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Don’t Forget to Tackle Your Summer Checklist
All good things must come to an end—at least for a short time. The summer holidays have been just what Indian Lake area residents needed to recharge their batteries, but now it's time to pack up summer and look toward the oncoming Fall. School and work routines await, but they don't have to be stressful. With a few end-of-summer DOs, you won't have to deal with beginning-of-fall DON'Ts.
August is a popular time for getting in those last minute travel opportunities, and burglars know this. If you're going to take advantage of a week away, be sure to take extra security measures so that you don't return home to the logistics nightmare of dealing with a break-in. (SEE our earlier post: Keeping Your Home Safe While You're Away on Vacation)
Organize the Closets. Before you start any back to school shopping, sort through your closets. Put together a donation bag of any items that are too small or you no longer wear. This will allow you to take stock of what you need and what you have room for. Now is a great time to also begin pulling out the winter wardrobe for assessment.
Time to Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. These detectors should be located outside the kitchen along with outside each bedroom of the house (multi-story houses should have detectors on EVERY floor). Make it a habit to annually test them, and replace batteries as needed throughout the year.
Clean the Bathroom Fan. Nobody wants mold or mildew in their bathroom. Unfortunately the extra humidity which summer brings means bathroom fans have to work even harder than usual to clear the air. It's recommended that you leave them on for a full 30 minutes after each shower to prevent mildew from forming. Cleaning is simple: remove the cover and use a vacuum attachment to suck up dust and dirt.
Prep Meals NOW for Rushed Nights LATER. Fall is busy with back to school, fiscal year ends, meetings, and the Holidays. Prepare for those nights that you'll be doing three things at once by making up meals ahead and freezing them. This is also a good time to go ahead and clean out your cupboards and pantry, eliminating old spices and stale cereals and crackers.
TIP: When you do your shopping, go ahead and put the extra effort in when putting your groceries away to wash, chop, and package. Finger-friendly fruits and veggies WILL get snacked on by kids, and are great for throwing lunches together. Prepare hamburger patties (season and form them), then freeze. Cube meat and veggies and freeze for an easy crock-pot meal. The options are limited only by your imagination.
Makeover the Mudroom. Get the kids excited about Back to School by freshening up the mudroom. Do a wall with chalk paint for a 'family communication board', add a few baskets or wall hooks for organization and storage. Giving kids their "own" designated spaces for backpacks and coats makes them feel special.
There's Never a Wrong Time to Prepare for an Emergency. Keep emergency kits up to date at all times with food, water, clothes, flashlights, first aid supplies, an emergency radio, prescription medications, and any other necessities you might need to survive.
Inspect and Clean Gutters. The wet, cold months are coming. Clean and check gutters for any damage, and get them repaired before the weather moves in.
And last, but not least . . .
Give the Summer Toys a Damage Check and Cleaning. You know the saying about putting a horse away wet? You don't want to store your summer gear in less than good condition otherwise you'll have to deal with repairs, or worse, replacement, when you pull it all out next year. Not a fun way to start your summer.
TIP: This is the time of year for end of summer sales. If you've lost anything, like beach gear, keep an eye out for some deals that your wallet will appreciate! Remember, if you have to get these things at the START of next summer, the prices will be exorbitant.