How to Prepare and Store Your Grill during the Cold Months

A backyard barbecue covered in snow.

For many, the end of one year and the beginning of a new one means chilly weather and no grilling.   It’s important to prepare, protect, and store your grill for those cold months.  Here are some basic tips to help ensure your grill will be ready come next spring:

 

Step 1:

Start by giving your outdoor grill a good cleaning.  Many people first start the grill up and let it run on high heat until all of the food is burned off of the grill plate. Then take a wire grill brush and scrape all of the leftover food off of the grill surface and get things nice and clean while the grill is hot (make sure to use gloves!). After the grill has cooled, you can use soapy water to help with the cleaning process or you can even use oven cleaner to help with the tough spots. Make sure you thoroughly rinse the grill grates off with water to remove any soap residue.

Step 2:

Wipe down the outside of the grill with a damp cloth. Take an old rag and a bucket of hot soapy water and clean every surface of the grill including the tank and all hoses. You can even clean and wipe down the inside of the lid where all of that carbon build up exists.   Once the outside of your grill is dry use some Rust-Oleum ReColor by Wipe New to bring back the shine and to help protect your grill from the elements.

recolor-grill-before-after-02

Step 3:

Shut off the gas at the LP tank and unfasten the burner, slip the gas tubes off the gas lines, and lift out the unit as a whole. Coat the burners with cooking oil to repel moisture that can build up over the winter and to prevent rust. Wrap the burner unit in a plastic bag to keep spiders and insects from nesting in the gas tubes during the winter.

 

Step 4:

Purchase a good grill cover to keep the dirt, rain, and snow from accumulating on the grill. If you are using a grill cover from last year, make sure that it is still in good condition and has no tears or holes. Make sure your grill and cover is completely dry before storing them.  If possible, store your grill inside in a dry location away from the elements.

ReColor Suggests Ways to Brighten your Home during the Winter Months

Are these dark, dreary, cold Winter days giving you the blues?  Now that you’re spending more time indoors, do you wish you could bring in more light, more color, and more cheer INTO your house?

No problem!  ReColor by Wipe New is here to help with these simple changes that can make a big difference!

  1. Use light-colored slipcovers, tablecloths, bedding, and curtains

Invest some money in purchasing tablecloths, curtains, bedding, and sofa/sectional slipcovers that are white, ivory, or a light color.   You’ll be amazed how making these bigger home items a lighter color can make a whole room feel lighter and brighter. Make sure that they are easy to wash to keep them nice and bright over time.

Add a splash of color

 

 

  1. Bring in some plants

Plants are a great way to bring “new life” into your home.  Houseplants are known to help improve your mood and, of course, they can help to clean the air in your home. Depending on what plants you use, you can even add some pops of color into your environment.  When it gets closer to spring consider adding vegetable and herb gardens into your house.  You can also occasionally buy some fresh flowers from the market and bring them home for some color!

  1. Remove the window screens

Windows screens are typically not needed during the winter months as most people don’t usually open their windows when it’s so cold outside.  Removing the screens can actually help to bring in more natural light.

  1. Add some color

Highlight your house with pops of color.  Use some vibrant throw pillows.  Add a colorful end table or lamp into a room.  Also add some color on the exterior of your house.  For example, you can place some brightly colored pots on your porch or some brightly colored lawn ornaments in your flower/landscape beds.  Concerned about the winter elements on these items?  No worries!  Treat these items with Rust-Oleum ReColor by Wipe New before placing them outside and rest assure knowing that they’re protected from the wet and cold.

  1. Play with light

Different types of lights can produce different moods for different people.  Some people prefer warm white and others prefer cool white.  Some bulbs work well for one room, while others work well for another.  Switch them up and see what you like best.  Also don’t forget to utilize natural light sources (i.e. candles and fireplaces).  While they don’t make your room brighter, they are warm, peaceful and relaxing after a long day.

Wipe New ReColor and DIY Crafts: Pumpkin Flower Pots

Jack O'Lantern Flower Pots ReColor Wipe New
Source: Frugal and Fun Mom

While most people think of falling leaves during autumn there are a number of plants that blossom during fall.   What better way to show off your flowers then with these pumpkin flower pots from Frugal and Fun Mom

They’re super-easy to create – check out Frugal and Fun Mom for the how-to! Jack O’Lantern Flower Pots Tutorial

After you’ve painted your scary faces on the pots, simply place in one of your favorite fall flowers.  Mums would be a great choice!  If you don’t want to use flowers, place a battery-operated candle inside the flower pot and let them light up those scary Halloween-season nights.

Get Ready for Halloween with ReColor by Wipe New

Halloween has increasingly become one of the most celebrated holidays.  It’s associated with the colors orange and black, skulls and skeletons, and – or course – jack-o’-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.  What’s not to enjoy?

recolor-wipe-new-halloween-decorations

The Halloween season is also a time for decorating front doors, patios, front yards, your school, and perhaps in your office.   As is the case with Christmas decorations, many people have Halloween decorations that they have saved from previous years.  When you reach for those items you may notice they’re looking ragged and dingy, but have no fear!   ReColor by Wipe New is a perfect way to spruce up your outdoor Halloween items and to bring back that shine.   Use ReColor to clean up your plastic pumpkin decorations, use it to restore and protect your metal lanterns or witch’s cauldrons, or use ReColor to bring life back to those skulls and skeletons.

Give all your outdoor decorations a new look with ReColor and watch the fun unfold this Halloween!