When the calendar turns to January, most people turn to their winter to-do list. It may have things like re-organizing the closets, winterizing the house, or planning renovations for the spring. Here are some organizing hacks that can make that New Year’s list a little easier:

Remove holiday decorations and store them properly

It is the tradition of some people to keep holiday decorations up until after New Year’s Day. Taking the decorations down and storing them properly saves a lot of headaches for next year. Plastic storage totes are ideal for storing trees and all the trimming. It is important to wrap delicate ornaments in tissue paper to keep them safe. Be sure to save the empty wrapping paper tubes made of cardboard. They can be used to store strings of lights and avoid a tangled mess. Discard any broken ornaments and donate the ones that are not being used to a thrift store.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

During the cold of winter, a lot of families use wood stoves and space heaters to supplement their furnaces. Since these can be a source of fire and carbon monoxide output, it is imperative to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on all levels of the house. Replace batteries as needed. If the detector is older, it may be time to buy a new unit. These things keep families safe the whole year.

Wrap water pipes

If water pipes freeze, they can burst and cost thousands of dollars worth of damage in the house. One way to prevent this is to wrap insulation around any outdoor pipes that are exposed. When the temperature starts dropping, it is a good idea to turn on sinks to a little trickle, to keep the water from freezing. In the event of a busted water pipe, everyone in the house should know where the main water shut-off valve is. It can quickly turn the water off and prevent a soggy disaster.

Clean the kitchen and pantry

The kitchen is probably one of the busiest rooms—especially during the holidays. January is a good time to clean out the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Take everything out and get rid of anything that is expired or stale. Toss any spices that are outdated or never used. Give everything a good cleaning before putting things back. Decluttering the countertops makes the kitchen look fresh and inviting.

Kick the clutter

It is easy to accumulate a lot of extra clutter during the year. Many people wait until after the winter holidays to get a head-start on their spring cleaning. It is often one of the top New Year’s resolutions. The idea of de-cluttering the entire house can seem like a daunting task. January cleaning is not as overwhelming if it is accomplished a little at a time. Divide things into categories and tackle one each week. Declutter with a vengeance. Anything that has not been worn or used in the past six months can be donated. Pitch or recycle broken and torn stuff. A house that is free of clutter also clears the mind and spirit.

Make plans for this year’s renovation projects

January is the time when most people think about home improvement projects. Some of them rely on their tax returns to fund them. It can be minor things like painting a room or doing some redecorating. Some homeowners plan big projects like adding a room or renovating the kitchen or bathroom. Renovation professionals like Alair Homes Huntsville help homeowners plan and finish projects of any size.