Spring is the perfect time to clean things up and make a fresh start—but really, there’s no bad time to commit to creating a healthier home. The best habits to cultivate are the ones that allow you to enjoy your home to the fullest, year round. Regardless of when you start, here are some new home maintenance habits you can put into rotation to reach your goals.
1. Declutter!
With our increasingly busy lives, it’s easy to start feeling trapped by our possessions—finding it harder to locate the things we need (phones, car keys, TV remotes, glasses). Getting rid of unwanted possessions, including clothing, magazines, books, and paper files, has a two-fold effect: it clears up space in your home for the things you actually care about, and it reduces the amount of time you have to spend cleaning.
You read that right. Less clutter = less cleaning. That’s a motto anyone can get behind. As a general rule, every time you buy something new for the house, try to get rid of one thing.
2. Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
One simple way to spring clean your home is to commit to using eco-friendly cleaning products. Google the top ingredients in your favorite disinfectant spray, and you may be surprised how many are listed as potential irritants, allergens, or even carcinogens. Fortunately, a wide variety of eco-friendly companies (including ECOS, Seventh Generation, Biokleen, Dropps, and Bambaw) offer cleaning products with natural ingredients that get the job done as well as– or better –than products made with harsh chemicals. You can even sign up for subscription services, like grove.co that will automatically send product refills!
3. Make a Calendar
Simple as it sounds, a home maintenance calendar can be a handy tool for cultivating healthy home maintenance habits. Start by making a list of maintenance tasks, then spread those tasks out over the course of the year. Tasks may be as simple as removing lint from the clothes dryer or as ambitious as patching the drywall in the basement. Post your calendar somewhere you’re sure to see it.
Pro Tip: Instead of creating a list from scratch, why not start with AAA House Manager’s 12-Month Northern California Home Maintenance Checklist©? We’ve done the work for you! Click here to get yours.
4. Guard Your Home Against Allergens
Spring is in the air and so are irritants like pollen, dust, and other allergens. All it takes is an open door or window, a shedding pet, or a past-its-prime air filter to allow unhealthy elements from the outdoors into your home.
Generally speaking, dusting your home weekly with a damp or oil-infused washcloth and vacuuming 1-2 times per week will greatly reduce the presence of dust. Avoid leaving your doors or windows open without a screen in place, as this allows pollen to enter your home more easily. Cleaning or replacing your air filters at least once every month will reduce allergens and ensure that your air conditioner is working at peak efficiency. Although it’s an investment, many homeowners also opt to install air purifiers in their homes, which can remove up to 99.97% of air pollution.
5. Start a New Project
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; the same could be said of home improvement projects. Whether it’s repairing a leaky bathroom faucet or installing a new kitchen, a little initiative can go a long way. When you finish one project, celebrate!– then start the next one. If you stay consistent, you may be surprised what you can accomplish in a year. You might just end up with a new deck, a fresh paint job, or a new and improved home office.
Pro tip: No matter how handy you are, certain projects will need an expert opinion. AAA House Manager Members have access to expert home maintenance and repair services for as low as $89/hour.
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Being a homeowner is a full-time job, but the right habits can help you keep your home in tip-top condition. AAA House Manager is a subscription-based service that provides proactive home maintenance and upkeep strategy planning to homeowners in the East Bay, San Francisco, and greater Sacramento areas.
