Tips & Tools : Winter

Moving in the Winter

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:08:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

Don’t let the ice and snow of winter sabotage your next move! Stay warm, safe, and smiling during your winter move simply by following these helpful tips:

Bundle up!
It’s always great to have a few warm pieces of clothing on hand during your winter move. Have sweatshirts, socks, sweaters, blankets, coats, and boots remain in your home until you are ready to leave permanently. You never know if your heater will break the day of your move or if the wet weather will soak you to the bone.

Don’t slip
Shovel and salt walkways, steps, driveways, and anywhere movers will be walking. A slip and fall while moving is not only embarrassing, but extremely dangerous. Even with freshly shoveled walkways to guide you, walk slowly and carefully throughout your move in case you missed scraping up a slippery spot.

Stay warm
Be sure your heat will be on for moving day at your current and new home. If the heat is not yet on in your new home, bring along some space heaters to hook up before you begin moving your belongings inside. This way, you will have a toasty home to relax in after the move and won’t freeze during your first night in your new home.

Drink (and eat) up
Keep a kettle of warm water for tea or a pot of hot coffee on hand to warm your movers up with. If you want to go above and beyond for your movers, have some soups (Ramen noodles will suffice) and a loaf of crusty bakery bread ready for them to eat during a lunchtime break. They will thank you for the warm gesture during the chilly move!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget about our other seasonal moving story, Moving in the Summer.

Landscaping: Winter Checklist

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:33:00 GMT

Winter landscaping is still important despite the cold weather.

Even though the cold winter weather may make landscaping the last thing on your mind, there are few landscaping things you should do for the winter months. A little landscaping maintenance can help your yard to be at its best in the spring. It is all about planning ahead.

1. Before the freeze hits, plant your spring bulbs. Map out where you want the blooms to be when warm weather returns. Bulbs are typically planted at a depth 3 to 4 times their height. This protects them from harsh winter weather.

2. Aerate, seed, and fertilize your lawn before the freeze, too. This is a very important part of landscaping that should not be neglected. Aerating is needed to loosen the soil so the seeds can get in deep to grow. The fertilizer prepares the grass for spring growth.

3. Drain and store your water hoses and blow out the irrigation systems. Leftover water can freeze and cause damage, which can be expensive to a sprinkler system.

4. Bring in container plants that accented your landscaping. They cannot take the cold nights of winter.

5. Pull up any dead annuals. If you have a compost pile, add them to it so the dead plants can be used to fertilize the new growth in the spring.

6. Weed the vegetable garden and flower beds one last time for the season.

7. Clean up any debris in your yard that can be hidden by the snow and cause damage or disease.

8. Protect any sensitive plants in your landscaping by mulching or using a screen. Several inches of mulch or soil gathered around most plants should do the trick, but for the very delicate it helps to cover with a screen.

Winter landscaping is a lot like helping your plants and flowers to hibernate for the cold weather. You are settling them in and helping them to stay warm for the winter months so that there will be a burst of bloom in the spring to greet you.

Keep your house warm this winter

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:55:00 GMT

Tune up your heating system and make sure you have adequate insulation before cold weather strikes.

Maintaining your heating system and ensuring your house has adequate insulation can make the difference between a shivery winter and a cozy one. Here are some specific steps you can take to stay warm:

Heating
You want to know that your heater still works before the cold weather hits and that your furnace is not leaking odorless, flammable and poisonous carbon monoxide fumes. So have your furnace or heating system serviced.

Ducts
Check for leaks in the seams. These can be repaired with duct tape. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry recommends cleaning heating ducts every five years, more often if you have pets.

Filters
Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or so. According to the American Lung Association, this reduces the potential for health problems including irritation of the eyes, decreased lung function, allergic reactions and cancer. To change or clean the filter, remove it from the slot beside the furnace and clean it or insert a new one. Write down the size of filter that fits your furnace before going to the store.

Insulation
Proper insulation in the roof keeps moisture out of the house and reduces your heating bills. Nine inches of insulation is recommended for most homes. The important areas to check are the attic, garage and crawlspace.

Carbon monoxide and fire detectors
If your carbon monoxide and fire detectors are not wired in, this is a good time to check the batteries.

Lawn Care - Winter Checklist

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:58:00 GMT

Lawn care is still important during the winter, even with the cold weather.

Winter lawn care is still necessary even with the cold winds and short days. Just a few steps can help ensure that your winter lawn care pays off with a greener yard in the spring.

Before the first freeze
There is much lawn care that must be completed before the first freeze. Of course, the timing of the first freeze varies greatly depending on in which region you live. Be sure you have done the following before that first frost hits.

Have the lawn aerated so that the compacted soil is loosened.
Overseed your lawn after it is aerated so that the seeds can penetrate the soil.
Make one last fertilization part of your lawn care so that the grasses can store the nutrients for the spring.
Remove all debris from the yard. Not only does this include leaves and fallen branches, but also any toys, hoses, tools, etc. that can be hidden by snow and cause damage to the grass.
Gradually mow the grass shorter and shorter as part of your winter lawn care. This helps prevent new grass during the winter, which can be more susceptible to winter diseases and also can dry out more easily.

At the end of winter
Lawn care preparation for spring begins as the winter starts to give way to spring.

Check for any signs of disease on your lawn and treat them appropriately if you find any.
Patch any bare spots in your yard.

Although winter lawn care is not as strenuous as perhaps fall or spring, is it still important to care for your lawn during the colder months. Year-round lawn care produces a better yard for when the grasses are growing again.

Winter garden tips

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:48:00 GMT

Try the following garden tips to help your garden through the winter.

Even though nothing is growing, the winter is a good time to keep your garden in shape. Check out the following winter garden tips to make sure your garden is ready to grow in the spring.

• Clean up your garden before the snow comes. Pull up any dead plants that are left and put them in your compost pile. That way they can become fertilizer for your spring garden. Also, be sure your garden is free of weeds and debris.

• Clean and store your garden tools. It is easiest to clean your garden tools before you store them. That way you’ll avoid that arduous task in the spring. When winter is over, you will be excited to get started on your garden and won’t want to have to clean your tools first.

• When the snow does come, try not to shovel salted snow onto your garden. It can damage your soil.

• If you need to order any seeds, be sure to do it by January. That way you’re sure to have them in time for your spring garden.

• Think about your past year with your garden. What worked and what didn’t work? Did certain crops or flowers go to waste while there were others which you never could get enough? The winter is a good time to plan your garden for the next year. Make a list of which crops and flowers you want for each season. Sketch the layout of your garden for the spring. You get to start fresh when winter is over so you have no limits in planning your garden.

• Build a bench where you can sit and take a break while tending your garden. You can complete projects such as this in your garage or shop and have them ready to bring outside when winter is over.

Obviously, your garden is not as much hard work in the winter. But, by maintaining and planning, you can prepare your garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor come spring.

Home maintenance: Winter checklist

RE.com Tips & Tools — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:04:00 GMT

Use this handy home maintenance checklist to make your home winter-ready.

Preparing your house for winter is an important part of home maintenance. Winter weather can be hard on a home. The following home maintenance tips can help make sure your home is winter-ready.

• If you have not done so already, have your heater serviced. Preventative maintenance with your heating system can keep it from breaking down when you can least afford it.

• Part of home maintenance includes making sure that the pipes are well-insulated. Nighttime temperatures can dip pretty low, causing exposed pipes to freeze and break.

• Make sure that your storm windows are in place to keep the warm air inside your house and the cold air out.

• If you have unused rooms, close them off and lower the temperature to no less than 55 degrees. You don’t need to pay to heat the unused space, but you also do not want any pipes to freeze.

• Stockpile any fuel that you may need. If you require propane or some other fuel, always have enough on hand for several days. That way in case of emergency, you have some in reserve.

• If you have a window unit, that should also be part of your home maintenance checklist. Either cover it or remove it from the window for winter.

• Store any firewood at least 30 feet from the house. Storing it too close can be a fire hazard and can also attract pests (adding to your home maintenance in the spring).

• Service your snow blower so that it is ready to go. Also, have salt ready if you tend to use it when it snows.

• Don’t forget holiday decorating! Check that your exterior outlets are in good condition, and make sure all of the wires in any holiday lighting are still in good shape.

This simple home maintenance tasks can help make your your home winter-ready. The cold weather can be very tough on a home, so make sure to have your winter home maintenance done before the weather gets too cold.

Cleaning - Winter Checklist

RE.com Tips & Tools — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:08:00 GMT

Use the following winter checklist to help with your winter house cleaning.

Winter is a great time for some deep cleaning inside your home. The cold weather may have you trapped inside, but you can take advantage of this hibernation to improve the quality of your home through cleaning it. The following tips can help to guide you in your winter cleaning.

Getting started
Before you begin cleaning your home, do a little preparation. First, have a plan. Make a list of everything that you want to accomplish. If your cleaning is going to take more than a day, it helps to create a timeframe. You’ll also want to gather your supplies before you begin. Try to have the following on hand:

garbage bags for throwing away as much as you can as you clean
gloves to protect your hands
a good duster
white vinegar for cleaning most surfaces as well as mirrors and windows
lemon juice to remove stains from counters and to use as a disinfectant
baking soda for cleaning and scrubbing down your sinks, tubs, and toilets
club soda to remove stains in carpet and upholstery
distilled water to clean leather furniture
your own favorite cleaning products

Quarterly tasks
With deep cleaning, there are certain tasks that need to be done at least every quarter to keep your home in good shape. If you make these tasks a part of your quarterly cleaning, they shouldn’t take too long to do.

Wash down the baseboards and moldings.
Clean the exterior of all of your cabinetry.
Wash the porches and exterior doors with an attachment on your water hose.

Winter tasks
Take advantage of your time indoors during the cold weather to tackle the following cleaning projects.

Clean the chimney (especially if you use it regularly). Have this professionally done by a chimney sweep.
Have your heater serviced so it is prepared for the cold weather. Be sure to change the filters.
Rid your mattresses of dust mites. For cleaning the mattresses, vacuum them after removing the bedding and flip them if possible. Also, wash all bedding on the hottest temperature possible.
Clean out the pantry. Throw out any food that is past its expiration date. Donate any cans that you bought but never used.
Clean your computer. This involves cleaning off its desk as well as cleaning the keyboard, monitor, and printer.
Tackle the junk drawer. Cleaning it out at least once a year guarantees room to throw your car keys in there. And, you just might find a coupon or gift card before it expires.
Go through the holiday decorations. As you take them down, organize them. Buy bins to keep them in if necessary. Get rid of any that you no longer use.

Focus on the indoors for winter cleaning. It’s too cold to be working outside, but there are plenty of tasks to keep you busy cleaning and maintaining the inside your home.

Get Your Garden Ready for Winter

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:49:00 GMT

You've toiled all spring and summer weeding and pruning, watering and fertilizing so your garden would bloom.

Now that the cooler weather is coming, your garden is going to sleep and you can relax -- almost. Before you go into gardening hibernation, there are a few things you can do to protect your garden and make things easier on yourself in spring.

Before the frost

plant new trees and spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Depending on your climate, you can do this anywhere from September to December. A good rule of thumb is that if the soil can be worked, things can be planted.
buy polyspun garden fabric to protect annuals and summer vegetables if the forecast calls for frost.
take seeds or cuttings of plants you want to grow indoors or plant for next year.
water trees, which can dry out from wind and sun, particularly if it has been a dry summer. Fertilize trees that have been transplanted within the last year.
weed. This is not essential, but it will save you time in the spring. Plus you don’t want ugly weeds to seed and then bloom along with your tulips.
rake. Remove leaves while the grass underneath is still green, so it can absorb as much light as possible before the snow. Raking beds will also keep living plants from suffocating. But don’t throw the leaves away; cut them up and put them aside for mulch or compost.
dig up sensitive bulbs like gladioli and dahlias, if you live in a particularly cold region. Store them in vermiculite in a paper bag in a cool and dry spot.
give your roses some TLC. Ask your garden center or consult a gardening guide about what’s necessary for your type.

After frost

clean out annual and vegetable beds. Throw out any plants you suspect to be diseased or infested with bugs. The rest you can put in the composter.
cut perennials back almost to the ground -- unless they add color to your garden in winter -- then apply a layer of mulch. If you don’t think you will have time to mulch, don’t cut back the old plants, as the stalks and leaves will give some protection to the roots.
apply a two- to four-inch layer of mulch on top of perennial, shrub and bulb beds. It will protect the beds from weeds and the elements and trap moisture. You can use chopped-up leaves from your lawn or other loose materials like pine needles, wood chips, chunk bark or coarse gravel for the perennials and shrubs. Don’t put down un-shredded leaves or other matter that compact easily because it will suffocate the plants. Cover bulb beds with evergreen boughs. Trees need a thicker layer of mulch than flower and shrub beds, up to six inches thick.
wrap trees, especially recently planted trees or sensitive varieties like honey locust or Japanese maple. Wrap in burlap from the base of the trunk to the second or third branch, allowing some overlap to allow water to escape, then secure at the crown. If your evergreens brown over the winter, it’s because the wind has sucked out their moisture. You have two options to protect your trees: a chemical antidesiccant spray or windshields. Antidesiccants are not universally accepted, but you may still find them effective. Windshields are easy to erect: simply place wooden stakes in the ground and wrap burlap around them.
clean and store tools, ceramic pots and birdbaths. Putting them away before the harsh weather starts will prolong the life of these garden essentials.