Six fast fixes to a fresh home

Lifestyle Wednesday 06/December/2017 19:16 PM
By: Times News Service
Six fast fixes to a fresh home

As temperatures drop, you and your family will be spending more time living indoors — working, playing, relaxing, and staying warm.
More time indoors means it’s more important to keep your home fresh by staying ahead of the continual buildup of dirt, dust, and allergens.
Plus, taking a few simple steps to prepare your home for winter weather will ensure your home is comfortable and efficient, too. Tackle these key areas now so your home will feel fresh and cosy throughout the winter.
1. Wash and winterise windows
Washing away dirt and water marks from your windows and screens gives you a clear view of the outdoors and lets in more natural light. It will also make your home feel lighter and brighter, keeping cabin fever at bay. And to help maintain a controlled climate inside the home, prevent air from leaking in or escaping by using weatherstripping or caulk around your windows. You’ll stay cosy inside and save money on your energy bill.
2. Check and replace your vacuum bag, filter and belt
A full vacuum bag, clogged filter or broken belt can hinder your vacuum’s effectiveness, leaving dirt, dust and allergens behind. Replacing your vacuum bags every 1-2 months, filters every 3-6 months and belts once per year is recommended to help your vacuum achieve peak performance.
3. Don’t forget to look up
After tackling floors, dust ceiling fans, and light fixtures. These hard-to-reach and hard-to-see places can harbour dust. And while you’re up there, change the direction of your ceiling fans to counterclockwise for the winter. This will keep air moving, but circulate warm air instead of cooling the room down.
4. Clean around your HVAC
Be sure to clear the area around your HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit to make sure there is nothing blocking the flow of air. Next, remember to swap out that filter for maximum effectiveness.
5. Add extra insulation to all areas of your home
Adding insulation to your home reduces energy usage and increases comfort. If your home uses less than 12 inches of insulation, chances are heat is escaping. Add insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from escaping. Also consider adding insulation in crawl spaces, under floors and against basement walls to stop the transfer of cold through the house.
6. Turn on the humidifier
Increasing the humidity in your home during the cooler months adds moisture to your air and living space. This raises the “heat index,” making 68 degrees feel more like 76 degrees. If your house has low humidity, you may notice chapped lips, dry skin or a dry sore throat. Be sure to maintain a relative humidity in the home between 20 to 40 percent. As the temperature outside drops, lower this percentage so condensation does not form on the windows.
Take back your clean, fresh home today
Tackling each of these simple projects will add up to help you take on winter with a fresh, cosy home you and your family can enjoy.