The Great British Summer is always beset by rainy patches but that just means we have to make the best of the sun while it's shining.  Here are just a few of the ways you can use your step ladder to have a fun summer.

If you have an old step ladder that is destined for the scrapheap, then take a moment to consider how else you could re-purpose it.  Step ladders make good impromptu shoe racks, so it could be deployed to the corner of the porch or garage to tidy away wellies, sandals and trainers, that would otherwise be left in a pile.  Wellies you don't use very often can sit nicely out of the way underneath the ladder, while smaller shoes will fit on the rungs.

Another fun use for an old step ladder is as a mini snack bar for children in the garden.  If you've banished them outside to get them away from the screens, (and out from under your feet), you can keep them happy for longer by putting out snacks and drinks on the rungs of the step ladder.  For grownups, you can use the top of the step ladder as a small drinks table, with plenty of space for empties (or the next round) on the steps below.

If you have two step ladders to spare then there's a whole host of games you can play with them.  They can be used to string a tennis net between them and the variety of rung heights means you can put a low net for small children to use, graduating to a higher up net for older children.  Drinks, spare balls and towels can be put on the rungs to provide a rest area as well equipped as Wimbledon, and a tall step ladder could even be thrown into the mix as an umpire's chair – but be prepared for some strict arbitration where siblings are involved…  Adults can use the same double step ladder stand idea to make a limbo pole for evening fun and games. 

Overnight guests can be a problem if you don't have a lot of space, but a step ladder can provide a makeshift bedside table and charging station, or somewhere to unpack for your visitors.  Using a step ladder in the bathroom to organise and store towels is also a good indoor use of a step ladder, and if there's nothing heavy on them they can be used folded up, as long as there is no danger of them tipping over.

You can also use a brand-new step ladder for these jobs, but we think they're a great way of upcycling ladders that are no longer fit for their intended purpose.  You might find that your step ladder is so useful for different storage jobs around the house that you need a new one to use as an actual ladder!  Midland Ladders have a huge range of step ladders, from plastic moulded safety steps ideal for children (and big children) to fibreglass models for electricians and everything in between.