Tips to Keep Your Home Clean in the Summer

It’s summer! Time to spend more time outside in Lancaster County, get together with friends, and travel! What many people don’t realize is that your home requires a little more cleaning during the summer months, due to increased activity, heat, and humidity.

More specifically, there are certain areas in your kitchen, bathrooms, living areas, outdoor spaces, and garage and entryways that need a little extra attention to ensure your home receives a deep clean. Here are some tips to get your house spic and span this summer and the areas to focus on:

Kitchen:

Summer is a wonderful time to give some attention to your refrigerator and freezer. Clean and organize both appliances to prevent odors and spoilage. Working one section at a time, do a summer clean out, and transfer items you want to keep into a cooler. Check expiration dates and toss anything that is past its prime. Wipe down fridge surfaces with a damp cloth and remove shelves and drawers and give them a good soaking and cleaning.

Kitchen cabinets can get sticky if not properly cared for. To ensure these surfaces are clean, dip a cloth into a solution of quarter cup of Murphy Oil Soap and a gallon of warm water. Wipe the cabinets, paying special attention to areas around the knobs. When finished, dry the cabinets with a clean cloth.

Along with hot, humid weather comes unpleasant smells at the sink and in trash cans and recycling bins. To prevent this from happening, soak sponges and dishcloths in a solution of a quarter cup bleach and a gallon of water daily for five minutes to keep them clean and germ-free. Please note: bleach can remove color from some fabrics so use it with caution and don’t soak any favorite cloths or cloths with bright or dark colors like red. Rinse sponges and dishcloths well after soaking them. Pour white vinegar down drains to banish yucky scents. On trash day, wash out garbage and recycle bins with bleach and water.

Bathrooms:

Because it’s hotter and more humid during the summer months, it’s important to scrub showers and tubs more frequently to prevent mold and mildew from forming. You can clean the shower while you are showering using a Mr. Clean Eraser sponge and a squeegee.

For toilets, swish a brush around the toilet bowl daily and use a pumice stone to remove any rings or stains.

Wipe mirrors with a finely woven microfiber cloth, which won’t leave streaks or lint, and use one sprayed with vinegar to wipe down countertops. Clean sinks with an eraser sponge; shine sinks and faucets with a microfiber cloth.

Living Areas:

Summer is a great opportunity to deep clean your drapes and curtains. Give window treatments a good shake outside, and then throw them in the washing machine and clean on the gentle cycle. Hang the drapes and curtains outside to dry.

Ceiling fans can provide relief in the summer, but they can also stir up dust and pollen unless the blades are cleaned regularly. Remove dust and debris by using an old pillowcase. Spray the interior of the pillowcase with an all-purpose cleaner and slip it over one of the blades. As you wipe, grime gets trapped inside the pillowcase instead of falling on furniture or floors. After cleaning be sure the direction of the blades is correct. You want to ensure the fan brings cold air downward instead of pushing warm air around the room.

When determining how to clean floors, it’s important to remember that different floor surfaces require different cleaners. All floor types can be mopped with a cotton terry cloth or recycled hand towels, which can be tossed in the washer and reused. For linoleum and vinyl floors, use a solution of one tablespoon baby shampoo or a half teaspoon eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner and one gallon of water. You can also add a half cup distilled white vinegar for extra cleaning power. For wood and laminate floors, spritz a towel with a solution of one part distilled vinegar to thirty parts of water until the cloth is just damp enough for mopping. Stone and tile floors can be mopped with cotton towels moistened with very hot water. Beware that cleaners and vinegar will pit and damage stone and tile finishes. By putting mats or rugs at every entrance for wiping feet, you can keep floors cleaner longer.

Outdoor Spaces:

During the summer months, more people spend time outside. Be sure to sweep and clean your patios, decks, and porches to remove dirt and pollen. Keep a broom at these locations to make cleaning easy. You can also use a broom to brush spider webs from windows, screens, railings, porch ceilings, mailboxes, window boxes, and foundation plantings.

Many people have outdoor furniture with cushions and pillows to make their spaces cozy. Unfortunately, these items can endure a lot of wear and tear when exposed to the elements. Keep these plush accents fresh and ready for the next season with these helpful tips:

• Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum over the surface of the cushion to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris.
• Mix one tablespoon of dish detergent with a quarter cup Borax in a bucket of water. Use a brush dipped in the cleaning solution to scrub the entire surface.
• Use a garden hose on medium-high pressure to rinse off the cushions.
• Squeeze out any excess water with your hands, then blot the fabric with a clean towel to soak up as much moisture as possible. Prop the cushions up vertically and allow them to air-dry completely.

Many people also cook outside in the summer, which is why it is important to clean your grille regularly. After cooking a meal, while the grates are still hot, place a cut lemon on a long-handled fork. Dip the lemon into a bowl of salt and rub it across the grates. The lemon’s acid will cut grease, and the salt acts as a scrubbing agent. Scrub especially dirty grates with a block of pumice, then wash grates well to remove pumice dust. Avoid using metal brushes because the bristles can break off and can get into your food.

Garage and Entryway:

Take advantage of the warm weather by organizing shelves and sweeping the floor, walls and ceiling of your garage and entryway to reduce dirt and clutter. Throw out or donate unwanted tools, building materials, and other no-longer-used items.

By focusing on these areas, you can maintain a clean and comfortable home throughout the summer. If you don’t have time for a deep residential cleaning, contact Angie’s Custom Cleaning, so you can make time for the important things in life!