Now is the time to get ready for the changing of seasons

Dear Readers:

Now is the time to get your house ready for the changing of seasons. Use this checklist:

OUTSIDE

K Do maintenance work on your lawn when weeds are not growing so fast.

Aerate the lawn and feed it well before the cold weather comes.

K Prune trees to get rid of dead branches.

K Clean up the flower beds, and plant your spring bulbs.

K Rake or blow the leaves from the lawn and put them in bags for disposal or to keep for mulch.

K Check the roof shingles or tiles for cracks to see if they are loose. Examine the flashings for leaks.

INSIDE

K Clean the attic and basement. Remove flammable material. Examine the attic for squirrel or mice infestations. Find out where they are coming in and seal it.

K Look in the basement for pest invasions and get rid of them. Clean up all dirt and dust.

Make sure that it’s sealed tightly for the winter, too.

K If the basement is damp, buy activated charcoal at a home-improvement store. Place it in open containers in the dampest areas to help keep it dry.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: Household sponges can become filled with bacteria from kitchen cleaning. Clean them often by mixing 3/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Soak for a while, then rinse. The bleach should kill 99% of the germs. But if the sponges are ratty, toss them out and buy new ones.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: Having a party for children? Try this fun idea. Shape popcorn ball mix around the outside of a drinking glass that has been greased with margarine. After the mixture hardens, remove the glass and fill the popcorn cup with nuts or treats.

— Heloise