How-To Guide

So, you've packed your golf clubs and sold your snowplow, purchased some outdoor furniture and loaded up with sunscreen. Good moves, all, but living in this subtropical paradise can bring some unexpected challenges. As a welcoming gift, we offer you a few tips for acclimating to life on the Gulfshore.

Chasing the Mildew Away

You may not realize it, but the warm weather and sunshine that drew you here are the perfect conditions for unsightly mold and mildew. These dark green or black growths thrive on the heat and humidity and can sprout on paper, food and natural fibers. Everyday activities, such as bathing, cooking and cleaning, add moisture to indoor air, but since we don't want you to stop doing those things, you can prevent mold and mildew by controlling moisture in your home with proper ventilation and cooling, and using a humidifier if necessary. If clothes or linens begin to smell musty, clean and thoroughly dry them and leave closet doors slightly ajar for better air circulation. You can also try a product like Damp Rid to absorb moisture. Remove mold with two tablespoons of powdered nonchlorine bleach mixed with a pint of water before it stains or, worse, becomes toxic.

A Few Uninvited Guests

They call the Gulfshore one of Florida's final frontiers, and it's still inhabited by some pretty wild creatures: spiders as big as your hand, gigantic palmetto bugs (cockroaches in other parts) and mountains of ants-lots and lots of ants. The carpenter ant is the most invasive, but a fire ant sting can leave you with a painful red-and-white welt that lasts up to a week. Combating these intrusive insects is best left to the professionals, but if you must take matters into your own hands, don't apply ant bait directly to their mound-they'll just pack up and make a new mound elsewhere. Scatter it around so a worker ant can take it back to the queen and destroy the entire colony.

When the Party Goes Outside

This area is known for its heavy, impromptu storms. These daily interruptions barely give you enough time to take cover, let alone caring for your glorious new outdoor furniture. Some tables and chairs can withstand stormy weather, but regular maintenance and cleaning will keep it in top form for all of your poolside parties. Here are a few tips.

. Keep wicker furniture in the shade, as the sun dries it out.

. If aluminum furniture loses its luster, rub it with a piece of fine sandpaper, then buff it with car-wash polish to restore its shine.

. To prevent rusting, touch up wrought-iron furniture with rust-resistant primer immediately if bare metal is exposed.

Do the Ripe Thing

In these parts, produce has a life of its own-a shorter life than you may be used to. What may have started out as a fresh, healthy salad just one or two days ago may have disintegrated into early onset compost in your refrigerator. And don't be surprised if your bananas start to spot more quickly than they do back home. If you can't manage to consume them all before they get too ripe, there's always Grandma's banana-nut bread recipe for the potluck at the clubhouse.

And remember, not all produce should be refrigerated. Mangos, papaya, Haas avocados and tomatoes can be placed in a bowl on the counter as long as the house is kept to a cooler, low-humidity temperature. Just be sure to eat them within about three days-they're more nutritious then, anyway.

-H. E. J. Finnegan