Canadian Living 2019-10-01

84 | CANADIAN LIVING OCTOBER 2019

Hose^ down^ or^ power^ wash^ the^ exterior^ of

your home^

(a quick^ rinse^ will^ often^ do).^

Clean^ out^ your^ eavestroughs^ to^ ensure^ the

re are^ no^

leaves^ or^ debris^ that^ will^ block^ the^ flow^ of^ a

ny

precipitation.

Rinse^ out^ and^ disinfect^ your^ garbage^ a

nd recycling^

bins (this^ task^ is^ much^ easier^ to^ do^ before^ th

e snow^ hits^

the ground).

Tidy^ up^ and^ organize^ your^ outdoor^ spa

ces like^ the^

garage^ and^ the^ shed^ (this^ will^ make^ it^ easier^

and faster^

to access^ your^ things^ when^ it’s^ freezing^ cold

outside).

Turn^ off^ the^ outside^ taps,^ empty^ the^ hos

e and^

store^ appropriately.

Clean^ all^ outdoor^ furniture^ and^ store^ app

ropriately.

OUTSIDE^ THE^ HOME

Ensure^ your^ outdoor^ lawn^ maintenance^ eq

uipment^

is cleaned^ and^ stored^ properly.

Do a^ thorough^ cleaning^ of^ your^ barbecue^ t

o make^ sure^

there’s^ absolutely^ no^ food^ residue^ left^ on^ it

and cover^ it^

properly^ (this^ is^ very^ important^ because^ s

mall rodents^

seek^ warmth^ in^ the^ fall,^ and^ a^ yummy^ bar

becue^ is^ a^

common^ place^ for^ that^ to^ happen!).

Clean^ all^ garden^ tools^ and^ store^ them^ in^ a

dry place.

Inspect^ the^ foundation^ of^ your^ home^ and^ i

mmediately^

address^ any^ detached^ or^ crumbling^ surfac

es, as^ the^

deterioration^ will^ only^ get^ worse^ in^ cold^ w

eather.

Check^ that^ exterior^ stairs^ and^ railings^ are^ i

n good^

condition^ to^ avoid^ any^ slipping^ hazards^ in

icy weather.