I like to tackle a thorough cleaning of my house during the middle of winter.
- In the spring, there is way too much to do outdoors.
In the middle of January, the temperature in Lee’s Summit is typically in the teens. Because of the freezing cold weather and snow, I am typically kept inside for six straight months. It’s the perfect opportunity to move furniture around, empty cupboards, organize closets and launder all of the linens. I scrub the tubs, toilets, baseboards and even the light fixtures. It’s a very satisfying process and gives me the opportunity to make minor repairs and upgrades. This past winter, when I climbed on the ladder to clean the ceiling light in the living room, I immediately started to sweat. I realized that the temperature near the ceiling was several degrees higher than near the floor. The furnace was running just about constantly and using a tremendous amount of energy, because the heat was rising straight up. Since the air was only falling down to floor level once it cooled off, higher thermostat settings were necessary. I decided to install ceiling fans. There is a nearly endless selection of options, with all different styles, sizes and prices available. I was able to match the decor of the specific rooms and install the new fixtures myself. In the winter, the fans rotate clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air more evenly throughout the room. I reverse fan direction in the summer to provide a downdraft that creates a cooling effect. The fans are improving comfort and saving me money on my heating bills.