Effortless Summer Cleaning Guide: Streamline Your Home in the Sunny Seasons
Refreshed Article:
Wanna keep your pad spick-and-span this summer? Here's a nifty summer cleaning checklist to help you prioritize those essential cleaning tasks, so you can finally catch some sun rays instead of scrubbing away.
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Summer's here, and that means two distinct types of folks: ones counting down the seconds to escape indoors for some A/C relief, or those already counting down the days to hit the beach, go hiking, pitch a tent, roast s'mores, and feast on grilled cuisine.
Guess which side I'm on? Yep, tbqh, the latter. Summer's my fave season, and I'm bloomin' ecstatic it's finally back. It feels like we've been waiting ages for it to arrive, so I make every second count, whether I'm gardening, reading on the deck, or walkin' my pooch, Stitch.
Bonus Read: 13 Ways to Tackle Household Messes with Furry Friends
Now, I ain't nobody who wants to spend their entire summer vacation scrubbing the house from top to bottom. I wanna enjoy the nice weather outside, not get lost in cleaning. That's why I let myself focus on just the bare essentials in the summertime. I'll just target areas that require the most attention.
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I've been slackin' a bit in the cleaning department during the winter, but don't you worry, I'll get back into my cleaning habits and tricks once fall rolls around again. But until then, there are a few things I need to do to gear up for the summer season, like sprucing up the patio (or deck) and gettin' the grill ready for all that finger-lickin' BBQ action.
And hey! Don't forget those areas that require extra attention during the hot and sticky summer months, like extra laundry and odor-prone spots.
Hence, I whipped up a simple summer cleaning checklist to help me (and hopefully you, too) prepare and stay on top of the game this summer. So here ya go!
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Easy Peasy Summer Cleaning Checklist
Below are a few simple summer cleaning tasks to put a shine on your home and give you more time to indulge in the summer season.
Early Summer
(these are the things to focus on at the start of the season)
Patio or Deck
Let's face it; your outdoor space is where you'll be spendin' most of your summer time. Ya want it to be inviting and cozy, right? Then give it a quick makeover before summer kicks off.
- Wipe down patio furniture to remove dust and grime from the winter.
- Clean cushions and pillows (if applicable).
- Sweep the patio or deck to get rid of those winter cobwebs. It might be handy to keep a cheap broom handy during the summer for maintenance sweeps.
Grill
Summer's all about grilled eats, so let's make sure that grill's clean and ready to churn out those mouthwatering recipes.
- Wipe down the grill exterior.
- Clean the inside of the grill and grates with a grill brush.
Windows
Since we're talkin' about sunny days, it's the perfect time to clean both the interior and exterior of your windows. Despite doin' this in the spring and fall deep cleans, you'll find that as the windows are open and curtains are drawn, there'll be more smudges and grime to tackle.
- Clean the outdoor windows with a squeegee.
- Wipe down the indoor windows with a vinegar and water solution.
Fans/Air Conditioners
Speaking of air conditioning, it's essential to give your fans and air conditioners a once-over at the start of the summer to ensure everything runs smoothly. Make sure to:
- Clean portable fans inside and out.
- Change or clean the air conditioner filter with a damp microfiber cloth.
During Summer
(these are the tasks to maintain during the summer season)
Refrigerator/Freezer
With all the summer grub, your fridge and freezer are bound to get packed. So, be mindful to clean 'em weekly, will ya?
- Take out any expired food and discard empty containers or jars.
- Wipe down both the refrigerator shelves and drawers with a damp cloth.
- Clean out the freezer and wipe it down.
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Garbage
As summer means heat and humidity —and therefore smelly situations— it's crucial to dispose of the garbage frequently and keep the outside bin tidy to avoid unwanted odors.
- Take out the garbage every day.
- Clean the garbage bin's exterior if needed.
Dishes
Similarly, don't neglect your dishes! Heat can make food spoil faster, resulting in unpleasant odors. So, make sure to clean 'em daily.
- Wash the dishes or run a load in the dishwasher every day.
- Wipe down the sink daily.
- Clean the drain with baking soda and vinegar often to keep the drains fresh and odor-free.
Sweep/Mop
Summer days might be perfect for hangin' out, but they aren't so kind to our floors. Between spilled drinks, melted treats, and wet paw prints from the pool or beach, they can take a beating. Not to mention dust bunnies, crumbs, and insects attracted to clutter (like ants and other creepy-crawlies). So, be sure to:
- Sweep the floor at least once a day.
- Mop the floors a couple of times a week.
Laundry
Swimsuits, towels, and extras from the pool or beach will fill up your laundry basket real quick. Develop a laundry routine that works best for you —whether it's doin' one load every day, separatin' days by family member, or tacklin' it all on the weekend. And just be regular with it to avoid buildin' up stinky clothes or odors.
Daily Clean
Of course, I still love my morning, nightly, and weekly cleaning routines —but I'm more relaxed in the summer, focusin' on essential daily cleaning tasks, such as:
- Cleaning the kitchen countertops, table, and stovetop.
- Wiping the bathroom countertops and toilet.
- Switchin' out bathroom hand towels.
- Emptyin' the garbage.
- Washin' the dishes.
- Sweepin' or vacuumin' the floors.
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Pro Tips:
- Feelin' Overwhelmed? Check out my Free Cleaning Checklists: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly for an easy-peasy method to keep your pad tidy.
- Declutter the Junk: Set expectations for clutter before summer starts, so it doesn't pile up. With a few simple decluttering tips, you can keep the clutter under control all summer long.
- Keep a bin in the living room/family room for toys that found their way into those spaces. Regularly (a few times a week) have the kids empty the bin and put the toys away.
- Store outside toys in a storage bin and require the kids to put them away at the end of the day instead of leavin' 'em scattered all over the lawn.
- Use snack bins to keep snacks handy so there's less chance of cabinets gettin' cluttered and messy.
- Assign tasks to each child to ensure everyone knows what's expected. For younger kids, create a chore chart to encourage ‘em. For teenagers, check out these 7 Smart Ways to Get a Teen to Clean Their Room.
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Bonus Content:
- 19 Reasons Your House Still Looks Dirty After You Clean
- 18 Cleanin' Mistakes You Might Be Makin'
Print Your Free Summer Cleaning Checklist
To make the summer cleaning even easier, I've whipped up a summer cleaning checklist you can print, frame, and hang on your fridge for some cleanin' motivation.
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Ultimately, summer's about relaxin', makin' memories, and spendin' quality time with family and friends. So, don't stress out about cleanin'. Use this checklist (or a similar one) to tackle cleanin' tasks when you can. You can always do a swift clean or a power hour clean if rainy days catch ya.
Now, get outside and enjoy the summer! Print Your Free Summer Cleaning Checklist
And if you haven't already, sign up for my Free Resource Library. You'll gain access to tons of planners, cleaning guides, wall quotes, and more!
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Back to the Top
- To give your outdoor space a quick makeover and make it more inviting for summer, focus on cleaning your patio or deck by wiping down furniture, cleaning cushions and pillows (if applicable), and sweeping the surface.
- As summer means heat and humidity, disposing of the garbage frequently and keeping the outside bin tidy is crucial to avoid unwanted odors.
