Daylight Saving Time Isn’t Just About Clocks: Tasks You Should Consider Doing When Time Changes
Lots of people have strong feelings about Daylight Saving Time, with some viewing it as a waste or a silly bit of unnecessary confusion, while others (for this particular time, anyhow) are simply happy with the extra hour of sleep they get from setting their clocks back. Either way, Daylight Saving Time can be a pretty easy way to remind yourself of some other tasks you can accomplish this time of year.
1. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms, as well as checking your carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working. Both are important tasks that can sometimes get overlooked during daily living. According to Good Housekeeping, flames can actually destroy your home in as little as five minutes, but with working smoke alarms, a person’s risk of dying in a fire can be cut in half.
So go check your batteries!
2. Flip your mattress. Most people know that flipping a mattress — which is an expensive investment — is a good way to make certain that the mattress wears evenly, meaning it can be used longer. Mattress flipping should be done every six months, which means using Daylight Saving Time as a semi-annual reminder to do this unwieldy task is a great idea.
Have a pillow top? Rotate it instead of flipping it.
4. Restock your emergency kits — or, if you don’t have one, start one! An “emergency kit” usually consists of flashlights, batteries, bandages, bottled water, and other items that can be useful in emergencies. If this stock has been wiped out (who doesn’t filch needed batteries for the remote?), use Daylight Saving Time as a reminder to reevaluate your stock and replace anything that has been used. You’ll be glad you did the next time the electricity is out!
5. Replace or clean the filters located in your house. Heating and air-conditioning unit filters should be checked, and either replaced or cleaned, in order to make sure these important systems in your house continue to run smoothly. You may also want to check and replace less-thought-of filters in your home, such as the water filter in your refrigerator, or the HEPA filter in your vacuum. Since this should be done twice a year, Daylight Saving Time can serve as a great reminder to do just that.
6. Clean the coils in your refrigerator. This keeps your fridge running well. To do this, just use the vacuum’s wand to clean up the six months of dirt and dust — and you can change your vacuum’s filter while you have it out.
7. Wash your pillows. Oils and dead skin accumulate on your pillows, even when you use pillow cases, so a good cleaning at least twice a year is highly recommended. Or, if you’ve had the pillows for two years, you may want to consider replacing them. Use Daylight Saving Time to help you remember to take care of this.
See? Even if you are one of those who think Daylight Saving Time is a nuisance, it can still serve as a timely reminder to do some of these often overlooked, but important, household chores that keep our homes running smoothly, and safely.
Now that it gets dark early, make sure you settle into fall, and all the cozy comforts it offers. For great ideas on some inexpensive ways to brighten up your home for the season, click here.
[Image credit: Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty Images]
