refresh your home by completing a few (or all!) of these tasks related to decluttering, maintenance, and cleaning. Once you’re done, you’ll feel so much lighter as you enter the new year!
DECLUTTERING
- Remove all items from your pantry and fridge and throw out expired or unused foods
- Go through paperwork — digitize/organize important documents and recycle/shred papers you don’t need
- Go through closets and drawers and find clothes to donate
- Store and organize holiday decor for next year
- Toss expired makeup and skincare products
- Recycle worn out and stained towels, washcloths, sheets and other linens
- Go through kids’ toys and donate any unused/outgrown toys
- Go through junk drawers/baskets/trays — toss any junk and organize needed items
- Take all kitchen items out of drawers and cabinets and get rid of unused items and organize them by category
- Reevaluate the layout of your living space and remove and rearrange furniture if needed
- Go through book collection and donate any books you won’t read again
- Consolidate and discard all almost-empty shower products
MAINTENANCE
- Do minor repairs you’ve been meaning to do, such as filling nail holes, repairing leaky faucets, touching up trim, etc.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors by holding down test button
- Check for drafts around doors and windows and fill any holes with caulk or weather stripping
- Drain hot water heater
- Look for signs of termites, such as mud tubes, stuck windows or doors, damage under paint or wallpaper, and termite droppings or discarded wings
- Look for signs of water damage, such as dark or wet spots, sounds of running water, a moldy or mildewy smell, rusting, warping, etc.
- Check fire extinguisher to make sure it works and isn’t expired
- Replace air filter if needed
- Make plans to cut down on energy consumption by reducing the indoor temperature, turning off lights, switching to energy-efficient appliances, using less water, or investing in solar
- Plan ahead for outdoor maintenance tasks you’ll do later in the year, including cleaning gutters, inspecting your roof, cleaning out the garage, repairing the deck, etc.
- Schedule future maintenance appointments, like a HVAC inspection at the start of spring
CLEANING
- Clean out dryer vent duct to remove lint buildup
- Vacuum refrigerator coils to clear out dirt and dust
- Clean bathroom exhaust fan with a vacuum
- Clean dishwasher filter
- Clean garbage disposal
- Clear out sink and bathroom drains
- Dust off ceiling fan blades with a pillowcase to collect dust
- Wipe down blinds with dry microfiber cloth
- Vacuum upholstery and spot clean if necessary
- Remove any cobwebs in corners and near ceiling
- Wipe down walls with damp washcloth
- Wipe down baseboards and crown molding
- Shampoo carpet and rugs
- Wash throw pillows and blankets
- Wash window and shower curtains
- Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned by a chimney sweep
- Clean neglected areas, like under heavy furniture, on top of cabinets and shelves, behind the washer and dryer, etc.
Good as New!
What tasks are on your to-do list as you prepare for the new year? Let us know in the comments below!
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