Summer Cleaning Tips for Your House!
Summer, with its adventurous atmosphere, is not everyone’s ideal time for cleaning around the house. For the most part, nobody really wants to deal with dirty grills, furniture stains, sweaty clothes, or sandy swimsuits when the weather is hot. Such chores may need to be tackled more often to keep your home tidy and fresh through the summer months. Employ these summer cleaning tips to make things quick and easy.
Clean and Reverse Ceiling Fans
Being as they’re up and out of the way, it’s far too easy to neglect your ceiling fans. Dirty fans can stir up dust as they rotate, triggering summer allergies and hay fever symptoms. As you start your house cleaning this summer, get a vacuum cleaner, old pillowcase, or long duster to remove dust and debris from the blades. After cleaning, change the direction of the blades to counterclockwise so the fan brings cool air downwards.
Ensure Cool Air Flows Freely
The dirt, dust, animal dander, and pollen that get tracked into your home will find their way into your AC. This will restrict airflow and reduce efficiency. Before temps rise to peak summer levels, make sure your AC is in good working condition. Wash removable filters with hydrogen peroxide or warm soapy water and put them out to dry. Replace an old filter with a new one and use a vacuum to blow out hard-to-reach dirt and remove caked-on grime.
Clean the Fridge
There’s never a bad time to clean the refrigerator, but we love the idea of getting it ready for fresh produce and barbecue leftovers. Working one section at a time, wipe down the surfaces with a sponge and soapy water or vinegar. Any removable parts can be washed in the sink. As you restock, get rid of anything that’s past its prime.
Get Ready to Grill!
Sunny weather means plenty of backyard barbeques are in order. Now is the time to get your grill ready for that first rack of juicy ribs. To get started, set the burners on high and let the grates get hot. Pierce a halved lemon with a BBQ fork, dip the juicy part into a bowl of salt for some abrasiveness, and rub it on the surface. Then, use a grill brush to scrub especially dirty grates.
Stop the Stink
Along with the heat and humidity of the summer season come unpleasant smells at the sink and in recycling bins and trash cans. Banish yucky scents by pouring white vinegar in your drain and sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of your trash cans. Take the trash out regularly and wash out the bins with bleach and water. Repeat these steps as necessary to ward off smells.
Wash the Windows
With curtains and drapes drawn to let in sunlight, you don’t want to stare at ugly layers of dust, streaks, and grime all summer. No window cleaning job is complete without removing dust and dirt first. Then, opt for mildly soapy water and a squeegee to clean the exteriors. A spray-on glass cleaner and a damp rag should suffice for the insides. Don’t forget to suds-up your window screens and take curtains outside for airing.
Tackle Gutter Cleaning
Summer will sometimes bring strong winds, rain, and thunderstorms from time to time. The extra weight and pressure from the stormy weather can cause significant damage to your gutters if they’re not cleared. Remove debris from your gutters and use a hose with a spray nozzle to flush all dirt remnants from the gutter troughs and downspouts.
Perk Up Your Patio
Summer is when outdoor living spaces see the most use. So, your outdoor furniture will need a little TLC to bring it back to life and keep it looking great longer. Wipe down your patio furniture, gently scrubbing with a soft cloth, warm water, and a small amount of glass cleaner, dish soap, or laundry detergent. While you’re at it, consider deep cleaning your concrete patio to make a really enjoyable space for the balmy air. A pressure washer could be your best bet. Otherwise, you can also use a gentle cleaning solution and a bristled broom to get rid of stubborn stains.
Sweep and Clean Daily
Yes, with the summer comes uninvited guests: pests. Ants and all sorts of creepy crawlies love the warm weather as much as we do. Clean the counter and floors of crumbs every day to cut the bugs off their food source. Essential oils such as peppermint, thyme, clove, and lemongrass can help repel bugs naturally.
Laundry Duty
Summer brings fun and food along with wet clothes and barbeque stains. Swimsuits, sports uniforms, and beach towels will be in heavy rotation during the season. Plus, campfire smoke, chorine, and sweat all make for extra smelly clothes. For an easy summer cleaning tip, set up a wet clothes station and wash the clothes in hot water. Add ½ cup white vinegar or baking soda into the rinse cycle to eradicate stale odors.
Get More Summer Cleaning Tips from a Professional House Cleaner!
If all of these chores seem like a lot of work, Maid Impressions Cleaning Services can help clean up and tidy your home, allowing you to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Call us at (727) 222-6019 today to request a free quote or book an appointment for house cleaning in Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Westchase, Trinity, and more!