It’s been a hot and humid summer, and you know there are ways that you should be cleaning — but you don’t know where to start. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of simple summer cleaning tips so your home maintenance is the last thing you need to worry about. These practical summer home maintenance tips keep your home working, your air conditioning pumping, and you relaxing on vacation without worrying about coming back to a mess.
This is probably the most important item on this list. An air conditioner that is clogged up with dust and dirt won’t function as well or — even worse — could break and leave you seriously uncomfortable in the summer heat. Simply clean the filter with warm soapy water or with a vacuum cleaner.
Dusty fans only enhance summer allergies and hay fever symptoms. Without proper cleaning, fans will continue to spread dust and pollen as they rotate. While you’re cleaning the fan, make sure you also change the direction of the blades to counterclockwise. This trick pushes the cold air down ultimately saving you money on energy costs by making your air conditioner more effective.
Take advantage of the good weather and spend a morning cleaning your windows. Much better to do this now than in the middle of winter! If it’s been a while since you cleaned your windows, opt for soapy water and a sponge instead of just relying on window cleaner. You may need to really scrub to get the dirt out.
This is also a crucial step during the summer when your windows are open more and the humidity can encourage mold growth. Take the time to suds-up your window screens to keep your breathing easy and enjoy the fresh air.
In hotter climates, bacteria grow faster — even in the refrigerator. Take the time to clean out your fridge, rinsing down the surfaces with gentle antibacterial soap and throwing out anything expired or moldy. This is also important during the season of fruits and veggies – consider investing in a food-grade cleaner to wash your produce and avoid any of the nasty bacteria that could be lurking, like salmonella.
Patios are perfect for grilling and chilling with family and friends. But to make the patio a really enjoyable space, consider getting rid of moss and lichen with a quick spritz of a bleach/water mixture or soda crystals. Both natural methods will kill and dry out the lichen, leaving you with the quick task of raking the patio clear and enjoying your like-new outdoor space.
This cleaning task is not only useful but also will keep you cool in the process! Save this for a very hot day. Empty all the ice cubes into the clean sink. Take all of the frozen items and put it in the sink, covered with ice, to keep them frosty while you chip the freezer clean. Remove the built-up frost with your car ice scraper and a little hot water. Clean up any slow-moving liquid spills. Now turn your attention to the frozen food. Throw out anything with obvious signs of freezer burn like grayish-brown spots and thick layers of frost. If anything is open, it’s probably best to ditch it.
In the hot summer months, food rots more quickly, and smells tend to fester more easily. It’s important to clean out your drain and garbage disposal to make sure no food is stuck and causing unpleasant smells in the humidity of the summer. Naturally clean your drain without sticking your hands in the garbage disposal (!) by pouring baking soda followed by vinegar into your drain, letting it bubble for five minutes, and then following with boiling water. Repeat this as necessary, every two weeks or so to really ward off smells.
This is, unfortunately, the season for ants and all sorts of creepy crawlies. The warm, humid weather is the perfect environment for all sorts of bugs that you definitely don’t want to be inviting into your home. Cut the creepies off from their food source by cleaning the counters of crumbs and sweeping the floors every night. These small habits pay off big time by warding off the bugs that can be attracted by your messy leftovers.
This is especially important during the summer months when you’re using your hose and outdoor faucets more often! An undiscovered leak can cost you big time in surprise fees when the water bill comes at the end of the month. Take the time to inspect your hose and faucets for leaks and dampness and make a quick fix with water-proof gardening tape if you discover any leaky spots.
These summer maintenance tips encourage you to take care of your home in the summer and help set you up for a more relaxing summer overall. But we understand if you’d rather not spend your vacation doing cleaning chores – call Maid Right at (855) MAID – RIGHT for a recurring clean to keep your house sparkling and prevent any summertime mold or bugs.
If you are interested this summer in more than just a typical house cleaning, check out our Vacation Rental cleaning services which can make renting your home or vacation house this summer stress-free! Our experienced staff knows exactly what it takes to clean a home and prepare it for guests, especially on a tight turnover schedule. No matter what your needs are this summer, Maid Right can make sure that you have a successful vacation!