What Should I Store During the Winter?

The weather is growing colder by the day, and it’s time to start prepping your house and yard for the upcoming winter months. Even though snow is rare to occur in the St. George area, it’s important to be prepared for the winter. If you’re wondering what items you need to store for winter and the best ways to do that, this article is here to help. Store your things for the winter to make room in your home, or to preserve your outdoor equipment from the change in weather.

Lawnmower & other outdoor power equipment

Store your lawnmower in the shed or storage unit for the winter. While some manufacturers might suggest to drain your lawnmower or other outdoor equipment of gas before storage, read the manufacturer’s guide. Another alternative is to add fuel stabilizer with fresh fuel and let it run for a few minutes. This gets the stabilized fuel into the carburetor and fuel lines, and is fine for storing it for a few months.

Rec gear

Rec and outdoor gear like kayaks, boats, and camping gear should be cleaned and stored away for the winter. If you are unable to store them in the shed, garage, or storage unit, cover them top and bottom with tarps as best you can – just be aware of possible moisture damage and rusting that can occur because of this.

Outdoor furniture

Lawn chairs, outdoor grills, patio sets, hammocks, mobile fire pits, umbrellas, decorative light fixtures and similar items should be stored for the winter to preserve them for years to come. It’s a good idea to clean these before storage as well.

Motorcycles, ATVs, etc

Jet skis, ATVs, motorcycles, and more – put these away for the winter, especially if you live in an area where it snows. On top of snow and moisture, rock salt used to de-ice roads and sidewalks can be extremely corrosive and harmful to motorized vehicles. When storing these, keep the battery-operated items in mind – cold temperatures can harm batteries or items that contain fluid. If picking a storage unit, check to see if they are climate controlled, keeping the temperatures between 55-85 degrees if you live in colder climates. If storing them in sheds or garages, keep the temperature in mind when putting them away.

Outdoor Toys

This might include kiddie pools, bikes, skateboards, pool toys, life jackets, or other outdoor toys kids use during the summer, but won’t be used in the winter. To prevent these items from getting damaged from prolonged sun or moisture exposure, put them in storage to clean up your yard for the winter.

Summer clothes

Save space around the house and in your closet by storing your summer clothes. There’s no point in keeping these clothes around and letting it clutter your house if you aren’t going to be using them. This is especially helpful if you have a small living space.

What TO Pull Out for The Winter

While you’re putting away your summer gear, why not make one trip and pull out your winter gear at the same time? Here are a few reminders for what you might need to pull out of storage for the winter.

-Christmas decor, indoor and outdoor

-Extra tableware, cutlery, pots and pans, tables, etc. you might need for Thanksgiving

-Winter clothes

-Snow gear (shovels, rock salt, etc.)

-Outdoor rec gear for winter – things like snowboards, skis, sleds, snowmobiles, etc.

Huntsman World Senior Games 2017

Huntsman World Senior Games

For this year’s Huntsman World Senior Games, the Games celebrated its 31st year in operation from October 9th to the 21st. Originally titled the World Senior Games in 1987, the Games opened the gates for seniors of 55+ all around the world to come participate in these sporting events. Not only did this promote a healthy lifestyle for seniors, but helped boost Southern Utah’s economy at the time – and still does the same today.

This year, the Games boasted a diverse group of athletes from 34 countries and all 50 states in the U.S. In 2016, a whopping 11,000 athletes participated in the games. A small staff works year-round to make sure the event will run smoothly during the two-week period the Games run every October. Accompanying the staff, over 2,500 volunteers from all across Utah, including locals from St. George and Dixie State University, help make the Games what it is today.

Since 1987, the Games has lowered the minimum age to 50 to join in this Olympic-style event. These seasonal games host over 30 athletic events every year, including basketball, golf, cycling, softball, and swimming, to name a few. For a complete list of all the events that the Games offer, click here. The Games also help its participants by providing screenings for breast cancer and prostate cancer, along with other serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and elevated cholesterol, all thanks to medical volunteers and nursing students that help these screenings happen. The Games is also backed by a list of generous sponsors that help in the games as a way to help out the community all around.

This year, the opening ceremony kicked off on Tuesday, October 10th at the Legend Solar Arena at Dixie State University. The ceremony celebrated the diversity and tenacity of all its participants, as well as crediting the vast list of people, including volunteers and sponsors, that made the games happen. The ceremony featured entertainment for those attending, including singing, dancing, fireworks, the cauldron lighting, and a guest speaker. This year’s guest speaker was James Lawrence, an athletic inspiration who was the first man to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days.

Registration for the 2018 Senior Games are already open, giving athletes another year to train for the next games. As this event keeps growing with more athletes and volunteers, it continues to bring vitality to the culture and economy here in Southern Utah, fostering friendship and peace amongst its participants.

Visit the official Huntsman Senior Games website here, or visit their Facebook page here.

Huntsman World Senior Games