Bruno Pugh
When winter’s chill rolls in, it’s not just your toes that need protection! Many of your everyday outdoor items are at risk of damage from the cold. If left in contact with freezing temperatures, they can deteriorate or become less effective by spring. Here’s a list of items that must be rescued from winter’s icy grip before it’s too late.
Cans of Paint and Sealant
Extreme cold turns the paint lumpy and nearly impossible to use, ruining your desired smooth finish. Plus, frozen sealant loses its stick, which makes it useless for spring touch-ups. For a picture-perfect finish, store your paint cans indoors.
Patio Furniture Cushions
Freezing temperatures and outdoor cushions? Not a great combination. When left in cold and damp conditions, cushions become ideal hosts for mold and mildew. This damages the fabric, weakens the cushion structure, and shortens its lifespan.
Garden Hoses and Nozzles
A hose left outside might seem harmless until the water inside freezes, expanding and cracking the hose. By spring, you’ll have a soggy and leaking mess on your hands. Rolling it up and stashing it indoors will save you from replacing it (and avoid a muddy yard surprise!).
Outdoor Extension Cords
Though extension cords are built to last, the cold can make them brittle and cause cracks that expose wires and create shock hazards. It’s not the winter surprise you’re looking for! Keep them indoors, rolled up and safe, and they’ll be good to go when warmer weather arrives.
Plant Pots and Planters
Unless you want a pile of pottery shards, empty and store them somewhere safe—or watch your favorite pots crumble! Ceramic and clay pots aren’t as tough as they look. Water trapped inside the soil can freeze, expand, and crack your pots like eggshells.
Lawn Mowers and Small Engine Tools
Engines don’t appreciate the cold; winter air thickens gasoline, leaving your mower struggling to start. Parts can seize up and make spring maintenance a pain. Save yourself the trouble and tuck away these tools where it’s warmer.
Plastic Storage Bins
Winter isn’t kind to plastic—it turns even the sturdiest materials into brittle versions of themselves. Want to keep your plastic items tough and durable? Keep them inside! Freezing temperatures can make plastic as brittle as a twig—definitely not what you want.
Propane Tanks for Grills
Propane tanks may seem indestructible, but winter’s cold can mess with the pressure inside, causing safety issues. And you don’t want surprises when you’re firing up the grill for winter burgers. Keep these in a sheltered area, so they are ready for action when you need them.
Sports Equipment and Toys
Such weather drains the fun from outdoor gear fast! Freezing temps make balls deflate, rackets brittle, and other gear prone to cracks and breakage. Bring them inside to keep them game-ready for the first warm day without disappointing surprises.
Battery-Powered Outdoor Lights
Cold weather doesn’t just affect us—it takes a serious toll on our batteries too. To ensure they last through the winter and beyond, keep them warm. Freezing temperatures cause batteries to lose power quickly, and repeated cold snaps can lead to cracks or leaks.