Daylight saving time provides a handy built-in reminder to take care of certain tasks around your home. This spring-forward, fall-back time change coincides nicely with a fall and spring cleaning schedule. To help you stay on top of routine home maintenance, we've created this simple checklist for you.
Focus on your fridge. To keep your refrigerator running efficiently, it needs a thorough cleaning twice a year. The following tips give you a top-to-bottom and front-to-back starting place.
Go through all cupboards and pantries. Go beyond throwing away expired foods in your fridge and check other edible items with expiration dates. The kitchen is a great starting place, but don't forget about the bathrooms, your medicine cabinet and your makeup. If find old medications, the FDA has recommendations on drug disposal (Opens in a new tab) or you can ask your pharmacist how to get rid of them.
Clean your oven. Self-cleaning ovens make this chore a breeze. Daylight saving time changes are typically the perfect time of year to clean your oven — because you can open windows and air out your kitchen. If you don't have a self-cleaning model, try using a fumeless product. Just make sure you follow the product guidelines and protect yourself before you start scrubbing.
Move your mattress. If you've got a pillow-top mattress, rotate it for even wear. If you sleep on a traditional mattress, give it a flip for a longer lifespan and greater comfort.
Wash your pillows. Dirt accumulates in your pillows. Give them a thorough washing twice a year to restore that fresh feeling. While the washing instructions on the pillow are the best place to start, we've got some extra tips that'll help you get great results.
Clean your dryer. The dryer exhaust and hose, tubing from the back of the machine to the wall, works best if cleaned at least twice a year. Detach the hoses and take them outside to be cleaned. A vacuum and a blow dryer can help you force out the lint — alternate to see which one works best for you.
Replace or clean filters. Each home is different but you probably have multiple filters that need replacing or cleaning. The following checklist will help you get started, but you'll want to customize it to your own home. Then just pull your list out twice a year and you won't forget.
Replace your toilet brush. Imagine all the germs that hang out in your toilet brush. And sticking it back into the holder while it’s wet gives germs a safe harbor. Replacing your brush twice a year gets rid of those germs and keeps your toilet cleaner.
Change the batteries. Most smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are battery-powered. Make it a habit to change the batteries twice a year, and you’ll never have to worry if they’re out of commission.
Check your emergency kit. Your emergency kit serves you best when it's kept fully stocked and up-to-date. Making it a daylight savings task helps you stay on top of replenishing. If you have non-perishable foods in your kit, take this opportunity to swap them out and replace them with fresh ones.
A smooth running household starts with organization, but it doesn't have to be difficult. These bi-annual maintenance tasks keep you ahead of the game so you can avoid costly repairs and unnecessary service calls. Boost your home confidence with an annual homeowners insurance check with your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) to make sure you have all the coverage you need.