Your daylight saving checklist

Daylight saving ends on Sunday 5th April 2015.

You’re probably looking forward to that extra hour of sleep you get when we turn the clocks back. But a little more shut-eye (and the threat of being an hour early to work on Monday) isn’t the only thing Daylight Saving Time can signal.

You can also use this time to take care of important biannual tasks around your home. Here are few suggestions:

1. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors.You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s worth repeating. Take the time to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order and have fresh batteries. It’s a fact, smoke alarms save lives.
2. Turn over your mattress.To make sure your mattress wears evenly, manufacturers recommend you turn it every six months. If you’ve got an underlay rotate it.
3. Clean your pillows.Oils and dust from your face accumulate in your pillow over time, so twice a year, it’s recommend they be cleaned. If you’ve owned a pillow for more than two years, experts recommend you replace it.
4. Take stock of your medicine cabinet and pantry.Daylight Saving is a great time to unclutter your pantry and medical supplies. Dispose of anything that is stale or has expired.
5. Clean your fridge’s coils.To keep your refrigerator running efficiently, ease your unit away from the wall and vacuum away the layers of dust from the coils.
6. Vacuum your dryer vent and ducts.Lint lodged in the vent pipes, the space behind the dryer, and ducts outside can cause fire if left to accumulate. Use a vacuum to remove this.
7. Replace or clean filters around your house.Use this time to inspect the filters in your heating and air-conditioning units to make your systems are still running well. Also check your water filter and the filter in your vacuum.
8. Check your emergency kit.If you’ve depleted your supply of batteries, bandage, and other just-in-case items over the past six months, use this time to restock.