10 things you must do to put your home maintenance on auto pilot

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Sometimes you can't remember what you had to eat yesterday, much less remember the last time you changed your air filter. Take a load off your mind and still maintain your home perfectly by putting some of these tasks on autopilot.
Here are some ways to help yourself remember to do certain tasks meant to make keeping up your home less of a burden, especially if you are a homeowner trying to save money on repairs and other costs of running a home.
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1. Set up subscription deliveries
Services such as Amazon let you auto-replenish household needs, so if you want to change air filters every two months, have them delivered every two months. Voila! No forgetting.
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2. Make appointments from your phone or computer
Instead of taking up your busy day with phone calls, check online first. Many companies, such as lawn care businesses and air conditioning professionals, allow you to set up appointments online or through text.
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3. Put things on your phone's calendar, and send yourself reminders
This ensures that things get done, whether they're simple chores such as hosing out the gutters or dusting the living room.
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4. Check the vents
Make it a habit when you clean the living room to check the vents for dust and check the batteries in the smoke alarm. Try to multi-task in each room, and these things will become habits after awhile.
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5. Check the exterior of your home
When you walk out to your mailbox to check the mail, make it a habit to look at the driveway, check the exterior of your home and do a spot-check of the paint and foundation. Then, you'll notice if something is amiss.
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6. Clean the lint screen
Make sure that every time any member of the family uses the dryer they remember to clean the lint screen automatically. This keeps the dryer vent from becoming clogged and helps the dryer run efficiently. After doing it a few times, it becomes a habit.
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7. Use a wall calendar that the whole family can access for larger tasks
On certain months, make notes to do specific tasks, such as winterizing in November or spring cleaning in March. Divide the tasks monthly, weekly or daily according to what needs to get done. This is an effective way to get kids involved in helping too.
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8. Clean out closets
Once the seasons change, clean out closets. Inspect your wardrobe and donate or sell items you don't or won't wear anymore, and pack away things you don't need until next summer or fall. This frees up space in your closet. Help your kids go through their items as the seasons change or as school starts each fall and get rid of things they've outgrown so you know what to replace.
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9. Plan your projects
Take on projects that are weather-appropriate when the time is right. For instance, each October or March when it cools down, make that garage-cleaning time or gutter-cleaning time every year. Once you do that a few times, you'll begin to associate those months/seasons with those specific chores.
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10. Don't get overwhelmed
If you become easily overwhelmed with daily cleaning tasks, just take on a room or even one space at a time. On Monday clean the kitchen counters of clutter, so every Monday you'll know it's declutter the counter day. Tuesday can be laundry day, Wednesday can be straightening the living room, Thursday cleaning the bathroom, etc. Many people try to clean their whole home in one day or two, but it really is exhausting and unnecessary. It's much more manageable to break it up, and if you're already doing dishes, why not clean the sink when you're done? If you're showering, clean the bathtub once you hop out. These little things add up and make daily housework a lot more manageable.
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