Don’t we all wish that summer could last forever? Unfortunately, there comes a time when marching bands and falling leaves replace lawn mowers and fireworks.
Summer belongings become less utilized in the fall; homeowners use this season to clean their warm-weathered items and store them away.
Maintenance at the end of the season can help equipment, tools, and toys last for years—the following are some winter storage tips:
Lawnmowers
Goodbye, lawnmower, hello snowblower. You may not be looking forward to using the snowblower, but at least you have room for your lawnmower once you take out the winter equipment.
Before you store your lawnmower:
- Remove the spark plug.
- Drain the fuel, as the old gas can damage the machine (or add a fuel stabilizer to the tank).
- Remove grass blades underneath and top off the oil before storing.
Grills
Those who live in the southern states can enjoy the grill year-round. But if you’re a Wisconsinite, there is no reason to have your gas grill face the winter elements.
Referencing the owner’s manual, turn off the gas at the tank, and unfasten the burner. Remove gas tubes off the lines, lifting out the entire burner unit.
If the grill remains outdoors, keep the tank connected but turn it off and cover everything with a protective cover. If the grill is moved into a self-storage unit, leave the propane tank outside upright, away from possible heat sources.
Garden Tools
When the summer ends, homeowners aren’t keen on seeing shovels, rakes, empty flower pots, and watering cans clutter the garage during the cold weather.
Thoroughly clean the garden tools. Add a protective coating to surfaces, sand wooden handles, and sharpen metal edges, keeping your gear in top shape for next year.
Remember to use your walls when packing gardening tools as a storage solution. Use hooks for hoses and long-handled tools. Some homeowners use pallets against a wall to create a makeshift rack.
Sporting Equipment
You may have noticed summer sports equipment can accumulate over winter. But items like baseball or softball gloves, bats and spikes, tennis rackets, basketballs, and pool toys will likely remain unused. Storage units are always a choice; however, some sports gear may be able to fit into your garage efficiently.
If storage space is a challenge, build shelves for bins or use a pegboard that holds several sizes of hooks. Consider the area behind a closed door. Over-the-door racks create specific places for items, keeping them off the garage ground and easily found.
Patio Furniture
Patio furniture can become mildewy and musty if not stored correctly in the off-season. Cushions are vulnerable to pests, as rats and spiders can hide inside a patio cushion.
The secret to winterizing patio furniture is good cleaning. Cleaning and storing pillows, chairs, and furniture will help you avoid mold and mildew.
Patio furniture is made of different materials:
- Aluminum, vinyl, and plastic furniture: Sponge clean using hot water and soap.
- Wicker and wood: Apply water and a little oil soap. After drying, finish with furniture-grade paste wax.
- Canvas: Scrub with upholstery cleaner.
Once everything is clean, dry, and prepped, where will you store it? If you have no choice, you can leave everything outdoors; however, consider purchasing fitted covers and water-tight storage lockers for cushions.
Bicycles
There is no shortage of stylish and space-saving ideas, including rigged tarps, wall mounts, and hooks.
If your budget allows, consider custom-made bike shelving units. If placing your bike in the garage, we recommend hanging the bike from a hook and keeping the tires inflated; following this step will stop damage to the tire rims.
Storage Authority offers self-storage for grills, patio furniture, sports equipment, gardening tools, and more. If you want to rent a future outdoor storage space or self storage unit, call us at 262-676-8464. You can visit our website or contact us today to learn about our affordable rates!