If you enjoy #outdoor living when the temperatures are warm (we at The Organizing Blog certainly do), you’ll want to protect your #garden, deck, furniture and other equipment. Start by preparing your garden, says HGTV. #Winterize irrigation systems and mulch the flower beds. Protect outdoor furniture by covering it or storing it in the garage or basement. Likewise with metal outdoor amenities such as barbecue grills and firepits — store them inside or cover them with a waterproof tarp. You may also wish to water-seal wood fences and decks to make them last longer against the snow and sleet. #HomeWinterization
Tag: closet
Winterizing Tasks for Your Home
#Winterizing your home is important if you want to catch any issues and make repairs before they become more costly or disruptive. Clean the gutters, cut back overhanging trees, caulk windows and doors against drafts, reverse your ceiling fans, and schedule an inspection and tune-up for the furnace. Also inspect your roof and clean the gutters to keep moisture out, Kiplinger says. And if you want to avoid frozen and burst pipes and they damage they can cause, disconnect all garden hoses, locate shutoff valves for outdoor faucets, drain those faucets completely and insulate them with an outdoor faucet cover. #HomeWinterization
Prepare Your Closets for Winter
One part of prepping your home (and yourself) for #winter involves swapping out #summer #clothing for heavier flannels, sweaters and coats. “With these cold-weather clothing staples about to take up significant closet space, now is the perfect opportunity to stage a clean-out,” says Martha Stewart. “Toss items that are damaged beyond repair, #donate what you no longer wear, and store pieces like swimsuits and sundresses where they’ll be out of the way for the winter season.” You’ll have more room in your closets — and probably several #bags of #donations for a ClothingDonations.org#pickup.
It’s Time to Clean and Organize the Garage
Meant to hold an automobile and (maybe) a few tools or outdoor items, the #garage tends to attract all kinds of #stuff. Out of sight and mostly out of mind, the garage can quickly become a dumping ground for old #clothing, #boxes of memorabilia, extra furniture, sporting goods and tons of other items that don’t immediately find a place elsewhere.
The change of seasons is a great time to clean out the garage and #organize the things that make the most sense to house there — including your car. But before you start to #purge and #clean, “think about how your garage can best serve you and sketch out a plan to achieve an end result you’re happy with,” says Martha Stewart.
Examine your garage #storage needs. Maybe you have a lot of sporting goods — bicycles, watercraft or camping gear, for example. Perhaps you’re an avid gardener and need a dry space to store shovels, rakes, the lawnmower and other equipment. And of course, anything to do with a motor vehicle and its maintenance should have a space here, too.
Once you have a plan, pick a mild day and empty the garage out. Dust the rafters, sweep and vacuum, and wipe down the flat surfaces. Eliminate common nuisances such as spider webs and wasps’ nests. Sweep and mop the floors with a soapy solution or something stronger if you want to get rid of engine oil stains.
Then, wipe down whatever you decide to keep in the garage and return it to a dedicated #space. “Now is the time to create additional storage solutions,” Martha Stewart notes, by installing overhead racks and shelves for boxes and bins, pegboard #organizers for tools, hooks for bikes and kayaks, and a bench for gardening equipment.
Anything that prefers climate-controlled storage such as paper goods and fabric items should probably find a home indoors in a (dry) basement or closet. And anything you no longer need or want that doesn’t fit into your newly #organized garage can go to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup at your convenience.
A clean and organized garage might be a place where you’ll want to spend more time when the weather permits. You may even be able to park your car there!
Edit Your Wardrobe With the Change of Seasons
Making the transition from #summer to #fall #clothing is simple. While it might take a couple of hours and some decision-making, it can pay off in terms of #closet space and time saved. First, do an edit of your clothing, sorting everything into keep, store, #donate and repair piles. Dedicate prime #closet space to the cold-weather #garments you know you’ll wear and fill in any blanks in your #wardrobe with a few new items. Then, contact ClothingDonations.org. for a #donation #pickup. “Ditching items that no longer serve you is not just about creating space,” says Simply Spaced. “When you purge the old, you make space for the new — whether it’s new career aspirations, a new relationship or simply a new season.” #ClothingSwap