February Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home

Article by: Laura Gaskill

February means the thick of snow and cold across most of the country  — but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream of spring. Spruce up your home this month by giving your bedroom a feng shui makeover in honor of Valentine’s Day, plus take stock of cleaning supplies, keep road salt out of the house and refresh walls with paint (and maybe some new art, too). These 10 to-dos can help you keep your home in top shape, even if the weather outside is still frightful.  

1. Tune up the bedroom with feng shui.  With Valentine’s Day this month, it seems like a good time to spruce up the bedroom. If you are in the market for new bedding, consider shades of pink and red  to encourage romance.  Rotating your mattress regularly will help prevent it from developing hills and valleys, which in feng shui can be seen as separating partners in the bed.  W hile you’re moving mattresses around, have a peek underneath the bed  —  what’s hiding down there? In feng shui a clean area beneath the bed is best for relationships, so be sure to vacuum up dust bunnies and deal with hidden clutter.  

2. Fluff pillows and duvets.  Duvets and pillows looking flat? That’s because over time, air is pressed out of them, and the filling (whether down or synthetic) can shift and clump.

Some synthetic-filled pillows and duvets can be machine washed (check the labels for instructions), and even down-filled items can be fluffed up in a dryer on a no-heat setting. Toss a few tennis balls into the dryer with your duvet to help it regain maximum fluffiness.

3. Clean up road salt from entrances.  If the winters are chilly where you live, you know how grimy road salt and melted snow can leave your floors, especially in high-traffic areas. After giving these areas a thorough cleaning, stow your supplies nearby so it’s easy to sweep floors regularly.

4. Clean seat cushion covers.  Like floors, entryway seat cushions can take a beating at this time of year. Take off removable covers and launder them; spot clean upholstery.  

5. Tidy and restock cleaning supplies.  Get prepped for spring cleaning by sorting out your cleaning supplies. Toss products you tried that didn’t work and fill in gaps with fresh cleaning supplies and tools. Look over your dish towels, mop heads and microfiber cleaning rags, and replace them as needed.  

6. Rotate art and touch up walls.  Give your home a winter wake-up call by swapping out a few pieces of artwork,  patching dings in the walls  and touching up paint. 

Make rearranging your collection easier in the future by installing a few narrow shelves around the house, like the one shown here.

7. Recycle e-waste.  Old tech devices, CFL bulbs, ink and toner cartridges, and batteries contain dangerous toxins and cannot be tossed in with your other garbage or recycling. Store up your e-waste in one place and take it to a recycling center that accepts these items. Some office supply stores, like  Staples , have free e-waste recycling programs  — just drop everything off at your local store, and you’re done.  

8. Change furnace filters.  A clean furnace filter will help your heating system work more efficiently and trap more dust and allergens. Most high-efficiency filters should be changed every three months  — but it helps to inspect them every month, just to be sure.

9. Spruce up your favorite reading nook.  This is a good time to get cozy with a book. Spruce up your reading corner with a warm throw, a soft rug and a comfy ottoman to put your feet on. And if you find yourself stuck in the house on a snowy afternoon, why not spend it organizing your books?

10. Book a summer rental … and consider renting your home out, too.  Seem a little early to be thinking about summer vacations? Not if you want to book a cottage — highly coveted locations are booked months in advance.  

And if you want to offset the costs of your trip this year, consider  listing your home as a rental  or look into doing a  house swap  to stay somewhere for free.