We’re starting the 31 Days to Make Cleaning a Habit series with a very simple habit: Change Your Home Air Filter on the 1st of Every Month.
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably think about changing your air filter monthly but don’t always follow through. Either you can’t remember the last time you changed the filter or it just never makes it to the top of your to do list.
31 Days to Make Cleaning a Habit – Habit 1
Change Your Air Filter on the 1st of Every Month
- First, a clean air filter means a cleaner home. When there’s not much dust in your filter, there’s less dust circulating around your home. That means less dust can settle on your furniture which means much less work for you when it comes to cleaning.
- Second, using monthly air filters (instead of 3 month air filters) prevents your unit from overworking.
- Finally, changing your filter on the first of the month is an easy way jog your memory…a change in month means a change in air filter.
Now, go change your air filter (I will too!). Then come back here and let me know in the comments that you did. Let’s call it accountability!
To learn more about incorporating a new habit every day, sign up for free email updates or follow along on Facebook!
iDreamOfClean
I’m a wife. I’m a mom. And I don’t like to clean! With a house full of boys, though, cleaning is inevitable. That's why I've made it my mission to find the best organizing and cleaning tips. Hopefully, those tips will help us spend less time cleaning and more time with the ones we love.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t understand: do you mean my furnace filter? Or something else? Hubby just bought a permanent filter for the furnace which he is supposed to clean every three months (or something.)
Oh, great question. I’m just talking about he air filter in a central heat & air unit (HVAC). I personally don’t have a furnace so I’m not sure what guidelines should be used for that. It’s a great topic idea, though, so I may have to do some research!
I don’t know where our air filter is. Our home was built in 1905 so we don’t have any central heat or a/c. I was thinking that might have something to do with an air filter. Just checking! I’m looking forward to this 31 days. I get your emails so I’m excited that you are doing this.
Oh, yes. I’m just talking about an HVAC unit. Sorry for the confusion! Hopefully the other habits will be more applicable to your home :-)
That’s ok! We all have different homes! I am loving this series. Thanks, Christine!
I’m new to following this 31 days…I live in an apartment complex, are we responsible to replacing the air filters or is that on the complex?
I can’t wait to get started on this series!
So glad you are joining us! Every apartment complex has different guidelines when it comes to replacing air filters so I would call the office just to make sure. Keep up the good work!!
I am starting this later, but I did put a reminder on my yahoo calendar to remind me each month to change the furnace filter.
We live in an apartment and the landlords take care of everything. But we have the small air filter units throughout the apartment, so I will do the filters in those. We live in Mexico City and the pollution is horrible! So a monthly change is a great idea!
We have a forced hot water furnace, so no filters to change. The only maintenance is having it serviced each summer. On to the next habit, I guess.
Put in my calendar to change the air filter on the first of May. We just changed the filter yesterday.
Awesome!! Calendar reminders at the best!
We have a heater only (no A/C) and we only use it seasonally. I assume I can skip changing the filter during the warmer months….right?
Changing mine now, Christine!
Great idea! I did this last week though…when I thought about it :-) Now it will be put on the calendar!
Changing it today. I know it isn’t the 1st but I’m eager to getting my house cleaner. I suffer from severe migraines so its difficult to keep up. I feel so overwhelmed and I’m trying to learn to just do one little thing will help. Thank you!
I did it!! It felt great! Bring on day 2!!!
WootWoot!Great job :)
Well, since my hubby just did this one yesterday (coincidentally, on the 1st!), I guess we’ve taken the first step… :)
Hubby’s are the BEST for this one!
ta-dah, mission completed.
easy peasy :)
one job completed.
Done and done!
Whoohoo! Great job :)
Hi I am a military wife, who has, even as a little girl, hated cleaning. It seems I would rather do anything else, but it’s coming to a point where I am hating letting it build up. It is tiring and stressful, and I just want make it a habit instead of doing it when I feel like. I went out and bought an air filter and had my husband put it in. I know it isn’t the first but I just can’t wait to make a habit of things. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS BLOG!
I already do this. I, however, do mine every two weeks. With four kids, two dogs and a cat, this is a necessity.
For reference in most homes, especially those with pets the filters should be changed monthly at a minimum. Even the ones that say 3 months are not really meant to leave in for three months. And permanent filters need to be cleaned at least monthly too. Those of us who have pets that go outside a lot need to change them more often. And newer thermostats have a change filter reminder.
This is my cleaning bible Lol! I have gone from a possible star on ‘horders’ to people calling me a neat freak. Thanks for the tips!
Will do as soon as the kiddos wake up….stoked about the series:)
have done thank you will start on all the other list so i will be caught up for the day thanks for the encounagement. your friend Rachael Bass
I changed my filters. Felt good
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