Stay warm and keep busy with February’s handy to-do list of in-door chores. It’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with your living space all over again.
- Inventory your cold-weather wardrobe, looking for things that you haven’t worn this winter. Donate them before the season is over so someone else can enjoy them.
- Start assembling tax documents and place them in a designated file folder.
- Clean shower heads with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water. Soak overnight for best results. While you’re at it, clear the bathroom sink drains of hair and soap buildup. Do this by first removing the drain cover and using a drain snake to remove hair. Next, pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a half cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz for five to 10 minutes. Then flush with boiling water.
- Take stock of bathroom vanity drawers and cupboards. Remove everything, wipe down and replace with new drawer liners. Toss old makeup and out-of-date supplies.
- Next, move on to the linen closet. A good rule of thumb is to have one set of sheets and a spare for each bed in the house. Consider donating worn sheets and towels to a no-kill animal shelter.
- Deep clean the microwave. Start by filling a shallow bowl with water and baking soda and microwaving it for five minutes. This works wonders, making it quick and easy to wipe down caked-on food splatters.
- Pick a sunny day and clean the blinds. (It will be easier to see the dust and dirt!) Start by vacuuming each slat, then go back with a damp cloth.
- If you haven’t already, schedule maintenance on your heating unit. Annual checks on your heating and cooling systems (once in the winter and once in the spring or summer) can lengthen the life of your equipment.
- While you’re at it, clean your dryer vent. If that’s above your DIY pay grade, hire someone to do it.
- Turn and rotate your mattresses. You may need to enlist a helping hand for this one, especially if you have a queen or king mattress. You’ll sleep better and your mattress will last longer.
- Lastly, curl up with your favorite warm beverage, and start going through those boxes or bags (we won’t judge) of old photos. Toss the blurry images, share the duplicates with family members and pledge to do something with the rest. Go the old-fashioned route and protect them in albums or scrapbooks. Or go digital by scanning the images and putting them on a USB drive. Don’t forget to have a backup copy or, better yet, store them in the cloud.
Related – Organizing Your Linen Closet: A How-to Guide
