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 youll need for summer. (Im assuming youve 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, youll need a place to relax once you get everything done.) Lets 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 youre thinking about what youll need check out your stash of paper plates, cups, napkins and plastic utensils. Consider keeping a tray of disposables handy for quick table setting. Dont 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 youll 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 wont 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. |
