It’s summertime! The kids are out of school, and everyone is spending more time outside. That means either your home is dirty, or it’s going to be. The heat, humidity, and free range children can cause a whole host of messes that can be hard to keep up with. Here are a few that are easy to clean, and will keep your home ready for summer barbecues and pool parties.
Oh the Humidity
Humidity can cause excess moisture to seep into your home, causing mold and mildew. To eliminate unwanted moisture in your home, try these.
- Clean the bathroom from top to bottom. Clean the mirrors and windows, the tub, shower, and the toilet. Make sure to get in the cracks and crevices, especially where there is caulking and along with window sills. These are mold’s favorite places to grow.
- Make sure you leave the washer door open after each wash. Shutting in all the moisture from the last wash can cause mildew, leaving your clothes smelling worse than when you started. If you have an older washer, or if you just want to be thorough, wipe out the rubber seal on the door with a towel as well.
- Humidity can also cause an increase in odors. Have you been noticing your trash more than you should? Put some baking soda in the bottom of your trash cans before you insert a bag. Baking soda will absorb some of the extra moisture and eliminate odors.
The Kids Aren’t Alright (They’re Messy!)
Summer break means more messes, and chores only take care of so much. Make sure to pay attention to these fingerprint hot spots.
- Clean the microwave! Summer snacks are making your microwave work overtime. Make sure to clean out the microwave with cleaning products and a rag. To get rid of the pizza pocket smell, microwave a tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of water for two minutes. Keep the door shut for an additional 15 minutes. The vinegar will eliminate any lasting odors.
- Handles, doors, and glass are magnets for sticky, popsicle fingerprints. Wipe down the door, fridge, microwave and cabinet handles, as well as the faces of cabinets and sliding glass doors.
Get Ahead While You Can
There are a lot of things you clean and organize before they are swept into the summer frenzy. Summer is also a great opportunity to clean the things that are difficult to clean in the damp or the cold.
- Patio furniture should be cleaned before it is permanently occupied by family and guests. Remove all seats and seat covers, and wash them in the washing machine. For plastic furniture, simply spray down with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe with a rag. You can do the same for metal, with the addition of some steel wool for places with rust. For wood furniture, use a mild soap and water solution and a sponge or rag.
- If you spent the time last fall to clean out your grill, you can give it a quick wipe down and be done with it. If not, make sure to hose it down to remove any leftover ash, then scrub with dish soap or a degreaser. Make sure you wear gloves!
The driveways and patios will be swarmed with kids, sidewalk chalk, or visitors all summer. Give it a good power washing before the chaos begins. - Most of your pay equipment, toys, bikes, and tools will live outside of your garage during the summer. Take this opportunity to organize, declutter, and get rid of broken or damaged items. Give your garage a good sweeping and prioritize your storage before you pack everything away for the winter.
- During the summer, your gutters are the driest they will ever be. Right now is the perfect time to get them professionally cleaned, or to clean them yourself before the fall leaves clog them up again.
Summertime is great for vacations and relaxing in the sun, but it’s also a good time to get ahead on cleaning and organizing. If you need any recommendations from our vendor list, let us know. Or if this list makes you want to downsize, we can help with that as well: send us a message! Happy summer!