Organize Your Home
For Summer Fun
 Summer
is the season of
exterior pleasures -
soaking up the sun,
enjoying a
refreshing beverage
on your deck and
cooling off with a
swim. So with summer
just around the
corner now is the
time to turn our
organizing thoughts
to outdoor
pleasures.
Spring is the
perfect time to
gather all the
necessary supplies
you’ll need for
summer. (I’m
assuming you’ve
already cleaned your
outdoor furniture
and have set up your
porch swing or
hammock. If not, get
to it. No sense,
putting it off.
After all, you’ll
need a place to
relax once you get
everything done.)
Let’s start with the
biggest of your must
have accessories – a
heavy duty plastic
cooler, a small
table and a decent
sized trash can.
These are all good
to have on hand. You
may also want to
pick up a bag or two
of ice so you never
run short.
Next check your
condiment supplies.
Do you have enough
ketchup, mustard,
relish, barbecue
sauce and mayonnaise
to get you through
the season? If not,
stock up now. A
condiment
refrigerator tote
keeps everything
organized and easy
to retrieve.
While you’re
thinking about what
you’ll need check
out your stash of
paper plates, cups,
napkins and plastic
utensils. Consider
keeping a tray of
disposables handy
for quick table
setting. Don’t
forget to stock up
your picnic basket
for impromptu
outings. Keeping
everything in your
picnic basket
organized and ready
to go will save
considerable time
when it comes to
hosting your next
picnic.
Keep barbecue tools
and accessories like
your apron and hot
pads handy.
Soon school will be
out and your
backyard will be
overrun with summer
toys in all shapes
and sizes, makes and
models. By
establishing a game
plan at the start of
the season you’ll
eliminate
considerable
frustration.
Keep swimming and
water related items
like floating toys,
flip flops, and
goggles in one
place. A great way
to do this is to
string up some fish
netting. All you
need is a couple of
heavy duty hooks and
a bunch of toys. It
keeps things all in
one spot and
anything damp dries
quickly.
Use a large lidded
bin to store outdoor
toys. Insisting on a
daily clean-up
effort at the
beginning of the
season will get
everyone off to a
good start.
Fill your cooler
with ice, and then
organize it with
drinks, snacks and
antibacterial wipes
so the kids won’t
have to keep going
into the house for
stuff.
Keep necessities
like bug repellents,
a small first aid
kit, sunglasses and
sunscreen organized
together and near
your back door.
If you find sand or
dirt frequently gets
tracked in consider
placing a heavy-duty
mat outside and
another
lighter-gauge one
indoors. In
addition, place a
basket or shoe
holder outdoors to
encourage family
members to remove
their shoes before
going inside. A
broom and dustpan
combo or a hand-held
vacuum kept nearby
will also help keep
your floors cleaner.
Other cool summer
organizing ideas
include:
Using a folding
clothes rack for
hanging towels
poolside.
Affixing bathtub
decals to the bottom
of kiddie pools to
make them slip-free.
Using a small kiddie/wading
pool and lots of ice
to keep drinks cool
when hosting a large
pool party.
Using a kiddie pool
to bath the dog, as
a sandbox or to wash
freshly cut grass
off your feet before
entering the pool.
Sherrie Le Masurier
is a lifestyle
columnist,
organizing
consultant and a
member of
Professional
Organizers in
Canada. She offers
up smart solutions
for busy families
via
http://www.familysanitysavers.com
- Copyright.
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