| Author | |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Feb 23 2011 at 7:08am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Over in this thread on getting children out-of-doors, we were discussing how helpful it is to have a system for handling all the wet/dirty/muddy/snowy coats, boats, etc. that we Northerners have to deal with in the winter.
Becky Parker wrote:
| Coming back to add that a good system for wet/snowy/muddy clothes when play time is over makes the whole "going outside thing" better as well. Before we had a system in place I did not encourage my kids to go outside in wet weather because I didn't want to deal with the wet clothing. Now that we have a system that works it's so much better! |
|
|
What are your solutions to handling the inundation of outerwear that winter brings? I'd love to hear some great ideas on this...having to manage all these coats, boots, gloves, snowpants, raingear, hats, etc. is one of my least favorite parts of winter.
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: Feb 23 2011 at 7:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Our system is very simple Caroline! My husband is not a "Mr. Fixit" so I knew I didn't want to ask for some elaborate storage system. Instead, I just asked for a row of hooks, on the wall just inside our basement door. Our basement door is the back door so it works out well. Each child has 2 hooks that look something like this (These are not the hooks we have, ours were purchased individually and mounted to a board, but I wanted to give you a visual of what I was talking about.) They can hang their snowpants and coat on the hooks, or in the spring it's a place for rain pants and jackets. Under the hooks I have a milk crate where they put their hats and mittens. I want to get a second crate for each of them to store boots in. Right now they are supposed to go next to the hat's and mittens crate but they don't always get there. The neat thing about a crate is if things are wet, they can flip it over and place the items on top, so they dry more quickly.
Now, training takes some time! My kids have to be reminded to actually hang their things on the hooks and put their gloves and mittens on or in the crate. My kids also had to be trained to use that back door because they were used to coming in through the front door and dumping everything, tracking snow or mud in with them. Our basement floor is linoleum so it's not as big of a deal, and when they do track it in a quick mopping takes care of it.
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Servant2theKing
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1505
|
| Posted: Feb 23 2011 at 8:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We usually have everyone come in the basement doorway after outdoor play, shoveling snow, etc. We have a clothesline strung, for hanging wet outdoor items. I've seen some creative spaces for hanging a clothesline...women of all generations seem to instinctively know they must have an indoor clothesline, especially for wet winterwear! Wet boots are placed to dry on the floor of a shoe area, under the basement stairs (shoes hang on hooks from pegboard). We keep a container of plastic grocery bags in the shoe and boot area for covering stocking feet before putting boots on...an old trick my mom taught us as kids, which really keeps feet warm and dry...wet bags are dried on the line before returning to the basket! When wet items have dried on the line, coats are hung on hooks on pegboard on studs outside the basement stairs (salvaged from a store that was closing), or upstairs from hooks on the back of bedroom doors. Dry hats, gloves & scarves are stored in a laundry bin in the basement. Hiking boots kept in normal circulation are placed in two drawers we rescued from an old unused dresser, tucked under an old pew that serves as seating in our dining area. We have a large rubbermaid tote beside our basement entry which holds several snow shovels and a large bag of salt. Sleds are stood against a pool/pingpong table until dry, then nestled together next to the shovel bin (having all the same type of sleds helps save space). I've always dreamed of having a large, spacious mudroom, with lots of hooks, cabinets and a bench with storage, but our original side entry is a rather tight, small area which would have been woefully inadequate as a mudroom for more than 1 or 2 people (it was immediately designated as our family command center when we moved here)....the basement and other areas happily suffice, thanks to simply training everyone to put items in their established homes as soon as they come inside. Hooks, containers & pegboard in unused spaces have been our key to corraling all the outdoor stuff that seems to multiply whenever anyone ventures outside in the winter....maybe the wet snow causes everything to expand, just making it seem as though they've increased by monstrous proportions!
__________________
All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Feb 23 2011 at 10:59am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have coat hooks behind the front door in 3 layers..
Which works most of the time. But when the kids are going out a lot and things are getting soaked. I have two celing hooks in front of the wood stove that I hang a layered clothes line from.. I can hang boot inserts and gloves and hats etc right there where they'll dry out best. It makes the living room feel small but it's not too much in the way and things GET DRY.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Feb 24 2011 at 3:19pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I like the hooks idea! I'm looking around here to see where I could best put them. Becky, I never thought of turning over the crate...good idea!  Jodie, I really like the higher/lower hooks, plus I love your pretty front door! 
Now training, that's a whole other topic! 
Thank you!
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stacykay
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1858
|
| Posted: Feb 24 2011 at 4:10pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Has anyone tried boot racks in the garage? I worry that the boots would be too cold, but I just don't like them strewn all over our foyer.
We only have two entrances to use with snow season, the front door into the foyer and the door from inside the garage. That opens onto a small hall with the basement door and stair directly opposite. There isn't any room for their rather large footwear.
Right now we just have it all *ideally* lined up in the foyer on a rug. Our front closet isn't large enough either. It can hold the coats, but there isn't room for the boots.
I guess I worry about both cold footwear, if they are in the garage, and also that perhaps a small furry creature might think it's found a new home. 
Servant- I love the plastic bag idea for keeping feet warm and dry!
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: A System for Winter Outerwear
