The holidays bring extra cooking, overnight guests, tangled lights, and someone asking why the bathroom door sticks. Last month, we prepared for winter weather. This month, let’s focus on the people inside—and keep the smoke alarm from providing dinner music.
Test the Alarms
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace batteries or expired devices as needed, and investigate any chirping. Removing the battery does not count as fixing it.
Keep exits and escape windows clear, especially in guest sleeping areas.
Give Heat Sources Room
Keep decorations, curtains, furniture, and wrapping paper away from fireplaces and heaters. Plug portable heaters directly into an appropriate wall outlet, follow the manufacturer’s directions, and turn them off before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Follow fireplace maintenance guidance and have concerns checked by a qualified professional before its holiday debut.
Untangle, Inspect, Then Decorate
Check lights and cords for damaged wires, broken plugs, or signs of overheating. Follow connection limits, use indoor and outdoor products correctly, and keep cords out of walking paths and places where they could be pinched.
Water live trees and keep them away from heat and exits. Keep candles away from anything combustible, children, and pets—or go flameless, especially if your cat considers the mantel an obstacle course.
Keep Kitchen Chaos Manageable
Clear clutter from the stove, position pot handles away from accidental bumps, and keep children and pets away from hot surfaces. Use the exhaust fan and stay with active cooking. The family debate can wait until the burner is off.
Walk the Guest Route
Follow the path from the driveway to the guest bedroom after dark. Check lighting, steps, handrails, loose rugs, cords, and slippery surfaces. Clear away shoes, bags, and decorations.
Check the guest bathroom’s exhaust fan, slippery tub surfaces, and hot-water temperature. Add night-lights near unfamiliar stairs and bathrooms. Nobody should need a scouting expedition at 2 a.m.
If It Were My Home…
I would test the alarms, walk the guest route, inspect the cords, and give heat sources space before decorating. Then I would stop. The goal is a welcoming home, not a perfect one.
Next Best Steps
Handle small housekeeping and organization fixes now. For electrical damage, unreliable alarms, venting concerns, loose handrails, or fireplace issues, call the appropriate qualified professional. “That should hold until January” is not a repair plan.
A 15-minute walkthrough can make your home more comfortable and easier for guests to navigate—leaving you more time to worry about whether you bought enough pie.
Looking Ahead
Next month, we’ll review what your home told you this year and create a simple maintenance record with three priorities for the year ahead. Your house probably has a few New Year’s resolutions, too.