6 Preps for Winter Now That the Kids are Back in School

The new school year has begun. School supplies have been purchased, lunches packed, and the homework hotline has been put on speed dial. With the kids out of the house for six hours a day, there are a few extra minutes to tackle all those items on the To Do list that didn't get crossed out during the hectic summer months. The first step is to go over that original To Do List, and see what no longer applies. Perhaps, that entry to join a summer reading program is moot, and can be replaced with joining a fall book club instead. Mowing the grass give ways to raking the leaves while cleaning the pool becomes cleaning the gutters. Summertime to dos yield to autumn must dos. One of the most important autumn chores is to clean the interior environment of the home before closing up the house for the winter months. Following these simple suggestions will maintain a fresher and better air quality until open window weather rolls around again. The allergy and asthma sufferers in the family will greatly appreciate your efforts and will in turn make your own life easier with fewer trips to the doctor’s office later on. Cleaning window blinds is the first step to clean air. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove loose dust and dirt. Vacuum the blinds on both sides by reversing the direction of the slats. Next, clean fingerprints or smudges with a damp cloth or sponge. If the blinds still are not clean, soak them for thirty minutes in the bathtub in a mixture of hot water and a little laundry detergent. Soaking is only recommended for metal, plastic or painted blinds, but never for wooden blinds. Dry them with a towel before letting them air dry. Be sure they are completely dry before rehanging. You don’t want your good work to for nothing should they mold or mildew because they didn't thoroughly dry.   Curtains should also be cleaned at this time. Either machine wash, hand wash or dry clean according to the fabric recommendations. Next, vacuum the air vents in the house. Follow this step with replacing the furnace filter. For winter, use a broader spectrum rated filter as more allergens will be trapped inside for the next three months. Also look to see if your system needs a Furnace Tune Up as this is essential for the functioning of the same. Shampooing carpets and furniture will also remove dust, pollen, dander, and other pollutants from the home. When all is completely dry, use an air freshener that reduces allergens in the air.