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How to Create a More Functional Laundry Room FAMILY FEATURES
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laundry room may be one of the spaces that you use the most, but cramped quarters and clutter can hinder your productivity. Eliminate the excuses and get your laundry room under control with these tips to add function to your washing routine. Use space wisely. Your laundry room may not have a big footprint, but you probably have more usable space than you realize. Install shelves or storage units on the walls and consider the ceiling as a spot to hang a floating drying rack. Don’t overlook the back of the door, where you can mount a storage system or use an overthe-door alternative. Maximize storage. Many laundry rooms suffer from a lack of storage, which hinders
space to fold and manage laundry while making the room less pleasant overall. A durable, attractive organization system like Dimensions by ClosetMaid can add instant organization and style to your laundry room. The system provides numerous design options, convenient accessories and configurations of cabinets and drawers, accommodating virtually any space. Resist wrinkles. Prevent unsightly wrinkles by hanging garments straight out of the dryer. A hanging rod is easy to install and lets you take advantage of vertical space in smaller rooms. Be sure to also stock up on hangers of various styles so you always have an ample supply ready when the buzzer sounds that another load is ready for your attention. Promote ventilation. Another common issue in laundry rooms
is limited ventilation, which can promote mold, affect air quality and hinder air drying for special garments. A clever way to enhance ventilation while increasing your storage space is ventilated shelving that helps keep air flow moving. For example, ClosetMaid’s Premium Wood Kits feature sturdy slatted shelves to stash your laundry essentials and can include accessories like hanging rods. Create a folding station. One of the biggest laundry pitfalls is folding and putting away clean c lothes. A clear, clean space in the laundry room can help n u d g e you toward complet-
UPCOMING
Five-Garden Tour Returns April 26 NewsUSA
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AAUW Event helps send local girls to Tech Trek summer camp STAFF REPORT MORRO BAY — The 34th Annual AAUW five-garden tour, sponsored by the Morro Bay Branch of the American Association of University Women, is coming up on Sunday, April 26 from noon to 5 p.m. The tour serves as the chapter’s main fundraiser to send local middle school girls to a life-changing Tech Trek summer camp at the University of California, Santa Barbara where they are immersed in science, technology, engineering, and math — the important STEM subjects for college.
This year’s self-guided tour features two gardens in Morro Bay and three in Los Osos. A study in contrasts, two of the gardens have been professionally designed — one each by Gabriel Frank and Lisa Denker; and three are the results of years of painstaking love and effort by their owners. Tickets for the tour are $15 and may be purchased after April 1 at My805Tix.com; at Farm Supply stores in Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, and San Luis Obispo; Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay; Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos; BooBoo Records in San Luis Obispo; or from any Morro Bay AAUW member.
Get inspired with more ideas to make your laundry room work for you at ClosetMaid.com.
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o matter what the season, you can spice up your cooking with fresh herbs from your very own garden. Container gardening is easy, whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned pro, and it’s a fun way to add flavor to your dishes. Thanks to their ease of planting, portability and low maintenance, container gardens are one of the fastest-growing trends in gardening. With a little help starting out, you can bring a little life into your kitchen in no time.
One of the many charming gardens on the tour. Photo contributed by Morro Bay Branch American Association of University Women
ing the task more efficiently. If you have front-loading machines, it may be as simple as adding a counter or sturdy shelf above them. If you use top-loaders, you may need to get more creative. If there’s room, a laundry sorter with a flat top is a good solution. Or if floor space is at a premium, you might consider a shelf that mounts to the wall and folds down when you need it.
Steps to Fresh Herbs Year-Round GARDEN
plants. Seeds generally germients to reach their peak, and nate within a week, and many the correct balance may not be outdoor plants will rebound found in your local soil. quickly by simply removing two-thirds of their top growth. 4. Give it adequate sunlight. Your container garden needs at least 3. C hoose a good growing five hours of direct sunlight. medium. Whether you choose If window lighting is not an to use a commercially prepared option, fluorescent lighting can artificial mix or a potting soil also work well. mixture, it’s important that the content is nutrient-rich. 5. Feed and water regularly to Growing plants require nutrikeep plants healthy and happy.
Container plants can often run out of food quickly since their roots can’t expand to find nutrients. At planting time, mix controlled-release fertilizer granules into the soil mixture, or apply a diluted liquid fertilizer with every other watering. But remember that nutrient needs vary with plants, so check each herb’s requirement. And don’t forget about water; if the soil feels dry, it’s time to water.
Here are five easy steps to fresh, healthy herbs: 1. Select the right container. The type and size of your container are important. The container options are endless, so feel free to be creative. Depending on how many plants you want to grow, it will need to be large enough so that root growth is not restricted. Just remember that adequate drainage is your key to success. 2. Start with seeds or existing plants. There are a few options to get your container garden started, and it’s simpler than you may think to get your plants growing. You can either plant from seed or cut a portion of your outdoor
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