Do you want to make your home more healthful?

Joan Mason

AMERICUS — How many New Year’s resolutions did you make — for your home that is? We all start off the New Year with the best intentions for self-improvement. And if your house could talk, it might have a few resolutions of its own! Did you know that maintaining your house through basic cleaning and maintenance will help you insure your largest investment — your home? Did you know that basic up keep will prevent small repairs from becoming large expensive repairs? Did you know that a disorganized and unkempt house is one of the biggest causes of family stress? Did you know that by maintaining your home you are improving your whole neighborhood? Did you know by following a basic house-cleaning schedule you can cut hours from the time you spend on cleaning on weekends? So, I’m sharing a few New Year’s resolutions for your house that I found in Consumer Report:

• Change the furnace filter — A well-maintained furnace runs more efficiently. During the heating season filters should be checked monthly and cleaned or replaced as needed. Better disposable filters cost $10 to $30 but will last up to three months. The 3M Filtrete 1700 and 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Reduction 1250 will keep your heating/cooling equipment operating efficiently and improve indoor air quality by removing suspended dust and pollen.

• Check smoke and CO alarms — Batteries should be changed at least once a year. Smoke alarms usually need to be replaced every 10 years and carbon-monoxide alarms every five years. CO alarms should be on every level of your home, and smoke alarms should be in all bedrooms, hallways, the attic, and the basement.

• Install a programmable thermostat — by automatically lowering the home’s temperature by 5º to 10º F. at night or when you’re out, a programmable thermostat can pay for itself in less than a year. The trick is to get one that’s easy to read and use.

• Clean your humidifier regularly — If dry indoor air in the winter has your humidifier working overtime, remember that it needs frequent cleaning. Minerals in tap water can cause an accumulation of scale. So check the owner’s manual to see which parts need to be descaled with vinegar and disinfected with bleach. Filters and wicks also require periodic replacement. Hard water can increase scale buildup.

The good news is that these tasks are all relatively inexpensive and easier to accomplish than exercising more or losing weight — more on this next week! Happy New Year!

Joan Mason is Sumter County Extension coordinator/Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Services. Contact him at 924-4476.

Text Only