HP OPINION WHAT'S IN YOUR SHED? |} ORGANIZING JOBS CAN OFFER A TREASURE-TROVE OF DISCOVERY, WRITES STEPHEN ILOTT "I don't go in there. I hear things." The woman, eyes wide, crinkled the side of her mouth as if trying to bite her own nose. I had casual- ly pointed down toward the It was a_ substantial yard, something from the old days when a yard was a yard and big enough to toss. around a Frisbee, a foot- ball, maybe even a boomer- ang. The kind of yard you could describe the end ofas being, “down yonder.” The woman had called mein to tackle the downsiz- STEPHEN ILOTT Column ing prior. to tise for sale. I love digging into a house full @ memories and sorting out heaps of stuff from the before times. C: mea masochist, soul ral love dealing jam- packed barns, tottya garages and especially ee aay filled old sheds. It's dirt work if left unattended for a few decades. The critters move in and do what critters do. Some- times you find treasures all forgotten and woven tight- ly into a solid, dusty mass. The average shed is less. ARE YOUR HEARING AIDS BEING CHECKED REGULARLY? If your hearing < aven’t been checl ad in the could be underperforming complimentary cleaning 2 and ar re in top condition. 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 ae Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) | CHOICE 2021 i iC.Ca DIAMOND WINNER rt HALTON rt AUDIOMETRIC CENTRE HEARING AIDS & AUDIOMETRY Georgetown’s trusted choice for nearing care 905.877.8828 ‘THE INDEPENDENT Guelph St. (Hwy. 7) T IH UOWEH - dl OUL | LZ daunting. It mostly has stuff one needs on a regu- lar basis. But often a lot of, quick tips to get your shed in spring shape. 1. Lay down a tarp and empty it all out — every- thing. 2. Clean it top to bottom, every web, every chunk of ey sod, wash the walls, evel 8. Install sturdy shelves to use vertical spaces. , rectangular, "! zzoe ‘% eunr‘Aepsinyy | clear, containers ofall the small— stuff, gloves, hardware etc. Collect free salad contain: ers from the grocery st Give yourself a ae Of empty ones for drop spots for loose stuff. 4. Review and dispose of Metroland file photo Stephen llott never knows what he'll find during a shed organizing gig. tent tofind things fast later. 6. Use floor spaces for manoeuvreability. Drill a small hole in the bottoms of stacked recycling bins to ill the vacuum sucking when you try to pull them Culligan Water For a Limited Time Save the apart. 7. Most importantly toss out the useless stuff — the solid bag of cement for starters. Don't put it all spring. It'll make life easi- er. Stephen Ilott is a profes- sional home organizer. He can be reached at si- lott@cogeco.ca. tools (not ceilings), rakes etc. Be same-place consis- a peclutter your shed this Qubtigon. High Effificiency System. 6 months no payments, no interest. 5 Mountainview Rd N, Georgetown (905) 877-6242 www.culligan.com #8 info@culliganwater.ca sel Ave Schedule your Free Water Test *Some restrictions apply. Please ask your ua beeen inn ene Limited time offer, dealer participation varies. z 7 OAC a 3 8