In the spirit of the NEW YEAR, check out our 5 Best Home Improvement New Year Resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, green and clean space.

1. Streamline your stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to de-clutter. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. This year resolve to periodically donate to your favorite charity anything that you don’t use, wear or love. Simplify and go green by thinking twice about what you DO bring in.

2. Make it safe and sound

Check your house for radon and carbon monoxide. Test kits typically start at $20 at your local hardware store. For a small investment, it’s worth the investment for such an important safeguard. Make sure your house can breathe by ensuring bathroom vents/attics are vented to the outside. Consider testing for lead paint/asbestos flooring if the home was built before 1978. A special removal process is necessary.

Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it’s highly combustible, reportedly accounting for more than 15,000 fires a year.

3. Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint in the process)

• Switch off the lights when you leave a room. Adjust air conditioner/heat when you leave the house or head to bed.
• Install compact fluorescent bulbs and low-flow showerheads. Use sleep mode on your home computer.
• Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
• Water your yard less with drought-tolerant landscaping. Give composting a try and your garden will thank you.

4. Work out an efficient system for keeping your house clean

• Dishes should go in the dishwasher after each meal – no excuses! Dirty clothes need to go in the hamper and clean clothes should be hung in the closet. Keep all cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths, in a portable carry-all that moves with you from room to room.
• Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder’s apron that you wear when you clean. Work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)
• Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. Wipe down fingerprints on all cabinets before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move to mirrors and appliances. Once that’s done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.
• For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your entire family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least 3 parties: One can handle dusting & vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes!

5. Get your place ready for entertaining

Each year most of us pledge to spend more time with family and friends. Why not give the areas where you entertain a little update? You don’t have to “break the bank” or invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few simple revisions. One easy update that makes your home seem more “polished” is the addition of plants, either real or silk.By refocusing on an under-used color from your existing décor, you can make the whole room feel fresh and new. Consider some new pillows or wall art pulling in the new color to update your look inexpensively. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor the space.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope you found this post to be helpful, informative and interesting … If you’re considering any home improvement projects, be sure to check out our Trusted Vendors on our website

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Until then… it’s all about YOU!