Here’s a list of simple summer cleaning tips to help you get your home ready for summer and keep it tidy throughout the warm months.
When I was younger, I spent the entire year waiting for summer. Those warmer months meant I was on holiday from school and could spend hours playing and having fun.
Now that I’m an adult, I look forward to summer because it means there will be less rush hour traffic as kids are out of school. Funny how life works, isn’t it?
In any case, when the warmer months approach, there are some things you should start doing around the house to prepare as you’ll inevitably be spending more time outdoors and your kids will be at home a whole lot more.
Here are some tips for summer season that you should use to clean up your home.
11 Summer Cleaning Tips
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1. Clean Up the Yard
Picture yourself relaxing on a patio lounge chair with a good book while the kids run around the yard. Sounds good, right?
But, is your backyard ready for all that action right now?
If your patio and deck have been out of use for a while, they’ll be pretty dirty. You may have lots of leaves and debris, plus dirty, dusty patio furniture. None of that sounds very appealing or relaxing.
So, clean it up.
Hose down or power wash the patio and deck. Clean the patio furniture with a diluted bleach solution or warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and let them dry.
Maybe, go the extra mile and add some bright new throw cushions or even an outdoor rug and some other outdoor-appropriate decor to spruce up the area.
Now, you’re ready to lounge outside!
2. Get Ready For Grilling Season
Summer equals barbeque. Am I right? Juicy burgers, hotdogs with all the trimmings, even grilled steaks and veggies… Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
What’s not yummy is a dirty grill. You really should clean your grill after every use and definitely clean it if you haven’t touched it in a while.
Turn it on and allow it to warm up. Dip half a lemon, cut side down in salt. Rub the salted lemon on the warm grill grates. This will cut through any grease on the grill and the salt will act as a scrubbing agent to remove bits of stuck-on food.
Switch the grill off, let it cool down a bit and wipe the grates clean.
If your grill is in really bad shape, try a pumice stone. The metal bristles of wire brushes can break off. You definitely don’t want to get any of those in your food.
3. Keep It Cool
Have an expert inspect and clean your air conditioner unit(s).
Not only does a good cleaning help your unit(s) run better, it also lowers your energy bill and saves you money over time.
4. Get Rid of Expired Food
When your kids are home, you have to feed them more meals everyday, plus they’ll want snacks and drinks.
Before you stock up, clean out the pantry and other areas where you store food. Get rid of expired foods and items you don’t use to make space for extra snacks, drinks and bottles of water for your kids.
Store those items in an area that’s easy for them to reach so they can help themselves.
5. Clear Out The Trash
Summer months bring warmer temperatures and that heat can make your garbage stink.
Take out the trash regularly and wash the bins with a mild bleach solution or warm soapy water. This will remove any source of odors and keep your home smelling fresh.
6. Swap Out Your Bedding
You need to keep cool in order to get a good night’s sleep so change your sheets and use lightweight breathable fabrics like cotton.
Launder any heavy blankets and duvets. Pack them up and put them away until the weather cools down again.
7. Clean Out The Closet
Rescue your T-shirts, cute dresses, shorts and flip-flops from the back of the closet and bottom of your drawers. Bring them front and center and move the warm clothing aside.
Get all of your pool and/or beach gear together too. Make sure you have all the swimming essentials you’ll need e.g. sunblock. Place these in a large tote bag so they’re ready to go when you are.
8. Pare Down The Games
Sort through your kids’ toys and games. Get rid of anything that’s broken, has missing pieces or items your children never play with.
Put all the items that are left in one spot. Doing this makes it easier for your kids to find stuff they actually like to play with. And, when items are in one place, clean up becomes painless. Win-win!
9. Implement A summer Cleaning Schedule
Having routines in place will make it less challenging to stay on top of summer cleaning. Create a quick daily cleaning schedule that allows you to keep high traffic areas e.g. bathrooms and the kitchen clean.
Give yourself some grace here. Don’t beat yourself up if you decide to go lounge next to the pool instead of scrubbing the toilet. Find a happy balance between spending time doing necessary chores and enjoying life.
10. Keep the Floors Clean
Summer can take a toll on your floors. Your kids are outdoors playing more. They bring everything inside with them. More crumbs on the floor from snacks… The list goes on.
Use these handy tips to keep your floors clean.
11. Make Cleaning Easy
Find ways to make your summer cleaning easier:
- Create a summer chore list so your family can help out.
- Use automated cleaning tools e.g. iRobot.
- Clean up after yourself so you’re not creating a bigger mess for later
Think about what you usually do around the house and ways to make it faster or not have to do it at all.
Getting your home ready for the warmer months and keeping it clean should be a breeze with these summer cleaning tips.