The holidays are the time of year when lifelong memories are made.
They’re also a bit chaotic.
Knowing that your home will be your entertainment and relaxation hub, you’ll want to get it prepped and ready in advance to eliminate stress and ensure a safe, happy, and issue-free holiday season.
Here’s a quick to-do list:
Declutter
There’s never a bad time to declutter. But, with all the people, food and gifts that will make their way into your home, you may want to consider a pre-holiday purge:
- Old magazines and books
- Broken items
- Anything expired
- Old cords and cables
Also, consider donating clothes and toys that haven’t been used in the past couple of years to make the holidays warmer for families in our community.
Deep Clean
There’s no better time than after decluttering to give your home a thorough cleaning.
In addition to vacuuming carpets and wiping down surfaces, go the extra mile and clean your fridge, your microwave, dishwasher, and stove.
But, you may want to hold off on running your stove’s self-cleaning option as it’s hard on the elements. Simply clean surfaces and around elements.
Tune Up Your Furnace
It’s fun watching Frozen with your family; being frozen with your family is not quite as enjoyable.
Often, it’s something small that unexpectedly disables your furnace. Ensure your home stays warm all winter by getting your furnace professionally serviced.
Get Your Chimney Cleaned
Nothing beats the sounds, smells, and warmth of a crackling fire. But, you’ll want to make sure your chimney is clear of residue and debris that could prevent your fireplace from working as it should — or worse, create a fire hazard.
If you haven’t done so already, get your chimney professionally cleaned. You should do this once a year.
Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This takes almost no time at all but can save your life.
Test each detector and, if you haven’t done so this year, replace the batteries.
Eliminate Trip and Fall Hazards
A trip to the hospital due to a preventable slip or fall is on nobody’s letter to Santa.
Check your exterior handrails to make sure they’re stable, secure loose pavers on your walkways, and keep slippery rugs in place with non-slip mats.
Stock Up on Essentials Now
The worst time to buy everything you’ll need is when everyone else needs it as well.
Save yourself hassles and last-minute Shoppers runs by grabbing not just all the toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies and batteries you’ll need over the holidays, but also safety salt and washer fluid to keep outdoor walkways and your windshield clear, respectively.
Also, consider buying extra non-perishable food just in case of a weather emergency.
Decorate!
You’re prepping your home for a reason: to host and to have fun. Once you’ve taken care of the nitty-gritty details, crank up the holiday tunes, deck out your home with festive flair, and get ready to enjoy! You’ve earned it.
