Need a Few Ideas to Help Organize your Garage?

Ideas For Organizing Your Garage

Believe it or not, your garage is not only made to house your automobiles.  In fact, you can use it for storage or even a work area for small household projects.  Whether you decide to keep tools, lawn care equipment or other accessories in the garage, organization is a must.

Maximize Your Workspace

If you use the garage for small woodworking projects or other chores that require a sturdy surface, consider installing a fold-down table on the interior wall.  When not in use, you can simply lift the table back up and into place.  This is a terrific idea for those who have a small garage or simply enjoy making the most out of their workspace.

Unclutter Your Clutter

If you have any items that are broken, outdated or simply unusable for any reason, toss them out.  One of the first steps to organizing your garage is to get rid of the things that you no longer need or can use.

If you have tools that are rarely used, put them away so that you can place the most commonly used tools in the forefront.  As a general rule, your garage will be more efficient if the things that you need on a regular basis are easily accessible.

Categorize & Sort

When it comes to organizing any part of your home, including the garage, properly categorizing your items is essential.  This will help you to locate everything quickly and efficiently.  You can use storage bins, shelves and even clear drawers for sorting your items.

Storage Solutions For Your Small Items

If you typically use your garage to store hardware, such as nails, bolts and other small items, try organizing them in a clear glass jar instead of leaving them lying loosely in a toolbox.  Not only is the proper storage safer, but it also allows you to easily view and retrieve the items as needed.  Used baby food jars are ideal for this purpose. 

Wall Mounting Is A Must

If you or your children own a bicycle or you need to find the perfect spot for your ladder or large tools, consider mounting them on the wall using the proper hook or other support.  It's important to note that larger items should be within reach to avoid injury while trying to retrieve them.  Mounting your large items on the garage walls will save on both yard and garage clutter and it's also a wise way to protect your items from being stolen.

Have You Prepared Your Garden for Winter? Weekly Home Tip #6

Getting Your Garden Ready For Winter

The beauty and relaxation that your garden can provide you and your family is certainly worth all the work you put in each year.  Putting in a little extra work at the end of the season, however, can make getting your garden ready next spring easier and can help keep your plants healthy through the winter months.  Here are a few great tips that will get your garden ready to handle the cold and snow.

Clean Up: Though not a favorite task of any gardener, it is a very necessary step to getting your garden ready for winter.  Remove your annuals, empty and store any pots and containers, and give your garden one last mow.  Also, raking up all those leaves is one chore all homeowners are familiar with each autumn, but they do make great mulch for your perennials and vegetable garden, and are also a great addition to your compost.

Plant Or Relocate Trees And Shrubs: The fall is the best time to get new trees into the ground, or move those you have earmarked to be relocated.  The best strategy is to choose trees that are hardy for your zone, as it makes their survival more likely and maintenance easier.  Also, choosing evergreens and shrubs that produce berries in the winter months can make your garden more interesting and provide activity for birds and other wildlife.

Protect Your Trees: For new or young trees this is an important step you'll not want to forget in winterizing your garden.  Covering trees and shrubs with burlap is most important in areas that have exposure to northwest winds and high sun.  Be sure, however, not to do this too early in the season, in order to prevent rot.  It is also a good idea to give your evergreens plenty of water to prevent burnout.

Test Soil And Mulch: After the ground freezes be sure to add mulch to your perennial garden.  This will protect both your soil and plants through the long winter months, as well as provide much needed nutrients for spring.  This is also a good time to test the pH of your soil to see if it is lacking any essential minerals for the next growing season.

Plant Spring Bulbs: This is also the time of year to get your spring bulbs into the ground. Be sure that you do this before the first frost, and give them plenty of water when planting them.

Unlike all the work you put into your garden in spring, winter clean-up can seem like a difficult and unrewarding task, but with this effort you will keep your garden in tip-top shape for the growing season ahead!

Remember if you would like a specific topic covered contact me and I will gladly research for you!!

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

On October 31 of every year, children around the nation enjoy carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up in their favorite costumes and going out trick-or-treating for candy and treats.  Although the traditions of Halloween have been longstanding, it is important that both parents and children approach the occasion with a combination of diligence, forethought and safety in mind.

Costume Selection

When children choose a Halloween costume, they think more about the style and character than the actual safety aspect.  It's important that any mask be designed in such a way that does not obstruct the child's view while being worn.  In addition, a costume should be comfortable and not restrict movement or increase the risk of the child stumbling or falling.  Therefore, the costume's length must also be considered.  Bright colors also are recommended so they can be easily seen.  

Chaperone Requirements

In a perfect world, it would be safe for children to go out and enjoy Halloween by trick-or-treating in the nearby area or neighborhood.  However, this is not a perfect world and it's important that an adult accompany children who are outdoors and/or trick-or-treating.  Ideally, there should be one adult for every 2-3 children.  This is especially important in large groups, where it may take more than one adult to supervise multiple children at once.

Must-Have Accessories

Because trick-or-treating typically occurs in the evening hours, it's important to have a working flashlight on hand.  Add fresh batteries to ensure it will last through the night.  Adults should carry their cell phone in case of car trouble or to reach emergency contacts, if needed.

Rules Of The Road

When trick-or-treating, always remain in well-lit areas.  This includes areas with working street lights and homes that have a porch light turned on, which is a sign that the homeowner(s) welcomes trick-or-treaters.  If the house is dark and/or the porch light is off, avoid the home and continue on to the next one.

One of the greatest attractions of Halloween to a child is that of trick-or-treating and the prospect of receiving candy and other treats.  It's important that both parents and children know which types of candy are safe and which are not.  Candy that is unwrapped or is not factory sealed should not be eaten.  Instead, it should be thrown away.  In addition, candy with expiration dates that have passed or anything that's homemade should be discarded.  With this in mind, it is recommended that nothing is eaten until parents and children examine all of the “loot” once everyone gets home.

Observing Local Curfews

Trick-or-treating is typically designated at a certain time for every area.  This means that some towns may allow trick-or-treating on the night before or the night of Halloween.  Additionally, there are specific hours and age limits that must be observed by all who choose to trick-or-treat.  It's important that both children and adults understand the local rules and adhere to them strictly.  If you are concerned about missing the curfew, wear a watch that lights up with the touch of a button.  This will allow you to easily see your watch face in the dark and will ensure that everyone gets home on time.

Weekly Home Tip 5 - Is Your House Ready for Winter??

FIVE QUICK TIPS TO GET YOUR HOME READY FOR WINTER

Roof repairs: If you can safely get onto your roof to inspect for missing shingles or other factors that may lead to a leaky roof, now's the time to do it!  If not, call in a professional organization and have them take care of the rooftop work for you.

Seal it off: Inspect doors and windows to ensure that the weather-stripping is in good condition.  This will keep your house warmer and cozier in the winter months.

Hot stuff: Make sure that your heater and ventilation systems are in good working order!  Clean out accessible ducts and replace filters where necessary.

Chimney sweep: Creosote, a black substance that builds up in the chimney when wood is burned, can cause chimney fires.  Inspect your chimney for creosote and call a chimney sweep to keep your fireplace safe and functional.

Gutter check: Now's the time to clean out those rain gutters again!  If you want to do it yourself, make sure that you can safely access the gutters and then scoop out any debris, blast the drains clean with a high-powered hose, and repair any leaks you may find along the way.

Would you like a specific topic covered?  Contact me and I will do the research for you.

Weekly Home Tip - Is Your Fireplace Safe?

Using Your Fireplace Safely

A fireplace is a great feature in any home, and can create that warm, homey feeling on a cold winter evening that every homeowner dreams of.  Whether you have a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace, there are a few important precautions you should take and safety measures to follow every time you use your fireplace.

Keep The Fire Contained

Especially if you have an older home, you should verify that the fireplace and hearth are up to code.  The hearth is required to be a certain size to prevent sparks or embers from the fire hitting the carpet or wood floors and starting a fire.  You should also ensure that you have appropriate metal doors or a mesh curtain that will keep the fire and any sparks inside the fireplace itself.

Keep anything flammable away from the fireplace, including paper, blankets, furniture, or anything else that could easily catch fire.  If you have a wood-burning fireplace, keep the wood in a spot where a stray spark or ember won't reach it.  The same goes for kindling or anything you use to start the fire.

Maintaining The Fireplace And Chimney

In a wood-burning fireplace, a substance known as creosote can build up on the inside of the chimney, putting you at risk for a dangerous chimney fire.  Every year before the winter season begins, you should have a professional chimney sweep clean out your chimney.  They should also inspect everything to ensure your fireplace is functioning properly.  Be sure to clean out ashes and soot from the fireplace regularly; this is recommended every time you use it.

Even with a gas fireplace there is some maintenance to consider.  You should have a chimney sweep perform a yearly inspection and cleaning of the inside of your fireplace, especially in hard to reach places like the fan.  They should also make certain that the gas lines and ignition switch are working properly.

Fireplaces And Children

If you have children, use caution with your fireplace.  Never leave a child unattended in a room with a lit fireplace.  Be certain that lighters and matches are always kept well out of reach.  Before you start the fire burning season, sit down with your children and discuss the safety rules for the fireplace, making sure they understand the dangers.

Your fireplace can provide warmth and ambience, and will serve you well for a long time as long as you take care of it.  Keep up on maintenance and ensure that everything is safe and up to code before you use your fireplace.