Dear Neighbor,
February 2024 has a special gift for each and every one of us - an extra 24 hours! With this year being a Leap Year, the last day of this month will be on the 29th instead of the 28th, granting us all an additional day!
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2024 has a BONUS day. Let's make the most of our extra 24 hours! |
The extra Thursday this month has us jumping leaping for joy. Here are some fun Leap Year and Leap Day facts from LeapFrog.com to get you excited about this year's bonus day:
- Without leap day, our calendar would be off by about 24 days every century, or every 100 years!
- The first leap year was introduced in 46 BCE by Julius Caesar of Rome.
- People born on a Leap Day are sometimes called leaplings.
- More than 4 million people around the world are leaplings.
- On non-leap years, some leaplings choose to celebrate their birthdays a day early on February 28, while others choose to celebrate a day later on March 1.
- There is an international club for leaplings! The Honor Society of Leap Year Babies has over 10,000 members worldwide.
- Some cultures that use a lunar calendar – a calendar that is based on the moon’s movement - add a whole leap month every three years.
- The Summer Olympic Games are held every four years on leap years.
- There are 525,600 minutes in a typical calendar year. On leap years, there are 527,040 minutes. What will you do with the extra 1,440 minutes this leap year?
Enjoy your extra 24 hours,
Scott Carter
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An extra day is the perfect time to take care of a few items that often go unnoticed around your house. Our home comfort experts have put together a short list of 10 easy at home to-dos that you can take care of before noon!
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1. Soak and clean your faucets. A plastic baggie and some powdered citric acid mixed with water goes a long way to sparkle up your bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Let the faucet soak overnight, remove the bag and wipe the faucet down. (Note - keep mixture away from marble and granite countertops!)
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2. Change your HVAC system's filter. If it has been more than a couple of months, a new filter will help your system run efficiently while keeping the air in your home cleaner. If you need help give our HVAC experts a call: 310-618-2671!
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3. Wash your windows. Giving your interior and exterior windowpanes a scrub is a great way to prepare for the nicer weather that's (hopefully) on its way!
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4. Deep clean your dishwasher. A clean dishwasher will produce cleaner dishes and giving it a scrub down takes minimal effort. Make use of the citric acid from above in #1. Place 1/3 of a cup of the citric acid in the dishwasher and run a normal cycle. We always recommend using Finish Quantum dish detergent for your normal loads for the best results. And, if your dishwasher seems to need more than a cleaning, give our appliance experts a call!
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5. Wash or dry clean your curtains. It's hard to notice the dust and dirt buildup that forms over time, but cleaning your curtains will certainly brighten up your view! |
6. Vacuum your mattress. Sprinkling a little baking soda on the mattress first, waiting a couple of hours, and then thoroughly vacuuming will help remove odors! If other household odors are bringing you down, an indoor air purification system can help. Indoor air filtration systems work to remove food, pet and other indoor odors and VOCs (chemical odors) around the clock!
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7. Clean behind the big stuff. Moving appliances (your fridge, stove, washer and dryer) as well as big furniture (couches, cabinets and beds) to clean and vacuum behind and underneath them will go a long way for creating a cleaner home! |
8. Go through your old mail and paper pile. We all have a paper/mail stack. Purge your pile by organizing, trashing and dealing with all items. |
9. Deep clean your oven and stove top. Run your auto-clean oven cycle while wiping and washing down all the surfaces, including the oven's side panels and the cooking range! |
10. Book any over-due maintenance on your home's heating, water heating and electrical systems. Annual maintenance from a certified professional prevents breakdowns while keeping your systems running efficiently and your home safe and comfortable! |
While we are enjoying an additional day this year, there are certain items in your home that shouldn't see any more time. Reader's Digest has compiled a list of common household items that you may have held onto for a bit too long. Here are the items you may need to toss and replace before the 29th: |
Item to replace: Kitchen sponge
How often to replace it: When it’s discolored, stinky, or slim
“These breed bacteria very quickly, so my first thought is don’t use one,” says Danielle Heinrichs with Clear Space in Boulder, Colorado. “I would say that 90 percent of my organizing clients are using a sponge that I would never wash a dish with and definitely not wipe a counter with.” How you store sponges and the like contributes to potential issues. “It’s important to have anything you use to wash dishes sitting on a draining dish on the edge of the sink,” she adds, “so it has a chance to completely dry.”
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Item to replace: Toilet brush
How often to replace it: Every 6 to 12 months
“Toilet brushes do a dirty job, and then we put them back in a holder to fester,” says Heinrichs. “Discoloration, worn-out bristles, or a smell will be your indicators. If you clean your toilet bowl with some bleach, it will help extend the life of the brush.”
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Item to replace: Duvet insert
How often to replace it: Every 10 to 15 years, with proper maintenance
“It may be time to change your duvet insert when you find yourself adding layers for warmth because it no longer gets the job done,” says Anne Gopman, founder and owner of Organized by Anne. “Over time a change in texture and filling distribution may also become an issue which let you know it’s time to move on.”
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Item to replace: Sheets
How often to replace them: Every 2 years
As adults, we spend about a quarter of our day in bed, which means our bedding and pillows feel the impact of our body weight frequently, explains Gopman. “Washing your bedding weekly and pillows quarterly will help maintain the quality, but these items have a short life,” she says. “Signs your bedding is ready to move on are discoloration, fraying of any seams or fabric, and a change in texture from thinning out to a roughness against your skin.” Before you check out with your cart though, make sure to know the best time to buy sheets ( click here!). |
Item to replace: Shower curtain liner
How often to replace it: Every 3 months
Shower liners, and curtains, are a tricky subject, according to Gopman. Depending on their quality and how you maintain them, they can have very different life spans. “Liners, if maintained, can last up to three months,” she says. “Shower curtains, on the other hand, can last until you feel you are ready for a new look.”
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Item to replace: Bed pillows
How often to replace them: Every 1 to 2 years
It’s a little gross to think about, but your skin sheds a lot in a year, and all of that dead skin lands right on your pillow. “You may see some yellow staining on your pillow due to oil and sweat, which can breed bacteria,” says Krause. “If you’re having trouble breathing or you’re embarrassed to see your stained pillow undressed, it’s time to toss it.”
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Item to replace: Smoke detector
How often to replace it: Every 10 years
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by half when the home has working smoke alarms. They recommend checking the date on the back of your smoke alarm to ensure you replace it in a timely manner. Additionally, test smoke alarms once a month to make sure they’re in working order.
Don't forget about carbon monoxide alarms! They are imperative to safety at home and should also be tested frequently!
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LEAP INTO FROGGY THEMED FEASTING |
If you're anything like us, you love a reason to throw a theme dinner...or, at the very least, you have fun throwing together a theme-based dish. With Leap Year in mind, we've gathered up some cute froggy-focused dishes (below) to celebrate leaping into this year's Leap Day! |
No cooking involved! This watermelon turned festive frog-shaped fruit dish is a fancy way to display a fruit salad this coming Thursday.
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This sandwich provides an effortless way to turn a regular lunch into a special Leap Day celebration.
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CHICKEN SALAD ON A 'LILY PAD' |
Using a lettuce leaf as a lily pad (we prefer Boston bibb lettuce as our base!), this simple but delicious chicken salad recipe makes a trouble-free dinner and a healthy meal.
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We have 2 recipes for a leap day drink - one for the kiddos (or anyone with a sweet tooth!) and another for adults (or anyone with a taste for tea!).
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With an oreo and pretzel base, this froggy dessert is just as fun to make as it is to eat!
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If you have been considering replacing your older heating, air conditioning or water heating systems with newer, more efficient equipment, the time to replace is now! Many manufacturers, including Carrier, Lennox, Daikin and Allied have announced price increases during 2024.
WHY?
Material shortages, inflationary prices on parts, global supply chain issues and more stringent regulations from government efficiency guidelines have all led to a significant increase in manufacturing costs.
WHEN?
Many of the price increases are set to take effect in March of this year.
HOW MUCH?
Depending on the manufacturer and the system, 2%-18% price increases are expected.
WHAT TO DO?
Avoid the coming price increases by scheduling a system installation, upgrade or replacement now. We have high efficiency heating, air conditioning and water heating systems in stock at the current, pre-increase prices.
STACK YOUR SAVINGS
In addition to beating the price increase, you can save more with our current financing offers featuring low rates and inexpensive monthly payments.
(Financing is based on 3rd party credit approval.)
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*info from: https://gopaschal.com/hvac-pricing-2024/, https://www.achrnews.com/articles/154001-carrier-plans-march-price-increases, https://trustcampbell.com/hvac-prices-in-2024-most-recent-list-of-hvac-manufacturer-price-increases-public-announcements/, https://myfox8.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/675163976/act-fast-to-avoid-hvac-price-increases-national-in-2024/
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WAYS TO CELEBRATE LEAP DAY |
Here are some ways to celebrate the leap year that could become new traditions for you and your loved ones:
Set life goals for the next 4 years
Where do you want to be four years from now? Write down short- and long-term goals. Include a road map of how you plan to get there. They can be personal, financial, or professional—or a combination of all three.
Write letters to yourself for the next Leap Year
Include your family in this project. It could turn out to be a long-term tradition that reveals how you change as a family, and as individuals, over time. Each family member can write the letter as if they were writing to their future selves. You can include special moments and people in your life this year and what you hope to accomplish four years from now. Seal the letters and open them on the next February 29th.
Make a Leap Year time capsule
Gather memories from the beginning of this year and arrange them into a shoebox or plastic container. This could include photos, special cards, event receipts, and more. Get creative! Include your family in this tradition and have each person contribute one or two items. Find the perfect spot to bury the capsule where you can be sure to dig it up four years from now.
And of course watch the movie “Leap Year”.
Get in the spirit and watch Amy Adams take the leap day proposal idea to heart on the big screen. Even if you just watch the movie for the Irish brogues and gorgeous setting, it’s fun to view it on its namesake day.
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