lawn mower Archives - Garage Tailors

Prepare Your Garage for a Snowy Winter

January 12, 2017 by Rick Scully

Winter storms bring snow, ice, powerful winds or a combination. Roads and walkways become very dangerous. A little planning will help the whole family to get going on the morning of a snow flurry or winter storm. Having a few emergency supplies on-hand can save everyone a lot of discomfort and trouble when the storm hits.

During the many activities of summer, it’s easy for the garage to become a family dumping ground. Maybe you’ve even resorted to parking your vehicles outside, rather than vying for the parking space inside the garage over the multitudes of family belongings. Before winter arrives, here are some ways to prepare your garage and car.

Organize for Winter

When the seasons change, how we use our garage storage space often does as well. Gardening tools, golf clubs, and bicycles take a back seat to sleds and skis once the air turns crisp and cold. The lawn mower makes way for the snow blower, shovels and walkway salt.

Take a few minutes at the change of the season to reorganize your garage so that seasonal items are easily accessible. The last thing you want to do is wake up to a snowy drive, only to realize that you must first dig out the snow blower or shovels.

Switching winter tools to the front of the garage while moving summer sports equipment and gardening tools to the back of the garage or into overhead storage areas is one of the steps to preparing for winter. Using PVC slatwall which is durable and resistant to the changing temperatures and moisture of the four seasons is important to slatwall storage systems. Using slatwall with camlock hooks and baskets secures the shovels, sleds, winter tools, sports equipment, recycling bins and even lawn mowers and some snowblowers. A variety of home tools with a hole in the handle including those which seem bulkier, awkward and or even slightly weightier like lawn mowers and some snow blowers can often be placed on camlock hooks and removed just as easily from the slatwall hooks reliably and safely.

The beauty of slatwall is you can add or change the amount of storage you have over time by changing the shelving, basket and hook options. The flexibility of slatwall organization systems allow it to change with your family’s growing needs.

Prevent Ice and Snow from Collecting in Gutters and Downspouts

Snow and ice can wreak havoc on our homes and make getting out in the morning difficult. Some basics to protect the garage and home include a regular cleaning of gutters and downspouts. Removing debris from rain gutters is easy enough to do or get done, but if overlooked, it can result in severe water damage and ice damming in the winter. Pooled water can penetrate the edge of roofs, interior walls and ceilings of your home or garage, causing serious damage to the garage or house.

When the layer of snow on the roof melts due to the heat rising in the attic of your home, water pools along the edge of the roof, where the temperature is much cooler. There, it refreezes, causing ice dams—a mound of ice that starts along the eaves of the roof and spreads upward. This formation of ice, which often traps pools of water underneath it, can cause substantial damage to the exterior and interior of your home.

Protect Your Car from the Snowy Winter

The first step to protecting your car from winter’s blustery affects is parking your car in the garage. Not only will you be able to get out quickly in the morning, you won’t have to clean a mountain of snow off the windshield each morning before work. Parking the vehicle inside the garage not only protects the car from the elements but it also prevents vandalism as well as theft. It won’t take as long to start the car in the morning. By saving time each morning, you won’t be rushed during your commute, making travel safer for you and your loved ones.

By keeping a bag of sand or gravel in the trunk plus a shovel, you’ll be ready for all sorts of winter driving situations. In addition, it’s ideal to use winter tires on snowy roads. With the softer rubber used in winter tires, they provide better traction on snow and ice than the typical all season tires. To swap out all season tires for safer winter tires, you’ll need to store tires. A variety of tire storage racks and overhead storage options are available for use in the garage to store winter tires during the summer months and alternatively, the all-season tires in the winter.

To get the vehicle starting sooner in the mornings, a lot of people use an engine block heater. Park the vehicle in the garage on brutally cold days where there is access to an electrical outlet. Especially, if you get hit with a snow storm and need to get your child to school, a block heater helps make the morning routine run smoothly with less stress. It keeps the engine warm and ready to start while preventing damage to engine components that can occur when starting a cold engine at below freezing temperatures.

Ready for Winter Snow & Cold?

Preparation is key to protecting your garage and car from the winter elements. After looking after some of these basics, we seldom think about the garage floor. However, this important surface undergoes constant abuse. In the next blog, I’ll show you the importance of having a good garage floor, especially in the winter months.

Five Ways to Go Green This Spring

April 8, 2014 by Rick Scully

Spring has finally arrived ushering in warmer weather and a desire for fresh new beginnings. You’ve probably already begun spring cleaning in your home, but what can you do to give your garage a fresh, new feel, too? Let’s look at five simple ways you can be more mindful of the environment as you prepare for spring.

Increase the Fuel Efficiency of Your Vehicle

Just like your home, your car needs a little attention after a long, hard winter. Keep your car tuned up and use the grade of oil recommended by the manufacturer to improve gas mileage. Another, simple way to increase gas mileage is by keeping tires inflated to the optimal pressure. Check the inside of your driver’s side door jamb to see the tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

Create a Recycling Station

Recycling prevents reusable resources from ending up in overflowing landfills. It also saves energy and reduces the consumption of raw materials in manufacturing. The convenient Blue Box recycling program in most communities makes it easy for everyone to contribute to cleaning up the environment. Make recycling even easier by creating a recycling station in your home or garage. Ensure that everyone in your home understands the importance of recycling, what items should be placed in the Blue Box and how to prep items before discarding them.

Repurpose Items or Donate Items

As you go through your home and garage during spring cleaning, you’ll probably discover items that you no longer use. Some of those items can be repurposed. For instance, an old, unused kitchen table might make a good craft or workshop table. Old muffin tins in the kitchen could make a great place to store nuts and bolts in the garage.

Other items have lost their usefulness in your home, but would be welcomed in someone else’s. Consider donating items that are in good condition, but just don’t fit your family’s needs anymore.

Reduce Water Usage

Conservation is critical to the environment. One of our most important assets is potable water. Review your family’s water usage and look for ways to cut back. For instance, can you reduce the frequency with which you wash the car? If you wash the car at home, don’t use the hose while washing your car. Instead, use a bucket of soapy water. This switch alone can save hundreds of litres of water each wash.

Water your lawn early or late in the day, rather than when the sun is highest, to avoid water waste through evaporation. Also avoid watering the lawn on a windy day. Deep water your lawn. This helps to establish a deeper root system and will allow moisture to reach the roots, where it’s most needed. Water your lawn only when it is needed. Skip watering on weeks when there is a good, hard rain. Another option is to install a rain barrel and reuse rainwater to water your lawn and wash your car.

Eco-friendly Lawn Care

A discussion about environmentally-conscious lawn care wouldn’t be complete without examining your lawn mower. Gas and electric lawn mowers require energy consumption. Your lawn, and the environment, can benefit from less frequent mowing. So only mow the grass when necessary. When you do cut your lawn, don’t cut it too low. A height of six to eight centimeters will help retain water and establish a deeper root system.

If you’re in the market for a new lawn mower, electric lawn mowers are more environmentally-friendly than their gas-powered counterparts. Electric lawn mowers are cleaner and quieter. They are less polluting to the environment and don’t reek of gasoline. Neither do they require the maintenance necessary with a gas-powered mower. If the thought of navigating with an unwieldy cord in tow makes you hesitant to switch to an electric mower, opt for a battery-powered electric mower instead.

Properly Store & Dispose of Chemicals

In a recent post, we discussed how to properly store chemicals in your garage. Keep chemicals out of the reach of children and small animals. Store them in their proper containers. Make sure all chemicals are properly labeled. When disposing of chemicals, check the label first. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the proper way to dispose of the chemical. Pouring toxic chemicals down the drain is harmful to the environment and can be corrosive to plumbing. Instead, make use of household hazardous waste drop-off depots in your area.

Use No or Low-VOC Products

Whenever possible, choose no or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products to get household jobs done. Many manufacturers offer lines of zero and low-VOC interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, coatings and sealants. These products are often low or non-toxic, making them safer for the environment and for your family.

Being mindful of the environment as you prepare for spring and summer is a great start to living greener. However, with Earth Day coming on April 22^nd, we wanted to examine ways to make your garage greener, too. Check back later this month for seven ways to make your garage greener.

Get Your Car into the Garage for Winter in Three Easy Steps

January 28, 2014 by Rick Scully

If you’re like many homeowners, your garage may be more of a dumping ground for seasonal items, outdoor equipment and gardening tools and less of a haven for your vehicles. Whether you’re looking for a do-it-yourself option or a quick fix to tide you over until you can get a permanent garage organization solution, you can make space for your car this winter in three easy steps.

Step One: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

We form an attachment to our things. Even things we haven’t used in years. This makes it difficult for us to face the ugly truth. Most overstuffed garages are harboring…junk. It’s a word we don’t like to use in reference to our own things. However, when stuff we aren’t using takes up valuable space in our garage, that’s exactly what it’s become.

Go through your garage and pull out anything you haven’t used in the past year. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I need this item?
What is the likelihood I’ll use it again?
Why am I holding onto this item?
Would it be of more benefit to someone else?
Is it broken? If so, is it worth fixing? How likely is it that I’ll fix it (or get it fixed)?
Does it fit my current lifestyle?
Is holding onto this item more important than parking my car in the garage?

If your answers reveal that the item is sucking up valuable garage space, let it go. That includes those just-in-case items like old paint. After a year in your garage, especially through the winter, the paint is no longer good. Make note of the color, then chuck the can. Be sure to properly dispose of paint and any other household chemicals.

Of course, just because you can’t use your old items, doesn’t mean someone else can’t. If you have bicycles or other sports equipment that your children have outgrown, consider donating them to a local charity. Sometimes knowing that your things will be loved and appreciated by someone else makes it easier to let go of them.

Step Two: Group Similar Items

Once you’ve eliminated any items you don’t use, it’s time to do a little organizing. Start by going through your remaining things and grouping like items. Put all of the gardening tools and equipment in one part of the garage. Carve out another section for outdoor gear like camping or skiing equipment. Put the children’s sleds and other winter toys where they can easily access them.

Grouping similar items will give you further opportunity to purge. You’ll likely discover unnecessary duplicates and outdated items. These, too, can be tossed, gifted or donated.

Step Three: Arrange Items Along Perimeter

Once you’ve eliminated anything you don’t need, it’s time to carve out enough space in the garage for your vehicle. Arrange your remaining items along the perimeter of your garage. This includes bicycles and other bulky items like your lawn mower or snow blower.

While you’re organizing items along the perimeter of your garage, consider which items you’ll need to keep accessible during the winter. Make sure you’ll be able to quickly retrieve your snow blower, shovel, salt, window washer fluid and winter sports equipment like skis, ice skates and snowboards.

Create additional space by stacking or nesting similar items along the perimeter of your garage. For instance, nesting a set of flowerpots or stacking storage crates will reduce the amount of floor space they consume. With just a few hours of work, a space for your vehicle will begin to emerge.

If the thought of spending hours cleaning your garage is unappealing, take a moment to consider what you’ll gain by parking your vehicle in the garage. You won’t have to clean a mountain of snow off your windshield before work. It won’t take as long to warm your car in the morning. By saving time each morning, you won’t be rushed during your commute, making travel safer. Not a bad trade-off for a few hours of work on a Saturday.

Taking these steps will allow you to make room in your garage for your vehicle during winter. Come spring, you may be ready for a more permanent solution for your garage organizational needs.

Garage Organization Ideas: Tips on Storage of Large Items

November 3, 2011 by Rick Scully

So far, we’ve discussed the motivation to clean out the garage and how to get started. Now that the clutter is out of the garage, garbage has been taken away and non-essentials donated or sold, we’re left organizing everything we want to keep.

Our main goal is to create a space for everything so it can be found easily. In order to accomplish this, we have to maximize all the space available – walls, floor and even the ceiling.

It makes sense to think about the large items first. Tires take up a lot of space. There may be one extra set or two, but either way, they can occupy a lot of real estate.

Depending on the height of the garage, a storage system can be set up overhead to hold them. However, not everybody is comfortable pulling four forty pound tires down, so the floor is an option. In this case, I recommend storing them along the back wall or in a corner as that’s often dead space.

Other large items are garbage and recycling bins. Because they’re used so frequently, they need a spot where they can be securely stored but easily accessed. Depending on the size of your garage, they may be at the back of the garage under a shelf or by the side at the front.

Large tools such as rakes and snow shovels can be hung on the wall. Something as simple as 2×4 pieces of lumber affixed to your walls will work. Just add long nails or screws and you’ll be able to hang most tools. You may also consider a wall organizer which gives you more storage and will hold heavier items as well, including your lawn mower!

Did you know that more people decorate their homes for Halloween than for Christmas? Even though the box of decorations is only used for one month a year, it makes sense to clearly label the container and have it within easy reach.

There are shelving systems available for these boxes as well as cleaning products, tools that can’t be hung and anything else you want to store in your garage.

If you need help organizing your garage, please check out our products page for ideas. We are always available to come to your home for a no cost or obligation estimate. We can take care of everything from the removal of junk, hazardous chemicals and reusable items, to the storage of items that need to remain. Let us know what you need, or want, and together work out how we can help you.

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