Many of us strive today to pick up the most innovative and newest produts on the market, but many of those great new inventions come with a downside — higher cost upfront or higher costs later on, in the form of rising energy bills. High-efficiency washers and dryers, dishwashers that clean up your cups, plates, and silverware in record time, new refrigerators that give out ice or fresh water on demand… these things go a long way towards making our lives a little more convenient. Sometimes, however, the newest idea isn’t necessarily the best one. Many of us grew up with parents or grandparents whose “old-fashioned” housekeeping tips and tricks are still worth picking up and making a part of your household’s regular routine… helping you cut costs and end up with lower bills in the process.
Stop Picking Up Those “Scent Release” Plugins. Create Your Own!
Some things never change, and whether it’s 1952 or 2016, we all want our homes to smell wonderful when we know company is coming. Rather than rely on expensive scented candles or “scent release” plugins that need to be constantly replaced, just grab a small saucepan, some water, and a few staples out of your pantry to create your own custom home scent! Our favorite recipe includes 1 cinnamon stick, 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, a few drops of vanilla extract, and a couple of lemon slices. Just toss in your saucepan, fill about 2/3 of the way with water, and get things boiling.
Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer and let the steam fill your home with the great smell while you continue preparing for your guests’ arrival. You might need to top off the water once or twice, but otherwise your company will walk into a home that smells amazing — with almost no effort required (and very little cost, if any!)
Keep the Lights Off Unless You Really Need Them.
Anyone else’s grandparents constantly ask them, “Do you really need to have all those lights on?” We know ours did. Especially in summer, when it can be light outside until after 8 pm, make an effort to only turn on lights you absolutely require. You may find that simply opening the curtains or blinds gives you all the light you need to feel comfortable in nearly every room of your home, from daybreak until the sun goes down. Your energy bills will definitely thank you for it.
Lose the Dryer and Embrace Line Drying.
While unpredictable weather means you can’t always rely on line-drying, a beautiful sunny day is perfect for setting up a portable clothesline and letting your sheets, blankets, or clothing pick up that “freshly cleaned” smell — naturally! You may even find yourself installing a permanent clothesline, once you realize how great laundry feels after a day spent drying in the breeze. Plus, you’ll help keep household costs down whenever you don’t have to rely on energy-heavy appliances like dryers.
Don’t Wait Until It Breaks to Repair It.
It sounds a little offbeat to phrase it that way, but bear with us. When a household appliance started to feel “off” in your grandparents’ day, they didn’t wait for it to completely break down and then spend even more on a replacement. They got right down to business taking a look to see what the small issue was and what could be done about it.
These new appliances are a lot harder (and riskier) to DIY than they used to be, but scheduling a preventative maintenance visit to ensure everything is working as it should is a great way to make sure you catch those small issues, rather than waiting for the really big problems to occur.
Looking for Plumbing or HVAC Service? We’re Here to Help.
At Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling, we believe it’s important to embrace a few “old-fashioned” values. For us, it’s an emphasis on quality worksmanship, personalized customer service, and building relationships with our customers and employees that can last for decades. With our Gold Star Program, we provide priority scheduling, member discount rates on certain repairs or installations, two yearly tuneups per year, and most importantly… peace of mind. When you’re searching for heating, cooling, or plumbing repairs in Eastern Pennsylvania, we’re the company to call. Reach us by phone at [hls_phone_number] or contact us online to schedule service just by clicking the banner below.