Summer is fast approaching, and it’s time to start getting your home ready. During the colder seasons, you may have gotten a little lazy because no one wanted to drive over on icy roads. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to start moving a little bit more to clean up any clutter or dust left over from a long winter so you can start entertaining again. Here are a few ways to prepare your home for the summer.
Clean Everything
Everyone gets a little lazy in the winter, but spring is the perfect time to get your home cleaned and ready for summer. You can start by cleaning the interior of your home, including the carpet, bathroom tile, electronics, windows, walls, and ceiling. Make sure to dust everything because you’ve spent way too much time with the windows closed for the past few months.
Depending on the state of your home, you may also need to start reorganizing your closet and donating items you don’t plan on wearing again. You can also use spring as the perfect time to get rid of old furniture and clutter taking up space in your home.
Once you’ve cleaned your home’s interior, it’s time to take a walk outside and start cleaning the exterior of your home. You can clean the windows and screens fairly easily and caulk up any framing that could let cold air seep out of your home during the summer. Additionally, you may want to powerwash any stains left from winter snow off your beautiful brick or siding.
Don’t forget about your porch or deck. You can use a specialized brush or power washer to remove dirt, mold, and mildew from your home’s exterior living spaces. If your deck wood is worn, now is the perfect time to re-stain it before the summer heat sets in.
Don’t Forget About Your Car
While your vehicle isn’t technically part of your home, it is somewhere you spend a lot of time, so consider spring cleaning your vehicle. You can get car detailing services or start cleaning your car yourself by removing trash and vacuuming the flooring and seats to get rid of mold, mildew, and dust.
Check Your Air Conditioning
Many people don’t turn their air conditioner on until it gets hot out, but you should know whether or not your air conditioning is working properly before the summer heat sets in. You should turn your air conditioner on for a few minutes before summer just to make sure it works properly. Additionally, you may have to perform some maintenance, such as changing the filter to prevent dust and dander from flying into your home. Depending on your air conditioning unit, you may also want to have it professionally inspected every year. However, you should make your appointment before summer arrives because summer is a busy season for technicians.
An air conditioner technician will check a variety of things so you don’t have to, including refrigerant levels, and ensure your coils are working. If you’re using window units, you’ll need to check those before summer hits, too, and clean your filters regularly.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat can help you save hundreds of dollars on your heating and cooling costs. Smart thermostats allow you to automatically adjust your home’s temperature, whether you’re home or not, through connected devices, such as your mobile phone. Even if you’re home most of the time, a smart thermostat can save you money.
Many people set their thermostats at different temperatures throughout the day to save money. However, a smart thermostat can set the temperature for you, so you can sleep cooler at night and have a warmer home during the day without having to remember to set the temperature yourself.
Home Improvement
If you have a few things around your house that have been bugging you, now is the time for home improvement. Spring and summer should give you lots of energy so you can finally start fixing broken doorknobs, handles, and everything else around your home.
If you’re the type to travel during the summer, consider upgrading on your home security system. Being away for long periods of time can leave your home vulnerable, so it’s recommended to install a home security system if you haven’t already.
Consider Pest Control
During the summer, litter critters might be looking for places where they can cool down out of the sun. Everything from possums, mice, and squirrels might be looking for any way to get into or under your home, so it’s best to look for areas where they might get in. Additionally, insects, such as ants and termites, love to find their way indoors during the summer.
If you already have termites and ants, you might need to call an exterminator, but there are many ways you can take care of minor pests on your own.
And don’t forget about ticks and mosquitos. While you mostly have to worry about those pests outside, they can still find their way into your home. You can prevent mosquitos by eliminating any standing water near your homes, such as birdbaths or garden pots that may get filled with rainwater. Additionally, mow your grass regularly to prevent ticks, which can keep your pets safe from Lyme disease.
Spruce Up Your Garden
Summer is the best season for growing vegetables, so now is the time to start prepping your garden and its soil. While you might not be ready to plant just yet, you can still prepare your garden area by digging new holes or addressing concerns, such as building walls to prevent rabbits from eating your plants.
Cover Your Windows
Everyone loves sunlight, but too much sunlight in your home can heat it up and cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to. Instead, you can use window coverings to block out sunlight to give your home a little bit more shade during the hottest summer days. There are many window coverings that can help you keep the sun out of your home while also sprucing up your interior design.
Preparing your home for summer takes time and effort. Luckily, with more sun out now than in recent months, you’ll feel energized enough to start tackling home improvement projects and preparing your home for a hot summer.
Cook Something New
Summer is always a great time to try out cooking something that you haven’t done before and have always wanted to try. Go to your local grocery store and pick up some fresh ingredients to get prepared for your cooking day. Look online for some fresh recipes and make sure you are picking ingredients that have a healthy nutrition label. Once you get everything collected, go to your outdoor kitchen and start cooking!
Matt Casadona
Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music.
