Top 10 Ways to Get Ready for Winter
By Editorial Staff
Contributed by Missy Nolan, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Winter sneaks up on you.
One day, you’re wearing a lightweight hoodie and enjoying the sights and scents of fall. The next day, you wake up to a few inches – or feet, depending upon where you live – of snow.
Don’t let winter catch you off guard this year. You’ll have plenty of time to cozy up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite book soon. Try these ten ways to get ready for winter first – like before that big ice storm hits. You’ll thank us later.
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10. Clean your gutters
Look, we know that nobody likes to clean their gutters. It’s time-consuming, boring, and maybe even a bit dangerous if you aren’t comfortable climbing on a ladder. Unfortunately, it needs to be done. Clean them yourself, or get somebody else to do it. If you don’t, water can back up or freeze under your shingles and make your roof leak. That’s just as fun as it sounds, so don’t let it happen.
9. Check your furnace
Change the filter and then have a professional do a “clean and check”. Use the attachment hose of a high-quality vacuum to remove any residue. Replace your furnace filter. If you don’t take care of your furnace, you can get carbon monoxide poisoning. Maintaining this appliance also lowers your fuel bill, leaving you with extra cash to spend on winter clothes or holiday gifts.
8. Caulk around your windows
Place the caulk around the outside of each window to keep your home toasty and warm. Some windows also benefit from a plastic cover that you tape, then blow dry, around the window.
7. Weather strip your doors
Use a piece of weather strip around your door jam. It can be plain or fancy – either way, it will get the job done. Those stuffed animal strips are cute and also keep cold air out.
6. Pack away your summer clothes
Sometimes you think you have nothing to wear. Then you realize that your sweaters and fleece-lined pants are hiding behind tiny tank tops, short-sleeved tees, and capris. Get that summer stuff out of there so that you can find what you need and have room for new winter stuff.
5. Buy cute new winter clothes and accessories
Speaking of new winter stuff, you need some. Okay, you probably don’t need some, but it’s always fun to have an excuse to shop. Can’t decide what to buy? Make sure you have plenty of versatile sweaters, hooded sweatshirts, fleece pants, warm gloves, colorful scarves, and snow boots.
4. Winter decorations
Put your cornucopia away. It’s time for snowflakes and snowmen figurines, candles in winter scents, and decorative rugs. More rugs equal more chances that kids might actually wipe their feet, minimizing the chance of tiny little feet tracking slush and sludge all over your clean floor.
3. Stock up on food
Snow and ice storms can keep you holed up inside for days or even weeks. Everybody rushes to the store to get bread, milk, and eggs at the first sign of flakes or frost, but honestly, what good will that do you? Get some stuff that you can actually consume if the electricity goes out and the pipes freeze, like bottled water, canned goods, boxed cereals and granola bars, and dried fruit.
2. Winter essentials
Food isn’t the only thing you need to stock up on as you get ready for winter. Shovels, salt, candles, lighters or matches, blankets, plenty of charged batteries, and flashlights are also important. If you have small children, make sure you have plenty of diapers, wipes, and formula on hand at all times. The best plan is to have an emergency survival kit or 72 hour kit for every member of your family. And keep some extra sets in your car, too, in case winter weather strands you on the road.
1. Get your car ready for winter
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Winter is not the time to test your luck with bald tires or a bad engine. Take your car to the local shop and have them get it winter-ready for you. After your car is safe and running smoothly, fill it with winter necessities such as gravel, thick blankets, flashlights, batteries, water (yes, it might freeze, but include some anyway), and snacks that can handle harsh temperatures. Extra clothes are also a good idea to have on hand – an accident may leave you soaked and stranded.