Housely
Summertime is all about lazy days, swimming, and basking in the sun. Fall is when all of the work begins. You need to start storing things for the winter, not only to keep things safe from the elements but also to make more room inside of the home. The sooner you start working on your winter storage projects, the sooner you will get done. If you start early enough, you will have everything stored away before the first freeze of the season. In order to get everything done, you should follow the tips listed below. It will ensure that you will get the job done right and you won’t leave anything out.
Summer Clothes Storage
After summer is over, there is no need to keep your closets loaded with your summer clothes. It is time to move your winter clothes into their place. If you have extra space in your basement, attic, or even in the back of the closet, you should pack all of your clothes into bins. Before you put the cover on, you should put one or two dryer sheets into the bin. This will ensure that your clothes will smell good when you take them out again next season.
Store Away Your Outdoor Furniture
If you want to protect your outdoor furniture during the winter, you would need to put it away. Leaving it outdoor, exposed to the elements, will just destroy the furniture. If you have a shed, garage, or room in your basement, those are excellent places to store your furniture. These items can withstand the cold, therefore, there is no need to keep them indoors where it is warm. As long as your furniture is protected from the rain, ice, and snow, there should be no issues. If you don’t have a place indoors to store your furniture, you should at least cover it with a tarp. As long as you can keep the furniture dry, it won’t get destroyed. If you have a patio table with a glass top, you should lie it upside down before covering it up. If the snow gets too heavy, it could break the glass.
Storing Your Car for the Winter
If you have a nice car that you don’t use during the winter, you would need to winterize before you store it. If you are going to be storing your car in a heated off-site facility, you don’t need to do much. The heat in the unit will keep the car protected. If you are planning to store your car for the winter, there are a few tips that you will need to follow to protect your vehicle from the freezing temperatures. Before storage, you should prepare the vehicle. Start by getting the vehicle ready. Start by washing and waxing the car. Next, fill the tank with premium gas. The less room there is in the tank, the less risk there is of air filling the gas tank creating rust. Next, add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and let the car run so that it moves into the carburetor, the injection, and all of the components in the engine. You should also change the oil. The clean oil will reduce the risk of contamination. Also, check the antifreeze and put air in the tires. If you are going to be storing your car on a dirt floor, put down a trap or a piece of plastic first. You should also place refrigerator baking soda packages in the interior of the car and in the trunk. You will need to remove the battery and place it somewhere that it won’t freeze. If the car is going to be outside, keep it covered with a tarp. If you are storing the car in your garage, just close the door and leave the car alone until spring.
Storing Your Lawn Mower
When the fall is over, you likely won’t need your lawn mower anymore. If you winterize it properly, you will be able to extend the life of your lawn mower. If you are storing your lawn mower in your basement where it is warm, you should run the mower until the gas is gone. If you are keeping your mower in a garage or in the shed you should stabilize the fuel. This will keep the gas from clogging the carburetor. If this happens, it can result in a very costly repair. To stabilize the gas, you should add some stabilizer to the tank before storing. Before storing your lawn mower, you should also change the oil. This will extend the life of your engine. It is best to keep the oil filled no higher and no lower than the designated mark on the dipstick. You should remember that too much oil can be just as harmful as too little oil. Finally, if your lawn mower has a battery, you should charge it a few times during the winter.
Storing Your Garden Hoses
Garden hoses can get damaged if they are not stored properly for the winter. Hoses are not too expensive to replace, however, if you store them properly, they will be ready for use in the spring. Start by turning off the spigot and spray out any excess water that is in the hose. Next, remove the spray nozzle to get all of the water out and disconnect the garden hose. Coil the hose and make sure that there are no kinks. Next, connect the end fittings to keep bugs or any other critters from getting in the hose when they are looking for a warm spot to live. You should store your hose in a warm area. If it is stored in the cold, there is a much bigger risk of the hose cracking due to the extreme cold temperatures. If you cannot store the hose in a warm place, at least make sure that it is up off the floor. Finally, turn off the water supply to the spigot for the winter.
Storing Power Tools
You need to store your power tools in a warm place in the home. The extreme cold weather can destroy the components inside of the tools. When you try to use them in the spring, they might not turn on. Keeping them in your home is the best option.
Storing Your Grill
During the cold winter months, you might not feel like grilling. Nobody wants to stand outside in the blistering cold to make a burger. It is important that you protect your grill from the elements. If possible, store it in the garage or the shed. If you don’t have space, keep it covered with a tarp to prevent rusting. You should also disconnect your gas tank and keep it in a warm spot.
Storing Your Wood
If you have a fireplace or a wood stove, chances are you have a large supply of wood. You want to make sure that your wood is protected so that you will have dry wood when you need it. If you have the space in your home, you should keep a small supply of wood in the house. You can purchase an indoor wood rack for your wood. This will ensure that you have a dry supply of wood. Just be sure to refill the indoor supply once a week. You should keep your wood outside covered with a tarp. If it rains or snows, the wood will be protected so that your wood won’t be soaked or frozen when you bring it into the house.
Storing Pool Floats
If you have a pool, chances are you have floats. If they aren’t stored properly, they will crack in the cold weather and they will be completely useless. Start by letting all of the air out of the floats, and keep them in a covered bin. Also, wrap the floats in a blanket to keep them from cracking.
Storing Garden Tools
There is not too much to worry about when storing garden tools. You just want to rotate them to the back of the shed or the garage and bring the show shovels and the rock salt to the front. This will make it easier to get to when the snow starts to fall.
Getting ready for winter can be a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the spring. In order to keep your car, clothing, furniture, and outdoor equipment safe, you should follow a few simple steps. It will save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
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