Memorial Day Must-Have's to Save Time and Money

BEDFORD, Mass., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- With the onset of summer, outdoor entertaining such as backyard barbecuing, block parties and poolside happy hours is becoming quite trendy in many regions of the country.  However, these festive events do not need to be costly. By following the below quick checklist you can save yourself time, money and aggravation, all while ensuring the comfort of your guests.

1. Wash Down the Deck -- Use a deck cleaner solution to wash away mildew and stains with a soft bristled brush. This is less expensive than staining or painting the surface every year and the results are surprisingly effective.
2. Clean-up the Furniture -- Power wash your furniture to remove cobwebs or any dampness from storage. Chipped paint can be easily touched-up with metallic spray paint. Allow freshly painted furniture to thoroughly dry on a warm sunny day.  
3. Stock-Up On Paper Goods – Paper products and utensils are always on sale for Memorial Day. Stock up for the season while these items are competitively priced and don't be afraid to wash them if you want to be eco-friendly.
4. Have Repellent On-Hand – No need to invest in a mosquito magnet device for your guests' comfort. A simple area repelling product, such as the ThermaCELL Patio Lantern or Handheld can create a 15 by 15 ft. no bug zone in minutes. These products were found to be up to 98% effective in US Department of Defense tests and are priced attractively at around $30.00 at Home Depot, Wal-mart and many other outdoor sporting good stores.  
5. Prepare Ice Ahead of Time – Save money and a trip to the store by making and storing ice in a zip lock bag.  Make mixed drinks fun by freezing cranberry and orange juice in your ice tray to make Cape Cods and Screw Drivers.
6. Marinade Meat and Chicken for 24 Hours – Don't be tempted to take the easy way out and buy pre-marinated food at twice the price. Make your own for pennies or buy one of the bottled marinades that are still fast and affordable.
7. Summer Desserts are Simple – Jello, pudding, pound cake, a can of whip cream and your crowd will be pleased. Cupcakes and watermelon are other summer favorites.

Tips provided by ThermaCELL, the best area mosquito repellent in the world. Visit http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/ to learn more.  

SOURCE ThermaCELL