Storm Prep
I have this weird thing before storms like hurricanes or snow, basically any time we might be stuck in the house, that I want to start out with the house (relatively) clean. I don’t want to be in here with no air conditioning, smelling our funky bathrooms. Also, I make sure I’ve washed basically everything we own.
Here is my room-by-room checklist:
Living Room
- Tidy up
- Vacuum and mop floors
- Wash the sheet on the cat’s chair
- Wash cat beds
- Organize games, books, coloring books, markers, crafts for kids
- Wash rugs
Kitchen
- Tidy up
- Clean counters
- Mop floor
- Fill any containers with water
- Make as much ice as possible
- Clean the sink
- Throw out any foods that will go bad in the fridge
- Clean all dishes
- Disinfect garbage disposal
- Cook anything you can ahead of time – breads, cookies, etc. that are okay without refrigeration
- Check food supplies
Bathrooms
- Tidy up
- Clean counters
- Clean sink
- Clean toilets
- Clean bathtub
- Prep bathroom in case of tornado
- Fill tub with water (some also fill up washing machine)
- Clean floors
Dining Room
- Tidy up
- Clean floors
- Organize supplies
Bedrooms
- Tidy up floor
- Vacuum
- Wash bedding
Outside
- Secure chairs and another other loose items
- Tie down porch swing
- Secure gates
- If time allows, clean gutters
- Make sure drains are cleared
Other Random Chores
- Charge batteries, kindles, iPad, phones, cell phone battery pack and all other electronics
- Empty trash
- Do a photo inventory
- Vacuum with baking soda
- Get gas for car (and generator, if you have one)
- Get cash
- Do all possible laundry
- Sign up for weather alerts and city alerts
- Find fun things for kids to do that don’t require electricity – board games, card games, books, coloring, crafts, etc. to pass the time
Please let me know if I’ve forgotten anything so I can add it to the list!
