Do These 5 Things to Your Home Before Winter Weather Hits
With freezing temperatures set to hit the nation this week dropping by 12 degrees, and storms battering properties over the weekend – it’s safe to say we’ve officially hit winter. But, how can households ensure their homes and gardens are prepared for winter weather?
As the days grow shorter and the weather turns cooler, winter brings cosy evenings – and a whole new set of household headaches. Muddy hallways, cluttered cupboards, and creepy crawlies can quickly take over, if you don’t prepare in advance. To help readers get ahead of the season, Andrew White, home expert at Harbour Lifestyle, has revealed his top must-do winter hacks to keep homes clean, organised and stress free all season long.
Beat the muddy hallway chaos
“When the wet and windy weather sets in, entryways are the first to suffer – wet coats, muddy boots, and umbrellas pile up, and suddenly you’re tripping over clutter before you’ve even got through the door,” Andrew says.
“To save yourself the stress, before the wintery weather sets in, take some time to prep your home’s entryway. Declutter items, and add storage baskets, coat hooks, and a sturdy doormat to help keep wet shoes and outerwear contained – preventing clutter and mud from spreading around the rest of the house.”
“No matter how frustrating, muddy floors are almost impossible to avoid, especially with bad weather and pets or children. But, don’t make the rookie mistake of wiping it up straight away. Let it dry first – otherwise it will smear everywhere. Then, sweep it up, and mop or wipe the remnants for a sparkling finish.”
Ensuring outdoor structures are safe
If you have outdoor structures like sheds or pergolas, it’s important to ensure they are properly installed and regularly maintained to keep them safe over the winter.
“A good-quality pergola that’s properly attached to its foundation shouldn’t blow away. However, if it’s not attached correctly, it’s possible that it can move or be damaged by strong winds during storms and bouts of bad weather. At Harbour Lifestyle, we provide bolts as a standard with all of our pergolas, and recommend that all pergola legs are securely bolted to the floor.
“A well-maintained pergola is a safe pergola. When pergolas are damaged or collapse, it is usually because of rot, mould or structural damage caused by rain and wind. Carrying out regular inspections to the tethering floor bolts, and repairs where necessary, can prevent this from happening.”
Stop spiders from moving in!
Winter is prime time for spiders hunting a warm hide out – and messy corners are their dream home.
“Spiders start seeking shelter indoors during the autumnal months, and clutter gives them plenty of warm and cosy hiding spots,” Andrew advises.
“Critters like spiders prefer to shelter on cluttered surfaces with folds or crevices, like piles of clothes, recycling, or books. They especially seek out textiles that are dark in colour – so your pile of autumn laundry is (unfortunately) their ideal nesting space.
“To avoid a creepy crawly surprise, take the opportunity to declutter and tidy corners, cupboards, and storage areas, and remove clothes, shoes, or boxes that aren’t in regular use. Not only does this make your home feel more organised in preparation for the upcoming festive period, it also discourages spiders from setting up camp.”
Protecting outdoor furniture
If your outdoor furniture is high-quality, you don’t actually need to protect it in mild weather such as light rain. However, during periods of more severe downpours, it is a good idea to ensure it is sheltered.
“To store your outdoor sofa safely during a storm, you’re going to want to source a pair of breathable, water-resistant covers. One to store your seat cushions, and one to protect the seat frame.
“Take all of your seat cushions and neatly place them in the storage bag or box for safe keeping until they are next needed. Then, simply place the frame cover onto your sofa, and attach it to one of the legs to ensure it isn’t blown away in strong winds.
“When the wintery weather has passed, furniture covers can actually do more harm than good. If the temperature outdoors is particularly high, heat can get trapped under your furniture covers, damaging the cushion fabric and filling.” Andrew says. So, when the balmy weather returns, always be sure to remove your cover and store it away for the next rainy day!
Protecting outdoor wooden furniture and accessories
Andrew says, “If you are looking to protect your hardwood outdoor furniture, I recommend treating it with a protector and shield product kit as soon as possible. Simply use the cleaning solution supplied within the kit to prep your wood, and then apply the protector and shield products as instructed by the manufacturer. This will ensure your wood retains its colour and becomes water resistant.
“Over the winter months when your wooden furniture is not in use, I recommend covering it with a breathable cover for optimum protection from the elements.
“Here’s a little-known hack – if your wooden furniture is brand-new, you should leave it outdoors for around two weeks to ensure all of the natural oils have been removed before applying any protective products. This will ensure the best, longest lasting results possible.” Andrew concludes.
Winter is all about small, smart changes – a few hours or prep now will save weeks of stress, money and mess later in the season.