The start and end of Daylight Savings is our twice-yearly reminder to do all those little home maintenance tasks that we tend to forget or procrastinate. While they’re not exactly fun, most of them only take about 15 minutes or less, and once they’re finished, you won’t have to think about them for another six months!

1. Check your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Don’t wait for the high-pitched sound of your smoke detector to go off in the middle of the night – check the batteries now! Grab your step stool, check the detectors, and replace the batteries as needed. 

2. Flip your mattress. While some consider this advice outdated, depending on the type of mattress you own, it’s still a good way to extend its life. If you have a spring mattress, you can fully flip and rotate your mattress so that all sides wear evenly. If you have a newer mattress with memory foam, it may not need a full flip, but we suggest giving it a 180-degree rotation. 

3. Clean your coffee machine. With more sunlight in the morning, it’s a perfect time to really step up your morning routine by cleaning your coffee machine. If you have a Keurig, you can follow this step-by-step to clean it the right way. This video will guide you through cleaning a standard coffee machine.

4. Clean your furnace filters. After cleaning your furnace filters, you may want to schedule regular furnace maintenance as well dust the heating vents and radiators. 

5. Clean out your dryer vent. It’s recommended that you clean out your dryer vent every 3 to 6 months in addition to clearing the lint filter after every use. Here’s a step-by-step for cleaning your dryer vent.

6. Take stock of your medicine cabinet. Toss out (safely) any medications that have expired, then stock up on basics that you may need for cold and flu season. This is also a great time to go get your flu shot at a local pharmacy. 

7. Clean the gutters. Once the leaves have fallen off the trees but before the first major snowfall is the ideal time to clean out your gutters. During winter, icicles are the telltale sign that gutters haven’t been cleaned, and this water collection can result in damage to the foundation of your home. 

8. Declutter your bedroom. To ensure you get high quality sleep, take this time as an opportunity to turn your bedroom into a total zen zone. Clean up some of those items that stack up on your bedside tables or in the corner, and consider upgrading the space with some dimmer lights, lavender pillow spray, or a new throw pillow.

9. Clean the oven. Make sure your kitchen is in tip-top shape by running the self-cleaning feature. 

10. Wash your pillows. Oils from your face, dead skin, and dust mites accumulate in your pillow over time, so they need a good cleaning twice a year.