{"id":10043,"date":"2016-09-26T10:25:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T14:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mayahoodblog.com\/?p=10043"},"modified":"2024-04-02T06:44:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T10:44:41","slug":"tips-closing-cottage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mayahoodblog.com\/tips-closing-cottage\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for closing down the cottage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The cool, crisp weather has me bundling up, cooking soup and taking a drive out to the country for the scenery. It also means that the summer is over and it’s time to close up our non-winterized cottage. Each year, we head up to our cottage for the last time over Thanksgiving weekend. In that sense, it’s bittersweet. I love spending time with our family, eating a big delicious turkey dinner and enjoying hikes and taking in the spectacular views of the changing colours of the leafs. But closing down the cottage is sad because it officially means the end of summer. \u00a0Summer fun, memories and the calmness of spending time at the cottage is over (albeit, temporarily). If you’re in the same boat, and are gearing up to close down your cottage, whether you are a long time cottage owner or a newbie, here are some tips for a quick, efficient and effective close-down!<\/p>\n

Clean up as if you’re moving out<\/strong><\/p>\n

Put all of your belongings away in bins, including toys, pillows, linens, cutlery, pans and pots. \u00a0When you put away all of your every-day belongings in bins, it helps ensure two things. First, it stops critters from getting into your stuff over winter. Secondly, it makes opening\u00a0up the cottage more efficient. You can put away all of your items back in their place without a need to deep wash or clean everything.<\/p>\n

When you’re cleaning up and putting everything away, take the time to declutter. Throw-away or donate anything that is broken or that you didn’t use over the summer and bring home any items you may use over the year. For example, if you are planning a trip down south, you may want to pack your child’s lifejacket or water toys.<\/p>\n

Lastly, but most importantly, clean out the fridge and food cabinets completely! Again, you can donate any non-perishable items that you may not need any more, throw away anything that might have expired, and bring home the rest. After you clear out your fridge, leave it slightly ajar to eliminate mold and mildew that might be produced from trapped moist air.<\/p>\n

TIP<\/strong>: Put drawers back in upside down. This will ensure that critters don’t turn the\u00a0drawers into their warm homes over the winter.<\/p>\n

Empty and Remove any Water<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drain out the water from the pipes and shut off the water pump. Remember to also completely drain the hot water heater. We remove our water pump entirely and store it over the winter. Once all of the water is out of your pipes and toilet (we use a small bowl to scoop out any visible water in the toilet bowl), pour anti-freeze in the sinks and toilet bowls. The last thing you want is the water to freeze and burst (we learned this the hard way when we first became cottage owners).<\/p>\n

Clean out the gutters<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is especially important if you will not be coming up to check on the cottage over Fall and Winter. Clearing your Eavestrough will help ensure that the leaves don’t pile up so water can properly move through the gutter to the ground. This will help avoid waterfalls that pour off the roof or get an icicle pileup. Excess water that doesn’t go through the gutter system properly (which is designed to move water down from the roof, away from the home for proper drainage) may end up getting inside your cottage ceiling and walls. Local gutter company<\/a> will make sure your gutters functions properly. To address roofing needs, consider hiring professional Flat Roofing Installers<\/a> to ensure a sturdy and reliable roof for your cottage. Visit sites like https:\/\/acsroofingsiding.com\/contact\/<\/a> if you need to hire professional roofers in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Add additional (but temporary) structural support<\/strong><\/p>\n

In older cottages with open spaces, you can often add a temporary pole in the middle of your cottage that lines up with the main support beam. Be sure to attach a rope to the beam so it won’t cause any damage if it falls over. This is helpful for older cottages (like our bunky-style cottage that was built in the 50s) so when the snow piles up on the roof, it acts as an extra support beam. Additionally, consulting Roofer Huntersville<\/a> can provide valuable insights and recommendations for reinforcing the roof to withstand winter conditions effectively.<\/p>\n

Electricity\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shut-down all electricity. Remove all plugs from sockets and turn your main power switch off! If you find a problem, you may need to contact an expert versed in electrical panel repair<\/a>. This will help protect against fires and reduce your electricity bills when the cottage is not in use.<\/p>\n

Bring in the outdoor furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaving your ‘outdoor’ furniture (such as\u00a0Muskoka chairs, tables and outdoor toys and games) outside over winter may cause them to get wrecked or damaged. Store away your boat, canoe, kayak, paddle boat or any other water craft. This will help you maintain them in better condition and ensure their longevity.<\/p>\n

Lastly, but most importantly, after you lock up your cottage, take a moment to reflect. Sit down on your porch or deck and look around. Think back to the amazing summer you had at cottage country, the quality time you spent with your family and loved ones, the celebrations and memories made, and take a deep breath. You might be closing up for the season but before you know it, spring will arrive and you’ll be heading up to your favourite spot again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The cool, crisp weather has me bundling up, cooking soup and taking a drive out to the country for the scenery. It also means that the summer is over and it’s time to close up our non-winterized cottage. Each year, we head up to our cottage for the last time over Thanksgiving weekend. In that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5309],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10043","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-parenting","7":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nTips for closing down the cottage - Mayahood<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mayahoodblog.com\/tips-closing-cottage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tips for closing down the cottage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The cool, crisp weather has me bundling up, cooking soup and taking a drive out to the country for the scenery. 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