If you only open the fridge in the summer for ice cubes when the grass needs mowing it probably doesn't matter as much. I'd be afraid jugs of water in the freezer would expand and break. My mother saved a stack of newspapers I've kept for special occasions. Used to have a bag of packing peanuts, maybe still do. Blocks of Styrofoam saved for possible bird house insulation. The bottom is no problem. Jugs of water there would be a great idea, because the water is so awful out there. Get them off the counter. Still have bags of cat food I bought over the years, and special diets the vets gave me, which we tried with no luck. Was going to put it out for the possums and fish. A 24 can pack of Mountain Dew with calories, only 9 years old. So many possibilities.
I use my battery leaf blower to sweep out the garage a lot. Our driveway slopes downhill so the garage is always full of leaves, sand, whatever...
I have this big old 16 gallon Sears Craftsman wet/dry shop vac. My parents bought if for me before they moved up here, for some occasion, maybe a birthday. That's how old it is. One caster wheel broke, and that's the part I ordered from Sears Parts Direct many years ago that didn't fit and soured me on SPD. The shop vac is 3.5 peak hp, 10 amps, with a 150 mph blowing capacity. It worked like a charm on dry leaves yesterday with the crevice device attachment. Even on the grass. But it won't roll around. I also have a newer smaller shop vac which has bigger specs: 5 peak hp, 11.8 amp motor, but no information on blowing speed. The leaves are wet this morning. I just tried both, and the older one does better. It's also lighter. I think I know how to fix the bad caster wheel now. Anyway, this settles the question. No new leaf blower, corded or uncorded, to sit around for a once-a-year job. It's still easier than raking. Any leaves on grass can be mowed. They are so deep on the driveway out there they cover the belts on the riding mower, and I don't want those belts to pop off.
Maybe you could make a cart for the large shop vac @Nancy Hart. I had a similar problem with my main generator, and I just made a platform with large casters. It rolls around better than it did with the standard wheels.
@Nancy Hart @Don Alaska $12.99 at Harbor Freight. 1,000# capacity. For another $10 you can get a handle for it:
I made on since we don't have a Harbor Freight here and I wanted a custom-sized one, but that is the general idea.
I wondered if you all had a H.F. up your way. The one around me is a fairly recent arrival (just as ALDI is.)
I visit them whenever I go south, and often take an extra suitcase just to bring stuff back. When I went to Pennsylvania, I visited Tractor Supply as well. My wife always goes to Hobby Lobby too.
Sounds like my mother's British relatives. They would pack light for the trip over, then buy luggage here to fill with their purchases to take back home.
The more I think about it, the more I think that's a great idea. It's hard to move a shop vac even if it has all the wheels working. The handle would be the most important thing. I need one that will fit both vacs. You couldn't make one for that. The wheels alone would probably cost that much. Thanks, John.
Your thread reminded me to go to SPD for a part for my shop vac. No longer available. I guess I'll lug the thing to a True Value store and his the small parts bins. And you can thank Don. I would not of thought making your shop vac Handicap Parking compliant.