Get Ready for Winter the Chilled-Out Way
Doing just a simple task a day for a dozen days will have you and your home saying, "Bring it on" to winter
Brrrr. Even down here in Atlanta, our temperatures have been dropping into the 40s at night. Although it's only October, it's time to make sure we're prepared for winter. Do you know where your shovel is?
Here's a checklist of what you should do to get ready for colder temperatures, ice, snow and muddy boots. Accomplish one of these tasks per day and you should be ready in plenty of time.
Here's a checklist of what you should do to get ready for colder temperatures, ice, snow and muddy boots. Accomplish one of these tasks per day and you should be ready in plenty of time.
Take snow-preparedness inventory. Many people are used to lots of snow and ice; others in warmer climates tend to get surprised by a freak storm or two each winter. Be prepared either way. Make sure that your snow shovel is in good shape and that you have rock salt or sand to spread around when things get icy. Southerners, your local hardware store will be sold out of these things when you need them the most — trust me.
Keep snow materials handy. Speaking of shovels, find a good space to stow your snow shovels that's accessible poststorm. Add some hooks to your garage or mudroom, or at least find a good spot on a covered porch for easy access. Find a dry place inside for stashing the rock salt.
Scraper Doormat
Get out the tough welcome mat. Welcome your friends in but shun the snow. Swap out that summery float-rope welcome mat for one that doubles as a boot scraper — it's important to keep that sand and snow from getting into the house in the first place.
Add a softer mat inside the mudroom door to get a second swipe at those shoes and boots. Provide a spot where everyone can sit and remove footwear and then skip over to a dry floor in their stockinged feet. This incredible mudroom even provides a woodstove for warming up snowy boots.
Make space for cold, wet coats. Unless you're lucky enough to have a warming cabinet, you'll want a spot to hang damp coats in the open air.
Do the closet switcheroo. Pull out those sweaters, corduroys and outerwear from wherever you stashed them all summer. To make the most of prime real estate in the coat closet, pull out summer sports equipment, flip-flops, beach bags etc. and store them for the winter. Swap in your winter coats, hats, mittens, scarves and boots.
Prepare your windows and doors. Check for drafts on your windows and doors. If you have storm windows, it's time to start using them. Weather-strip any doors or windows that have leaks.
Stay Put Draft Stopper
Put on the draft stopper. Placed at the bottom of the door, a draft stopper is very effective in preventing drafts. This one is contemporary, but feel free to use a snake or Mrs. Claus doing a split.
Frost King Water Heater Insulation Blanket
Wrap your water heater. Enhance your water heater's energy efficiency with an insulation blanket.
Kaleidoscope Patchwork Quilt
Add warmth to your bedding. If you're in a cold climate, you'll want to save on energy bills by adding some layers to your bed so you'll be able to keep the thermostat lowered overnight. Swap out cotton duvets for down duvets, add a blanket and bring out the cozy quilts.
Likewise, keep throws and quilts around the places where you like to sit and read or watch television.
Likewise, keep throws and quilts around the places where you like to sit and read or watch television.
Have your furnace serviced. Your service provider should also clear out spiderwebs, change the filters and check all of your ductwork carefully — I had a large hole in my insulated ductwork and still have flashbacks about dollar bills flying out of it. You should also change your filters regularly. (Check the filter's label to find out the frequency; less expensive filters need to be changed monthly, while more expensive filters last longer.)
The Nest Learning Thermostat
Get the best per-therm rate on gas. If you have gas heat, you should lock in a rate per therm now, as rates will only go up from here. Stuck in a contract? I find these contracts are not ironclad. The trick is to gather enticing offers from your gas provider's competitors, then call your gas provider to see if it can do better for you.
Large Crescent Firewood Rack
Get ready for some fires. This means splitting that wood or ordering a cord, and figuring out where to stack it (under cover is preferable, to help keep it dry).
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, give the chimney sweep a call. Check on your fireplace tools to make sure they are in good shape, get out the fireplace screen and stock up on fire starters. You may even do some furniture rearranging to make sure you are maximizing your fireplace enjoyment.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, give the chimney sweep a call. Check on your fireplace tools to make sure they are in good shape, get out the fireplace screen and stock up on fire starters. You may even do some furniture rearranging to make sure you are maximizing your fireplace enjoyment.
Mallory 999CT 36-Inch Ultra Maxx Snow Brush
Prep your vehicle. At minimum you need an ice scraper and a snow brush. I love the combination ones, like this model. Note to Southerners: You need to brush off the entire car, including the trunk, hood and roof; I know this is not necessarily common knowledge.
If you live somewhere with extreme weather, it's time to dig out those snow tires. You should also keep an emergency kit in the car, complete with bottled water, energy bars, blankets and a flashlight. Be sure you have your phone charged and with you when you're traveling during the winter. A bag of sand in the trunk will come in handy if you get stuck.
If you can afford the luxury of having your driveway plowed, call your snowplow person and make sure you're good to go for that first storm.
If you live somewhere with extreme weather, it's time to dig out those snow tires. You should also keep an emergency kit in the car, complete with bottled water, energy bars, blankets and a flashlight. Be sure you have your phone charged and with you when you're traveling during the winter. A bag of sand in the trunk will come in handy if you get stuck.
If you can afford the luxury of having your driveway plowed, call your snowplow person and make sure you're good to go for that first storm.
This should be a good start in your winter preparedness. Please help add to this list by sharing any other winter prep tips in the Comments section.
More:
Get Ready for Winter's Wonderful Ways
More:
Get Ready for Winter's Wonderful Ways