Top 10 Ways to Store Summer Gear

Community Manager — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:09:00 GMT

Labor Day is approaching faster than ice cream cones melt on a hot August day. Before you know it, cool weather will spell retirement for boogie boards, beach umbrellas and other summer gear. Start your fall on an organized note with ten tips for storing seasonal summer items.

1. Wash and Dry: Before storing beach chairs, pails, etc. give each item a rinse and allow to dry in the sun so sand and salt don't corrode them during the off season.

2. Shrink, Wrap: Reduce the number of bulky items to store by deflating all beach balls and inner tubes and storing like items in a plastic storage bin.

3. Towel, Off: Free up closet space in the off-season by storing all beach towels and bathing suits in plastic storage bins in the garage, basement or attic.

4. Get Vertical: Maximize storage by going vertical: use your garage or basement walls to hang lightweight items. Mark off the dimensions of beach chairs, umbrellas, and surf and boogie boards along the wall. Next, add eye-hold screws along the measurements' perimeter and then use bungee cords to affix items to the wall.

5. Thrill Your Grill: Once the summer BBQ season is over, be sure to dismantle and clean your grill. Once the gunk is gone, coat the grill with a light oil spray to repel winter moisture and store in an indoor, protected environment such as a garage. The exception to this rule? Propane tanks: safety dictates well-ventilated, protected outdoor storage versus indoors.

6. Patio Protection: Hose down patio furniture and clean pillows with a mixture of water and mild detergent. Scrub mildew stains with a stiff brush. Allow all items to dry in the sun, then store indoors in a garage or basement.

7. Repair and Retire: Repair summer sports gear such as tennis racquets and swim goggles before storing for the winter. Make a list of items that need to be replaced before next summer and look for fall and winter sales to snap up bargains before next Memorial Day rolls around.

8. Swap Outgrown Items: Kids grow like weeds so don't waste time storing outgrown summer clothes and bikes, etc. Organize a swap with friends whose kids are older or younger to pass along outgrown items and inherit what your family can use the following year.

9. No Room at the Inn?: Nowhere to store your seasonal gear? Storage items are traditionally on sale in the fall as stores court back-to-school shoppers looking to get organized. Evaluate your current storage needs and stock up on what you're missing.

10. Toss: Sometimes an item just isn't meant to be stored. Turn a critical eye on your belongings. That slip 'n slide that is more slip than slide? Toss. Rusty gardening tools? Toss. Inner tubes that constantly lose air? Toss. You get the idea.

Beyond Folders : organizing tips, top ten list, storage

Top 10 Ways to Store Summer Gear