How to Store a Garden Hose for the Winter

Leaving your garden hose exposed to the elements throughout the winter is a sure-fire way to reduce its life expectancy. Severe cold can cause many types of rubber and synthetics to crack and degrade, but the real risk occurs if you leave your hose with standing water inside. If a hose is full of standing water and is left out to freeze, the expanding ice will often force a major tear in the hose. The best way to avoid this is to completely empty the hose using the steps below and to store it away from the snow and freezing rain.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Disconnect the hose from the outdoor faucet. Remove any nozzles or attachments from the other end. Untangle any knots or kinks in the length of the hose.

2. Hold one end of the hose up at eye level for a moment. Then drape that end over one of your shoulders while still holding the hose up around eye level.

3. Slowly pull the hose up, 1 foot at a time, so that it keeps passing over your shoulder and behind you. As you gradually pull the hose up this way, the standing water that was left inside the hose will stay in the length of hose in front of you, while all of the hose behind you will be empty.

4. Continue pulling up the hose until the other loose end gets lifted off the ground. Shake this end vigorously to shake out the remaining water.

5. Roll up the hose and hang it on a large hook or nail in a garage, shed or basement. It will finish air drying over the course of the next several days.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a very stiff hose and can't seem to hold it high enough to get the water to run through smoothly, try standing on a chair or stepladder while you pull the hose up from the ground.
• Avoid storing your hose in garbage bags or other plastic containers. This will trap moisture inside and outside the hose, which can potentially lead to the buildup of mold and mildew.