Twice a year chores
Although I do not care for Daylight Savings Time, it does serve as a reminder for things we need to do at least twice a year. I had a friend, when we lived in Kentucky, who made the weekend of Daylight Savings time a mandatory cleaning weekend. She scheduled nothing, and I mean nothing, except cleaning for those weekends. Because we do get busy and lose track of time, it is a good idea to have some type of schedule or plan for doing things that are not a “habit.” Although many tasks need to be done more than twice a year, I find that sometimes I have to play “catch-up” and Daylight Savings is an excellent reminder for me. So with that thought in mind, here are some of the things on my list:
Check batteries in smoke alarms.
Flip/rotate mattresses.
Vacuum air vents.
Clean ceiling/light fixtures.
Vacuum/clean mini-blinds.
Vacuum behind TVs.
Check for leaks under sinks. (A small leak can easily go undetected, causing damage and a major mold problem. Yes, this is speaking from experience!)
Clean under and behind refrigerator and stove. (I find it amazing and disgusting what can hide there.)
Check bathtubs, toilets, sinks and outdoor faucets for little drips and leaks that can be very costly.
Wipe out cabinets and pantry.
Inspect roof for any damage
Inspect insulation in attic.
Clean dishwasher and check jets for clogging. (Pouring a cup of vinegar over jets and letting it sit for about 30 minutes will generally take care of clogging, then run empty dishwasher through a wash cycle.)
Check heating/air condition system for any damage and clean around outside units.
Purge closets and home of unwanted or unused items, (and take care of all the clutter, too!).
And don’t forget to treat yourself, once all the work is done!