A little advance work helps to keep busy fall and winter schedules flowing comfortably

  • By Jennifer Kneuss
  • August 27, 2010
  • 254
                        
The kids have gone back to school and the last vacation suitcase has been unpacked and put away. There’s a definite scent of fall in the air, and a little preparation can help you restore order in your home as you head into the more regimented family time schedules of fall and winter. Families spend a lot more time cooped up indoors during cooler months, so why not make the home environment as pleasant as possible? First, think deep fall cleaning. Yes, some of this was done in the early warm breezes of spring, but it is a good idea to repeat the process before sealing off the house from the elements of fall and winter. You will spend long winter nights in the bedroom, so take the time now to flip mattresses and wash or dry clean winter comforters and blankets. Next, turn to the bathroom, the place that is the hub of activity first thing in the morning and at bedtime. To keep things simple and accounted for, assign each family member their own bin, cubby, drawer, or basket for their own items. A communal basket can hold hair dryers, curling irons, and the like. Just make sure that everyone follows the rule to put things back where they belong when finished. Kitchens take a big hit with the morning breakfast rush and after-school stops before dashing off to practices and other activities. Stock up on paper bags for packed lunches. Think of ways to create quick meals when on the go to fall sports activities. Purchase full-size bags of snack foods, and repackage them into smaller zip-close sandwich bags to save money. This is a good time for closet patrol. Summer items can go into storage, and winter coats may need a visit to the dry cleaners before being put back into the coat closet. Also clean up summer sports and camping gear and store in out of the way areas along with beachwear and towels. Make a designated place for book bags to be stored when not in use. Also place an “in” basket in an easily accessible place so that all memos from school and other papers can be deposited at the end of the school day. Sort through them every day, and mark the calendar immediately with important dates. Invest in a large white board so that messages can easily be transmitted between family members on the go. Move things around in the garage so that yard rakes, leaf blowers, and yes, even snow sleds and blowers are in reach. Check that any needed maintenance is done so that they are ready to go. Remember to care for your patio, yard, and garden, too. Lawns can benefit from a last weed pulling session, as well as fertilizing or seeding. Mulch any tender plants or flower beds to protect perennials from harsh weather, and keep an eye out for below-freezing forecasts and frost warnings. Any container plants or flowers will need to be moved indoors for protection. Use them as part of your in-house decorating as a reminder that spring is eventually coming around again. Before the ground freezes, take the opportunity granted by sunny afternoons to plant tulip, daffodil, lily, and other similar bulbs for a beautiful show in early springtime. Wicker and other patio furniture may be moved indoors, but make sure to use a mild soap and water solution to clean it first. Furniture that will stay outside can be covered with either custom-made throws or simply protected with snugly tied plastic tarps until warmer weather comes again.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load