There is still time1

The temperature on my thermostat is slowly creeping upward as the temperature outside falls. I don't like to be cold, but I also don't want to spend a lot of moola this winter just to keep my home comfortable. Fortunately, there are a number of easy ways to prepare your home for cold weather now that will pay off with lower heating bills later.

I really hate to make lists, probably because they remind me of school and rules, neither of which appeals to me. (That's why I launched my own business—so I never had to deal with anyone's rules!) And I don't enjoy having to think about all the tasks that go hand in hand with the changing of the seasons. I'm sure you know what I mean. You pick your brain wondering how you're going to do it all—and still find time for the kids, leaf watching, falling of snow and other joys that come with the cooler weather. My answer? Rethink the way I attack my to-do list.

Not all chores are created equal. As you make your list for the end of this year—you will find plenty of suggestions below, along with the roundabout time each job takes—think about which tasks are most important to you. There's one group I think of as Gotta-Do's. There's just no getting around these if you want to keep your home and all in good working condition. Gotta-Do's—things like turning off your outdoor faucets as winter approaches and making sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries—can help you save money and avoid future damage. In some cases, neglecting them can even be dangerous.


Again, the good news is that you do have some choice about which tasks to take on. It's your home, so you get to pick your priorities. Anyway, most of the chores listed below can be completed in only 15 to 30 minutes. A couple will take as long as an hour. And some are covered with a simple phone call to the right professional. Look over the list, and fit the jobs in when they best suit your schedule. Choose your own Wanna-Do's!

To-do's that take 15 minutes:
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. They're lifesavers; treat them that way.

• Arrange to have the chimney or flu cleaned. Any blocked residue or birds' nests can disrupt your ventilation and endanger your health.

• Following a visual inspection of the house exterior (see 30 minutes or under), make arrangements with roofers, masons, painters or other professionals to handle repairs you won't be doing yourself. Don't delay—putting off small problems now can lead to serious and costly structural damage later.

• Close the attic louvers. Leaving them open will let warm air out, let cold air in and drive up your electric bill.

• Vacuum refrigerator coils. Otherwise, your refrigerator will drive up your energy bill as it works overtime to cool food.

• Rotate and flip the mattress. Why do this? To avoid those awful sags and extend the life of your mattress.

• Call the power company to trim any dead branches along power lines in your area (they'll do it for free). Dangling branches can create emergencies if they fall onto lines.

• Drain outdoor faucets and cut off water. You don't want pipes to freeze, or worse yet, burst.

• Check the expiration date of your fire extinguisher and verify that the gauge is within proper operating range. Replace it if it's past its prime.

• Assess your snow removal equipment. Is it in working condition? Do you need to replace a shovel, buy a pick or invest in a new bag of salt? Stock up now and breathe easy when storm season hits.

• Clean your china, crystal and silver. I suggest you clean in batches to make the job more manageable and so you will not become easily bored. For example, wash the good dinner plates with the usual dishwasher load one night, wash the good salad plates another night and so on. (Handle items that must be hand washed, or silver that must be polished, in the same way: a small batch at a time.)

• Dust the ceiling fan blades. A ceiling fan brush makes this job a breeze. Ok, you can stop laughing!


To-do's that take 30 minutes:
• Inspect the exterior of your home. Does the roof need to be reshingled? Are the TV antenna mountings and fittings secure? Are the gutters clean and reinforced? Do you see any loose or decaying boards, loose bricks or hairline cracks that need to be patched? Make a list and tackle repairs before winter sets in.

• Weather-strip any doors or windows. A tight seal means low energy bills.

• Winterize your power equipment. Oil power tools, drain gas from the lawn mower and deal with any other maintenance the mowing equipment requires.

• Clean the humidifier filter and reservoir. Doing so ensures efficiency.

• Vacuum and clean space heaters. This will avoid lint and dust buildup, increase efficiency and decrease the risk of fire or explosion.

• Clean out the medicine cabinet. Toss knickknacks, clutter and expired medicine, toiletries and cosmetics. I know it is hard for me to throw stuff out too. I always feel there is some use left in everything!

To-do's that take an hour:
• Clean outside gutters and downspouts and clear roof of debris. A clean roof is less likely to suffer damage during the harsh months of winter.

• Fresh is best! Prepare your bedroom for cold weather with freshly laundered winter linens and blankets and a clean mattress pad. Save yourself a step next spring and wash summer linens before you store them away.

• Store or cover and seal window air-conditioners and cover central air-conditioning units. Doing this will protect against condensation buildup and environmental damage.

• Defrost the extra freezer chest in the basement or garage. This task takes some time but helps your freezer run more efficiently.

• Clean out the refrigerator and/or freezer. Don't be surprised to find a science project or two growing in your vegetable bin! This happens every time for some reason!


To-do's that take an hour or more:

• Winterize your wardrobe. Pull summer clothing from your closets and drawers and replace them with warm winter clothing. Now's the time to weed out articles you no longer wear; pitch them or donate them to a local charity. I always have plenty to give away. I make my trips around the house to each and every closet. Nothing like freeing up space!

• Clean out the garage. Do you really need that rusted old ten speed?

• Shampoo the rugs. Rent a rug shampooer or invest in your own vacuum shampooer.

• Clean or revive tired-looking drapes by tossing them into the dryer on an air-only cycle.

All comments or suggestions are welcomed!