 Break out your rubber boots and pack up the snow pants- spring has finally arrived in Iowa City and it’s time to get outside. For those of you in the Midwest who have suffered through this seemingly endless winter, it’s time to rejoice. That’s why I would like to kick off this spring cleaning season by focusing on outdoor organizing projects such as storage processes for winter items as well as spring preparation projects. Get out your spring check list and let’s get organized.
1. Winter Item Storage:
Store snow blowers dry (without gas), to prevent thickening of the fuel, which can damage the engine. According to John Loughren of Pyramid Services in Iowa City, it is best to drain fuel and run the engine outside (for ventilation purposes) until all fuel is burned and the machine stops running. For maintenance purposes, check the paddles and skid bar yearly for wear. These parts generally need to be replaced every 5-6 years. Prevention is much less costly than repairing irreversible damage.
Hang all shovels and other tools on hooks in the garage. Wall space is one of the most under utilized storage spaces, both inside and outside of the home. To make things easier to return to where they belong, paint a border around the hanging tool so that you can track what is missing and replace items quickly and efficiently.
Salt never loses its de-icing power, and does not absorb moisture unless humidity exceeds 75%, so it is worth while to keep what is left for next winter. Store salt in plastic tubs or containers to prevent clumping, moisture absorption, run off, and evaporation.
2. Spring Preparation Tasks:
As green grass starts to appear on our lawns, we begin thinking about our lawn mowers. John Loughren advises us to begin by cleaning up the mower by wiping it down to prevent damage caused by dirt getting into the motor. The next step is to start the mower and let it run for a few minutes, warming up the old oil which allows it to drain better. Continue by changing the oil and replacing it with new, 30 wt. motor oil. The mower should still have gas from the previous year, as it does not need to be drained when it is stored in cold temperatures, with low humidity. John also advises changing the filter and replacing the spark plug yearly, even if it appears to be in good condition. These are inexpensive preventative measures that will pay off in the long run. Finally, sharpen your mower blades so they cut effectively. If you perform these steps and you think your mower is not running as it should, take your mower to a repair shop. If your mower is low on power, it can overheat and damage may occur.
Warm weather is a great opportunity to help the environment by commuting on your bicycle. Wipe down your bike and make sure that the tires are properly inflated. Check your brake pads to ensure that you can stop, and apply some 3 in 1 household oil or WD-40 to your bike chain to combat rust and erosion that may have occurred during the winter months.
To welcome the birds back for the season, clean bird baths and feeders thoroughly. When getting feeders out of storage, gently tap or brush them with a long-handled broom before handling, as bees or spiders may have been using the feeders for shelter. Birds do not respond well to soap or other cleaning residue, so stick to using a cotton cloth and warm water to clean feeders. In the event that you have an extremely dirty bath basin or feeder, it would be okay to use a weak bleach solution, as that does not bother or effect the birds.
3. Garages, Sheds, and Multi-Season Rooms
Maximize the potential of your garage, shed, or multi-season rooms so that you can enjoy the fresh air and outdoors as much as possible during warm months. Create a layout plan for your shed and garage based on the purpose of the space. You may choose to store gardening equipment in your shed if it is closer to your garden, or you may decide to keep all of your tools in your garage if it has a overhead door as well as a door allowing back yard access for increased functionality and efficiency. Planning is key in utilizing space effectively.
It’s time to make up those missed school days, catch up on postponed appointments and start fresh. Let the sun shine in, get healthy, regain energy and prepare for a great spring and summer. I’ve given you a place to begin and now its up to you move forward and implement your very own Simple Organizing Strategies for outdoor organizing and storage projects.
I would like to extend a special thanks to John Loughren, of Pyramid Services for the expert knowledge, advice, and courtesy extended on topics covered in this article. Pyramid services is located at 390 Highland Avenue in Iowa City.
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