Organize your home for the summer

Summer is almost here! School will be at end soon, and kids will play outside. There is so much to do in this time of the year, so be prepared for it! A little preparation will let you enjoy.

• Make a summer tote: put inside sunscreen, sunglasses, picnic blanket, bug repellent, swimsuit, beach towel. Put the tote in the car or in a convenient place in your house (close to the door) you will be set to go and have some fun.
• Check out your stash of paper plates, cups and plastic utensils.
• Keep a tray of disposables handy for quick table setting.
• Stock your picnic basket. Keep everything in your picnic basket organized and ready to go.
• Check your condiments supplies: do you have enough through the season? A condiment refrigerator tote keeps everything organized and easy to find.
• Keep swimming and water related items in one place. Sting up some fish netting and hug them of heavy-duty hook. This keeps everything in the same place and allows for a quickly dry.
• Place a heavy-duty mat outside and another lighter one indoors so the dirt and the sand don’t get in the house.
• Put a basket or a shoe holder outdoors to encourage family members to remove their shoes before going inside.
• Use a folding clothes rack for hanging towels poolside.
• Use a kiddie pool to bathe the dog or to wash freshly cut grass off feet before entering the pool.
• Fill your lawn mower gas container when you head to the gas station and put it inside a heavy-duty plastic bag to prevent any spill.
• Decide on a location for all of your yard and garden tools and remember to keep your stuff there.
• To store all the information related to the family’s activities, use an accordion file with sections labeled for topics such as summer camps, family vacations, recreation programs and classes.
• Have a home first-aid kit available and its contents reviewed along with instructions on when to use it.
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers posted next to the phone.

Keep it simple, breathe deep. Enjoy the summer. With a little planning and preparation, you can create wonderful days. After all summer is a time for making memories