8 Gloom-Busting Winter Chores to Tick Off the List
Think of winter as the new spring clean-out season
The theory goes that cleaning out cupboards and pruning wayward gardens is best done in spring. Maybe because it’s the feel-good season of new beginnings, spring has the rarely disputed reputation of being the time to turn over a new leaf and make up for the lost cause of New Year’s resolutions. You could spend your winter contemplating such propositions and resting in preparation for this onslaught of organisation. Or you could be the early bird of springtime prep by taking on my list of uplifting chores.
2. Trim, rake, weed and prettify
Winter is the perfect time to get pruning. Target grapevines, ivy and rose bushes, and reshape potted plants to prepare for the feverish growth season of spring. Also, cut back around paths and doors to avoid brushing against rain-laden leaves. Just don’t accidentally clip back plants that are about to burst forth in a floral show. It’s also a good time to rake and weed gravel areas and save your grass from all the fallout of autumn.
In the northern parts of Australia it’s dry season, and so it’s a good time to prune back wet-season vigour and ensure enough light is getting to undergrowth and ferns. If you don’t already have a compost heap, now’s a good time to get one started. It’ll be full in no time.
Winter is the perfect time to get pruning. Target grapevines, ivy and rose bushes, and reshape potted plants to prepare for the feverish growth season of spring. Also, cut back around paths and doors to avoid brushing against rain-laden leaves. Just don’t accidentally clip back plants that are about to burst forth in a floral show. It’s also a good time to rake and weed gravel areas and save your grass from all the fallout of autumn.
In the northern parts of Australia it’s dry season, and so it’s a good time to prune back wet-season vigour and ensure enough light is getting to undergrowth and ferns. If you don’t already have a compost heap, now’s a good time to get one started. It’ll be full in no time.
3. Recycle every bit of paper you don’t really need
It’s a good time to look at all those places where bits of paper accumulate. Is your fridge overloaded with old school notices? Do you have a basket next to the phone overflowing with a year’s worth of paper detritus? Is that a collage on your wall or is your pin board a paper-eating monster? Pile up and file your papers, throwing out anything you don’t need. If you have a shredder, use this for official documents such as old bank statements.
It’s a good time to look at all those places where bits of paper accumulate. Is your fridge overloaded with old school notices? Do you have a basket next to the phone overflowing with a year’s worth of paper detritus? Is that a collage on your wall or is your pin board a paper-eating monster? Pile up and file your papers, throwing out anything you don’t need. If you have a shredder, use this for official documents such as old bank statements.
3. Ventilate and look for hidden mould
Opening the windows (when you don’t have the heaters on!) is a great way to reduce the build-up of mould. Also check corners, around windows, behind wall-hangings and pictures, and inside cupboards, for any signs of mould. Clean and then place dampness absorbers in problem zones.
You will also need to keep your range hood filters clean because they’ll do more work in the season of soups. In fact, make a job of it and check all exhaust fans and filters about the house.
Opening the windows (when you don’t have the heaters on!) is a great way to reduce the build-up of mould. Also check corners, around windows, behind wall-hangings and pictures, and inside cupboards, for any signs of mould. Clean and then place dampness absorbers in problem zones.
You will also need to keep your range hood filters clean because they’ll do more work in the season of soups. In fact, make a job of it and check all exhaust fans and filters about the house.
5. Control wet weather mess-makers
There’s no time like winter to remind you that you have nowhere to offload dripping raincoats and muddy shoes. Make use of a spare wall in your hallway or laundry to put up some hooks and shelving space. It’s a great DIY project for a chilly winter weekend and the new habits you’ll create in your co-dwellers promise to save you a lot of cleaning up.
There’s no time like winter to remind you that you have nowhere to offload dripping raincoats and muddy shoes. Make use of a spare wall in your hallway or laundry to put up some hooks and shelving space. It’s a great DIY project for a chilly winter weekend and the new habits you’ll create in your co-dwellers promise to save you a lot of cleaning up.
6. Keep outdoor soft-furnishings out of the rain
Waterproof box benches are a great way to keep your outdoor soft-furnishings dry and at hand. Add a few rugs for warmth at the drop of a hat. But do keep an eye on mould prevention. If in doubt, dedicate an indoor blanket box to the task.
Waterproof box benches are a great way to keep your outdoor soft-furnishings dry and at hand. Add a few rugs for warmth at the drop of a hat. But do keep an eye on mould prevention. If in doubt, dedicate an indoor blanket box to the task.
7. Impose order on kids’ clutter
Help children realise the benefits of organisation. When their play space is transformed from the chaotic into the sorted, they’ll be able to find what they’re looking for quicker and tidy up a whole lot faster. Labelling see-through boxes is a handy and economical approach to keeping sets separate, while tubs are great for tossing in all the odd bits and pieces children acquire.
Help children realise the benefits of organisation. When their play space is transformed from the chaotic into the sorted, they’ll be able to find what they’re looking for quicker and tidy up a whole lot faster. Labelling see-through boxes is a handy and economical approach to keeping sets separate, while tubs are great for tossing in all the odd bits and pieces children acquire.
8. Prepare your bathroom for well-earned relaxation
Sprucing up your bathroom is a priority that pays off. A soak in the tub is a great reward on a chilly night after a solid day of wintery ‘spring’ cleaning. Don’t just focus on a ring-free bath – target all the spots you’ll be looking at when relaxing back in the bath, such as the cornices. Get everything sparkling, fluff up the towels (a spin in the clothes dryer works), install candles (in safe locations, of course), and add floral arrangements or some of those clippings from your garden. All that’s missing is a ‘Do not disturb’ sign.
TELL US
What winter chore is on your to-do list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sprucing up your bathroom is a priority that pays off. A soak in the tub is a great reward on a chilly night after a solid day of wintery ‘spring’ cleaning. Don’t just focus on a ring-free bath – target all the spots you’ll be looking at when relaxing back in the bath, such as the cornices. Get everything sparkling, fluff up the towels (a spin in the clothes dryer works), install candles (in safe locations, of course), and add floral arrangements or some of those clippings from your garden. All that’s missing is a ‘Do not disturb’ sign.
TELL US
What winter chore is on your to-do list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Be prepared, and a little bit paranoid. Imagine cold and flu bugs are everywhere, and act accordingly! This is the time of year to strategically place anti-bacterial solution and hand wash all over your house. The kitchen sink is a definite on the list. Making sure you wash your hands well before preparing food is one way to help keep winter bugs at bay. After all, if you have too many doona days you won’t get your chores done.