Summertime is fast approaching. It may not be a crowd-favorite for some because of the heat. But it’s still a great season to go on fun adventures, such as hiking, camping, going to the beach, barbeque parties, and so on.
But before anything else, you need to make sure that your home is ready for summer. This way, you get to enjoy it more.
General Cleaning
General cleaning is always a good idea when seasons turn. First, declutter your home so that you can make space for new experiences and memories. Start with one area at a time. For instance, you can declutter your bedroom first. Consider categorizing your items into three: keep, donate, and sell. This way, you can downsize your room. The “sell” items can also help you earn money simply from decluttering. Do the same for the other areas of your home.
You’ll also need to re-organize your things. For example, in the kitchen, consider putting together all the condiments you use most often so that they’re easy to find and reach. Consider doing the same with other kitchen equipment. Meanwhile, condiments and kitchen tools not used often can stay inside your cabinets so that your counter isn’t so crowded. If you have a garden shed, you might also check on the things in it that might need to be thrown away.
Lastly, you’ll have to do the cleaning itself. Like with decluttering, do one area at a time. For example, you might clean the inside of your home on a Saturday. Wipe all surfaces carefully. Dust your shelves and run a damp rug on them to get more dirt out. Run a vacuum on your floors as well. The next day, you can focus on the outside, such as your backyard and pool. Mow the lawn and trim the bushes. Use muriatic acid substitutes for pool cleaning and check the pH levels as well.
Curtain Replacements
Dust storms often occur during summer. If you don’t protect your home from them, you may experience dust buildup. And it can negatively affect you and your family. For example, you and your loved ones may develop allergies. In the worst cases, inhaling dust can lead to serious health conditions, such as lung problems and other infections.
You may use window coverings such as curtains and drapes to prevent dust from coming in from the outside. But the materials used in these items are dust magnets. To prevent dust buildup even after you’ve cleaned your home, consider using window blinds and shutters instead. They don’t collect dust as much as cloth window coverings do. They are also easier to clean.
Extermination
Some pests and insects thrive during summer, such as termites. If not properly controlled and eradicated, termites can cause structural damage to your property. Thus, if you haven’t had your home exterminated for a while, doing it before summer will be a wise move.
You can hire a local exterminator to help you out. Or if you want to save a few bucks and the termite infestation in your home is not so bad, you can try getting rid of termites on your own by spraying boric acid on affected areas. You can also use a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice as a spray if you want something more nature-friendly.
Houseplants
The pandemic made more people take care of plants. If you have not jumped into the craze yet, summer is probably a good time to start given the benefits of having houseplants.
For one, plants are natural air purifiers and can improve the quality of air in your home. Plants can also absorb moisture to reduce humidity in your home. As mentioned earlier, bugs love summer. And they’re often attracted to moist areas. As such, having houseplants can also help you keep your home insect-free to some extent.
Sure, having houseplants does mean extra work. You’ll have to take care of your plants. And this task includes monitoring them regularly, watering them, and keeping the plants’ area clean. But these actions are small investments to help you improve your home during summer and the other seasons to come.
Whether you like the heat or not, it’s undeniable that summer has a certain charm to it. There are many exciting activities you can do during summer. Or you can simply unwind and take a break. Whatever you want to do, make sure that your home is summer-ready so that you can enjoy the season to its fullest.
