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Top Tips: Preparing Your Home and Garden for Winter

13th Nov 2017

As we head towards the end of the year, the weather getting colder and darker, it’s time to enjoy getting warm and cozy inside with friends and family. You’re probably more familiar with the term ‘spring cleaning’, but it’s actually a great idea during autumn too! Getting your home and garden in order means less work in the long term, and having all the family involved can make it more fun and take less time.

Around the house

After a summer of playtime, holidays, and parties, even if your home is clean and tidy there’s probably a level of disorganization under the surface. As you’re going to be spending more time inside now, dedicating a couple of days to a thorough sort out and clean is a great way to prepare your home for autumn and winter.

  • Get your heating serviced to make sure that you won’t be left in the cold when the bad weather hits. If you’re thinking about switching to more efficient eco-friendly heating options, get them installed ahead of time so you’re used to how they work.
  • Sort and clean any outdoor play and sports equipment, and store it away somewhere dry ready for next year.
  • Get your kids together and go through their summer clothes: launder and pack away warm weather things they won’t want for a while, and also take the opportunity to weed out anything they have outgrown or don’t wear any more.

It’s also a good idea to take a look at the physical structure of your home: take some time to clean out the guttering and check for loose tiles or cracked masonry which might cause leaks and drafts. Prevention and catching things early is the way to avoid big problems – and bigger repair bills – later on. Doing this early in the season can also end up proving its worth closer to the Christmas holidays, helping you to avoid a last-minute panic when you have extra guests coming to stay. Also, make notes to keep the interiors warm. You don’t want your guests complaining about the excess cold. Either get your heating system repaired or stock on heating oil to prevent running to the store at the last minute (check out this blog from Romeo’s Fuel for more info). Cozy interiors can keep everyone satisfied throughout.

Green fingers

Autumn is also a good time to give your garden a little TLC and put it to bed for the slow season over winter. Your lawn is probably feeling a little tired, so give it a good rake over and put down fertilizer. Prune back shrubs and other perennial plants, and remove any annuals which are past their best, then follow up with compost. Continue the clearing out vibe by tackling the tools and pots in your shed and greenhouse too.

Investing a little time to get things straightened out ahead of the winter is a great way to ensure you and your family stay warm and cosy – and clutter free – through the chilly season ahead.

 

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