10+ Simple But Useful Ways To Take Care Of Your House In 2020!

Last Updated on February 5, 2020

© AARP
Everyone has household habits, and every homeowner has their own routine – how they tend to their gardens, how they clean their home, and how they keep it safe.

But just because people have their own unique habits, it does not mean they are all good habits – sometimes people simply aren’t aware of how their habits impact their lives and well-being.

If you feel like you need some help when it comes to figuring out how to maintain your house, we bring you a list of 20 bad habits you should leave behind this year and beyond. Make it your new year resolution by reading ahead!

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1. Fixing things that are not broken

We know that renovating the house every now and then is quite tempting, but don’t go around splurging on unnecessary renovations just because. If you have, let’s say, an attic that you never use, and all of a sudden you feel like fixing it, you should really consider if it is worth investing in a space you probably won’t use anyway.

2. Not securing your smart-home tech

Smart home devices are absolutely amazing, but you need to make sure that they are safe enough and that your system won’t be hacked. Always update the device software, do not pick easy passwords and do not insert any of your personal information into your devices. Also, be aware of how they are going to use your data before you provide it.

3. Skipping maintenance

Like everything else in life, a house needs some maintenance. You need to make sure that you go through all the needed household inspections – like your roof, your chimney or even your HVAC system. Early detection of minor problems can save you a lot of money and a lot of trouble too.

4. Not having a house fund

Life can get complicated sometimes, and if for some reason you lose your job or face an emergency, you can find yourself without any money to cover your house expenses, or any house emergencies, like problems with your hot water heating system, for example. If you can, always set some money on the side to cover for unexpected house expenses that might appear in the future. Get health insurance as well as house insurance because, believe it or not, they are lifesavers!

5. Assuming that cheaper is better

Buying the cheapest items you can find might seem like a good deal at first, but in the long run, you will see that you ended up spending more money just because you were trying so hard to save. Take kitchen tools, for example – you buy cheap kitchen tools, and you save money at that moment, but they will probably break faster, and you will end up having to buy them again. If you are purchasing something you need, invest in good quality products.

6. Not protecting packages

Package theft is something that affects a lot of people, but there are some steps you can take in order to protect yourself from this risk. You can always place a package locker by your door, request signature-only deliveries or install a doorbell with video cameras.

7. Keeping things you don’t use

Do not become a hoarder – keeping obsolete objects around will only take up precious space in your home, it will make it look messier and it is, after all, pointless. If there are things that you don’t need or that you don’t use, consider donating them, giving them to someone you know, or even doing a garage sale.

8. Burning unsafe items

After the holidays, you will end up with a lot of ripped wrapping paper, coupons and even catalogs laying around the house. And then you have your lovely wood burning fireplace, and it might be tempting to just throw it all inside, but please, don’t! Colored paper can cause a chimney fire and emit toxic fumes, which can be harmful to you and your family.

9. Resetting circuit breakers

If you reset your breaker too frequently it can end up wearing out the breaker, and the fact that you have to reset it too often can also mean that there is a much deeper problem going on. If you have a breaker tripping repeatedly, call an electrician and ask them to check it out – safety must always come first.

10. Not using the right power cords

Keeping old adapters and not knowing what devices they power can be risky – you might end up trying to attach them to the wrong devices and that can be problematic, because the adapter can supply more or less voltage than the device needs, and this can damage it for good.

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