A new decade marks a new year brimming with endless possibilities. It’s also that time of the year where we set forth our New Year’s resolutions! These might include picking up a new language, travelling more or simply living a heathier lifestyle. But what about your home – the place you’ll spend most of your year?

Here are 6 New Year’s resolutions to set for your home that’ll help make it cleaner, more beautiful and an inviting haven to spend time with your friends and family.

1) Purge your spaces – creating a clutter-free household

One of the most effective and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to rid it of clutter. Each year we tend to accumulate a mountain of ‘stuff’, and without regular purging, things can quickly get out of hand. If something hasn’t seen the light of day for an entire year (or more), perhaps Marie Kondo-ing is for the better.

Britex tips for decluttering

• Be methodical – Manage one area at a time, this will allow you to segregate clutter into piles and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Do it alone – It’s easier to tackle clutter without having a bunch of voices weighing in on whether to keep or throw something out. If it doesn’t spark joy, be ruthless and toss it.
• Start early – Decluttering can be time consuming, so jump on the task as early as possible in the day and avoid interruptions.

Once decluttering is complete, weekly tidy-ups become quicker and easier! All of sudden there is less ‘stuff’ to move out of the way for dusting and vacuuming.

2) Shrink your bills and energy usage

This New Year, why not go green and improve the planet, yourself and your home at the same time. One of the best ways to start is by cutting down your energy usage at home. Simple lifestyle changes like turning off lights and  taps when not in use goes a long way. Perhaps also consider using energy-efficient appliances and changing your light bulbs to LEDs to help save on power bills. Saving the planet and saving money? Win-win!

3) Dedicate time for DIY home improvement projects

Aussies love to DIY, and with good reason. This new year, why not set your family some DIY goals? Not only will these projects improve your living space, the process of completing them can be an interesting and fun way to spend quality time with your loved ones. There’s an abundance of DIY projects and inspiration available online. Whether it’s designing a mud room, making custom shelving for school bag storage or trying DIY carpet cleaning instead of hiring a professional, the options are limitless! DIY can save you hundreds of dollars and time when compared to professional carpet cleaning fees, so do-it-yourself and channel the savings towards a holiday!

4) Freshen up your entertaining spaces

Each year, we vow to spend more time with family and friends, and part of the process is to make your home feel more inviting. To liven up your entertaining areas without spending a fortune, try adding indoor plants. Not only will they bring a sense of life – quite literally –- to your space, there is a wide array of pots and plant holders on the market that you can select to complement your décor.

Another option is to rearrange your furniture for a fresh new room layout. Consider orientating the couches to face each other, thus encouraging interaction and conversation. Speaking of couches, did you know your couch may harbour more bacteria than your toilet? Perhaps it’s also time to give your couch a new makeover with a deep clean.

5) Work out a system for keeping your house clean

One of the biggest challenges after cleaning the house is to keep it that way. Set in stone a few daily habits to keep your home neat and tidy. Even simple habits like putting the dishes in the dishwasher every night and packing washed clothes away at night go a long way towards keeping a house in order. Get the kids to help by putting their empty lunch boxes on the sink as soon as they arrive home from school.

Britex tip: Clean during short breaks in your evening– swap 5 minutes on social media with tackling small tasks like decluttering the kitchen bench or storing away clean clothes.

6) Create a dust, dirt and allergen free home

Our homes trap all sorts of particles, from dust to dirt. Carpet fibres can trap allergens in their pile, while grout lines in tiled flooring can become a haven for bacteria. Therefore, it’s important to vacuum regularly and to do a deep clean once or twice a year. This new year, start anew by ensuring your home is free of dust, dirt and allergen by doing a deep clean.

Britex deep cleaners are Australia’s number one choice for DIY carpet cleaning solutions and are available to hire from Bunnings Warehouse, Woolworths and selected Coles, IGA, Mitre 10 and Home Hardware stores. When you compare the cost of DIY carpet cleaning with professional carpet cleaning fees, the DIY option can save you hundreds of dollars.

Using the power of hot water extraction, the Britex machine offers professional carpet cleaning at a fraction of the price. With the Britex interchangeable wand system, you can deep clean your upholstery and grout & tiles to a professional standard too.

The next time you’re looking for professional carpet cleaning results, think Britex. Britex machines are available to hire with the Britex upholstery wand or grout & tile wand for 24 or 48 hours.

Get started with your New Year resolutions today! Find your closest retailer below.

Find your nearest store