A brand new year is the perfect time to start planning for projects or to take care of all those home tasks that usually are forgotten.

Here is a quick list of tasks (some fun and some annoying!) which you can tackle in the winter to help you maintain a better living environment:

-          Rotate your mattresses. Rotating your mattresses will help you sleep better and makes them last longer.  Also check to see if you need new pads.

-          Clean and organize a closet. Don’t overstretch yourself.  Pick one closet you know you can get done and go through the stuff that accumulates over the year.  Throw away any broken knickknacks and donate whatever you can to charity.

-          Perform an energy audit. Utility companies are now offering programs to help homeowners conserve energy.  You can go to your local utility provider and request an energy audit.  They may offer to replace your thermostats with programmable ones.  If you are serious about green living, you can also contact a private company to perform a comprehensive energy audit by measuring your home’s air leakage and its total water and voltage usage.

-          Clean your dryer vents. Move the dryer away from the wall and remove the tube that attaches to the machine to clean out all the lint.  Check and clean the outside vent as well.  By doing this twice a year, you will save on your utility bills and prevent fire hazards.

-          Change all the filters. HVAC filters should be changed every 3 to 4 months.  This will give you better air quality and prolong the longevity of your furnace.  Do you have a refrigerator with a water dispenser?  If so, you should also be changing the water filter.  Newer models have a light to indicate when to change it, but some of the older models don’t.

-          Clean window treatments. Inspect your drapes and determine if you can vacuum them rather than taking them to the dry cleaner.  You may be able to use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean the dust off your window treatments and save on the dry cleaning bill.  Most of the discolorations on your drapes come from dust accumulation.

-          Check for moth damage. Did you start noticing little holes in your wool sweaters?  Chances are you have moths in your closets and now that you are wearing your winter clothes you are seeing the damage.  It’s best to vacuum all your shelves and make sure your clothes are clean before you store them away for the season.  Moths only attack natural fibers.  Be sure and vacuum under your rugs and upholstered furniture.  Use pheromone traps or mothballs if necessary.

-          Clean your windows and sliding door tracks.  Vacuum your window and sliding door tracks to make sure they operate property.

-          Lubricate your locks and garage door opener. A lightweight oil such as WD-40 works easiest.

Do you have a special cleaning or organizing tip?  Feel free to leave a message below with your own recommendations.  Check out our video tips section under Mid-Atlantic’s Customer Care website.