Summer is the season when weather is warm, the sun is shining and the kids are at home. While the season seems nice, summer can be a challenging time as it presents some unique kinds of messes in the house. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your home clean this hot season:
1. Always keep your bathroom dry
The moisture on the showers is a perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. While you’re showering, keep the fan or window open to prevent humidity. Wipe the bathroom floors with a mop regularly to prevent mildew and hard-water stains. Hang your damp towels and wet bath mats outside to dry under the sun.
2. Perk up your patio furniture
This summer, you household may start hanging out more in the patio for some fresh air. It may have taken a beating over the winter and spring, so you need to perk it up so everyone would feel comfortable. The rains during spring may have caused corrosion in your outdoor furniture and equipment, so give it a new finish to bring new life to your outdoor area. To clean any kind of outdoor furniture in general, rinse furniture with a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Mix ½ cup of bleach to a gallon of water, and apply the solution with a sponge. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse and let dry.
3. Clean kitchen cabinets and doors
Now that your kids are staying at home, your refrigerator door and kitchen cabinets would be opened and closed more frequently by messy hands. If you don’t clean it, it will get sticky and icky to touch. Clean it with a solution of oil soap and warm water. Dip a clean cloth and use it to wipe cabinet and door fronts and knobs. Then, dry with a clean cloth. Be sure to check out great options like cleanzen.com as well.
4. Scrub your grill
During summer, backyard barbeques are back. It is recommended that you cook outside the house to lessen the heat inside during the season. Now, grilling calls for heavy-cleaning and dealing with major messes with the grill. Use a wire brush to scrub the grates and remove the remnants of food and grime stuck on it. Do this while the grill is still warm. Don’t forget to clean the inside of the lid as well.
5. Give your swimsuits and swimming gear some TLC
Summer is the season of swimming and the perfect time to use your beloved swimsuits, and your kids’ plastic pool toys and rafts. Extend the life of your swimsuits by rinsing them with water right after wearing them. Get rid of the salt water, chlorine, sunscreen and oil from your skin as much as possible before you wash it. Sunscreen may react badly to laundry detergents. Your swimming gear needs to be cleaned as well – it doesn’t mean that if you use them in water, it’s always clean. Use cloth soaked in vinegar to wipe your plastic pool toys, rafts and floaties.
6. Clear up the pantry and organize your supplies
Now that kids are going in and out of the kitchen to look for some food, throw away the expired items and foods. Declutter your home, as having lots of unnecessary things around leaves plenty of places for dust to set in. Organize all your stuff and put the items you will need more frequently this season within easier reach, like summer clothing in your closet.
7. Involve your kids
Summer is also the time to train your kids to learn household chores. As they grow older, the more household chores they are capable of doing. Start small by teaching your toddlers to put dirty clothes in the hamper and putting away their toys after playtime. Then, teach them to make their own beds. Once they’re older, like 8 or 9, they must be helping you do the dishes and sweep the floors. Give each of them a task and make house cleaning a group effort.