So that your yard and garden can get the most out of the busy spring season, take advantage of the late-winter months to thoroughly prepare your shed or workshop for spring. Even a half-day spent preparing your indoor work areas will reward you will hours of saved time throughout the growing season. Follow these guidelines for a more organized and more productive workspace:
Prepare yourself with heavy gloves, sturdy shoes and work clothes. Be sure to have a face mask on hand to deal with any chemicals or mice droppings that could potentially carry diseases.
Remove garbage. Take a large contractor bag to your shed, and get rid of the obvious trash. Then get rid of any miscellaneous things that are too rusted, beyond repair, or otherwise unusable. If an item requires special handling, put it aside until you make the proper arrangements.
Confront chemicals. Check your paint inventoryif any of it has frozen or is otherwise unusable, dispose of it properly. Check with your town transfer station for guidelines on what can disposed of in your trash and what must be disposed of with your local hazardous waste collection agency. Household hazardous waste could include paints, varnishes, oils, cleaners, pesticides, batteries, and electronics. Recycle used motor oil at a nearby auto shop or gas station.
Service your equipment. Give your larger items such as lawnmowers, weed wackers, tillers, etc. a thorough maintenance. Consult the owner's manuals if possibleit will give you a detailed maintenance schedule. Change oil and filters, sharpen blades, check fluids and tire pressure, lubricate where needed, and perform any preventative maintenance suggested by the manual. Take the time to make an inventory of spare parts and stock up as needed. Be sure to have extras of the appropriate maintenance items on hand for future services to make your life easier during the busy season.
Maintain your tools. Clean, oil, sharpen blades, and disinfect hand tools with a diluted bleach solution to kill off any bacterial or fungus the tools have been harboring.
Clean, disinfect, and inspect. Thoroughly clean all surfaces, tool boxes, floors, windows, and even walls. Check your foundation for cracks, gaps, or damages and inspect inside and out for mildew and molds.
Consolidate. If you have a garage, basement, or other area also used for storage, take the time to consolidate misplaced items.
Organize: Each spring, invest in a new organizational item such as storage cabinet, shelf system, drawers, pegboard, or hooks along your walls. With minimal cost, within a few years you will be amazed to find you not only have more space in your shed, but also more tools and greater accessibility.
A tidy and organized work space will not only enhance your efficiency and productivity, it will save you a great deal of time and stress. While doing your maintenance, organizing, and cleaning, have an overall plan of your goals for your workspace. Consider any upgrades such as insulation, heat, electric, plumbing, and paint. Then, with everything else in order, perhaps you will be able to make serious improvements over the course of the season as time permits.
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