One of the top resolutions every time a new year comes is getting in shape through diets and exercises. But, resolutions aren’t only limited to being physically fit. For a change, this time, aim and resolve to get your house in shape as well.

Having a clean and organized home can benefit your health and improve the quality of life in your home as well. With that, here are easy-to-keep home improvement resolutions to try along with some tips on how you can achieve them:

Downsize and declutter.

With the years adding up, we also end up accumulating more and more stuff each year. These include clothes that don’t fit, things that aren’t anymore used or needed, and other unnecessary junk. To avoid filling your home with such things, resolve to make a realistic plan and schedule to purge your home of clutter one room at a time.

You’ve got a whole year to declutter all areas in your home. Designate a month for each area in your home so you can keep up with your resolution easily and realistically. You can also speed up the process and declutter each weekend. How you’ll tackle all areas in your home is all up to you and your schedule so you can keep up with it.

But, you must remember that as you purge your home of clutter, don’t bring in new clutter that will only accumulate by the end of the year. Practice living simply. Purchase and take home only items that you will truly use and need regularly.

Cut your energy usage.

The cost of utilities tend to increase over time. So, to save money, cut your energy usage at home. Besides doing your wallet a favor, you’ll be doing the environment a favor as well. By cutting your energy use at home, you will be able to reduce your carbon footprint as well. To get you started in doing so, here are some tips:

• Make sure your HVAC system’s ducts are tightly sealed. They should also be regularly checked to ensure they are functioning properly. But, if your units have been around for some time, it’s a wise decision just to replace them with newer, more efficient models.
• Replace all of the CFL bulbs in your home with LED ones instead. LED light bulbs aren’t only energy efficient; they are also longer lasting than the CFL bulbs we grew up with.
• Make it a regular practice to switch and turn off any light or appliance when not in use.
• If the weather permits, dry your clothes the old school way and try line drying instead.
• Update your old appliances if your budget permits. Replace them with newer, more energy-efficient models. Doing this will save you energy and money in the long run.

Set up a cleaning schedule.

To maintain a clean and organized home all year round, you need to set up a simple cleaning schedule you can easily follow and keep up with. In crafting your cleaning schedule, make sure to focus on one type of cleaning task at a time and tackle only one to two rooms at once. Your schedule can either be per week or per month.

For example, schedule every first Monday of the month for vacuuming alone. Then, tackle only one to two rooms at once. For Tuesday, focus on dusting, and so on. In setting up a cleaning schedule, there are endless options you can try.

Tackle clutter each day.

Every single time you see clutter within reach, clear it out immediately. If you see spilled food while you’re finding something to eat, wipe it off right at that moment. As you wake up, make your bed immediately. In short, tackle stains, spills, or clutter each day. Don’t allow them to accumulate which will only make cleanups harder.

Don’t wait until tomorrow before doing what you can do today –even when they’re just little tasks.

Always practice safety.

Aside from aiming for a clean home, aim to make it safe as well to give you more peace of mind. It entails little steps such as ensuring your door locks are in tip-top shape, setting up a basic emergency or first aid kit, updating your fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, scheduling regular checkups and repairs in your home, and more.

As you welcome the new year, have your whole household make home safety practices a habit.

This 2018, resolve to make your home a better, safer, and cleaner place. Happy New Year!