Home Chores and To-Do List for August in Portland
Houzz.com recently did an article siting to-dos and a great checklist for August. I wanted to expand on that for the Portland area because not every place has similar August months as us. August is a great time and because we have so many Indian summers, meaning that our summers last into September and even sometimes into October, schools start later and we enjoy a much more mild start to fall. If you are into spring cleaning, this August checklist is a must do for anyone looking to tidy up their life, their home, landscaping, and schedule.
August is the perfect time to be enjoying the outdoors. It's definitely not a time to turn on your oven, heat up the whole house, and spend hours inside making stews and chilies. Now is the perfect time to prep meals in advance for easy picnics, outdoor barbecues, and dinners on the patio. Find a cool day and make a few meals or prep a few proteins ready for the grill. Marinate some chicken breasts, pork chops, or steaks and then place in the freezer. Then they're ready to thaw out and throw on the grill when you're ready.
Consider a better approach to the utility room or mud room.
If you're like a lot of people around the Portland area you might have a swimming pool in the backyard, even if it's a temporary or portable one. We all know that kids can track in grass, mud, and lots of water during the summer months. Set up a station that's perfect for drying off and cleaning their feet, have towels ready to go, and flip-flops handy for running in and out of the house. A smaller pool or container that everyone can wash their feet off before they get into the pool is helpful so you don't have to spend hours filtering all the grass and dirt out of the pool.
Clear out and refresh the pantry.
This can go hand-in-hand with preparing for meals. Spend an afternoon going through your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator getting rid of anything that is outdated or expired. Donate items to your local food bank that have been sitting in your pantry for months that you're pretty sure you're not going to use. Having a clean and organized pantry helps make meal prep much easier when you have everything at hand and you know what you have.
Replace and clean any caulking and grout.
With winter coming in just a few months and the rain on the horizon, you might want to recheck or re-caulk around exterior windows and interior toilets and bathtubs.
Refresh and repurpose your closet.
Now is also a great time to start organizing and separating summer and winter outfits and clothes. Donate any clothes that you or your kids may have outgrown over the summer and purchase school clothes and summer clothes for next year now while they are on sale. Think ahead with swimming suits, shorts, and summer wear for next year as everything is usually going on sale about now.
August is a great time to wrap up summer, attend those final concerts, have a picnic in the park, and enjoy the dog days of summer around Portland. Considering buying a home before school starts? Feel free to start your search online here or browse to other articles and tips for home buying, selling, and Portland real estate in general.