Monthly Maintenance Reminder: Get Your Home Ready for Summer

As the days are getting longer and temperatures are on the rise, the season many of us have been looking forward to is finally here. We all know that with summer comes vibrant atmospheres and weekends packed with fun outdoor activities. Simply imagine grilling patties in the backyard as the little ones romp around under the warm afternoon sun.

While you might be ready for the summer season, it’s important to make sure that your house is just as prepared. This means taking care of summer home maintenance tasks such as washing the patio, revamping the garden, and cleaning the grill. Meanwhile, in the indoor living spaces, chunky blankets make way for lighter ones whereas heaters pass the mantle onto air conditioners. Summer is upon us, and taking these measures into consideration will allow you to make the most of it. 

Deep Clean the Grill

There’s nothing like a good scrub-down to get your grill clean and ready for summer barbeque parties. Before you begin the cleaning process, a helpful step involves setting the grill to high heat and letting it run for about 10 minutes. This loosens any gunk that’s been building up inside the cook box, making it easier to scrape it all off. Next, unplug the grill and allow it to cool completely so that you can detach the grates, the burners, and the dip tray. Thoroughly wash the components and let them dry before reassembling the grill.

Making sure that your grill is in tip-top shape is important if you’re going to host countless barbeque parties over the summer.

Switch to Lighter Bed Sheets

Just as you would swap hoodies for T-shirts and pants for shorts, late spring is an excellent time to switch out the winter beddings for lighter ones. Remove the thick duvets, chunky wool blankets, and flannel bedsheets to make way for airier cotton. Consider keeping a light throw blanket around in case of chilly nights. This summer home maintenance task is also a perfect opportunity to give your bedroom a fresh look by changing up the bedding color.

Plant Herbs, Veggies, and Flowers

If your home features a backyard with a garden, this is the perfect time to grab a spade and do some planting. Start by removing any dead leaves and other debris from the area and tidying up the space. Next, tumble the surface of tightly-packed soil while making sure not to disturb any bulbs underneath. Top it off by adding an inch or two of mulch. Plant seeds or store-bought blooms in pots, flower beds, or the ground. Consider planting fruits, herbs, and vegetables if you love the idea of preparing salads out of home-grown and freshly-picked produce. And if you don’t have a backyard, you can always go for a herb garden in your kitchen or balcony.

Early summer is the perfect time to grow your own herbs, fruits, and veggies.

Wash Your Patio Furniture

One of the things that the winter season can be especially hard on is patio furniture. No matter how weather-resistant the furniture is, there is no escaping the dirt and debris flying in from who knows where — especially after the windy season and the pollen-filled gusts of early spring. Since you’ll be spending a great deal of time outdoors during the next few months, another task on your summer home maintenance checklist is to clean the furniture on your patio.

There are several ways you can go about this chore. A quick method involves water-blasting the units and let them air-dry in the sun. You can also use a spray-on solution or simply wipe them down with a cleaner meant for outdoor furniture. Once the seats and tables are spick and span, you can add more visual interest with a set of colorful throw pillows and chair cushions.

Hose Down the Driveway and Other Exterior Surfaces

Outdoor tables and chairs aren’t the only places you’ll find dirt, dust, moss, and other forms of debris. Once you’re done freshening up your patio furniture, move on to other areas. Using a pressure washer or a water blaster, hose down outdoor surfaces like the deck, the driveway, the siding, the outer part of the gutters, or just about anywhere that could use a splash of water. If you have enough time to spare, consider going a step further by applying sealer to your deck and your driveway. It goes without saying that the results of this summer home maintenance job will be spectacular. 

Clean the Windows and Door Screens

With summer comes an abundance of natural light, but windows tend to get somewhat murky after the rainy season. Give your windows and door screens a good scrub-down to make the most of the bright days ahead. Using a window cleaner, spray and wipe down the panes from both sides. Consider leaving them open for a while to let fresh air circulate throughout your living spaces. An alternative window cleaning solution involves mixing hot water with a cup of ammonia and scrubbing the windows with the blend followed by warm water and finally wiping them down with a dry squeegee.

Having crystal clear windows allows you to maximize indoor brightness and to get untainted views of the outdoor landscape.

Replace Smoke Detector Batteries

Replacing the batteries of smoke detectors is one task you don’t want to miss. A perfect way to remember this task is to schedule it on a notable day such as the summer solstice. Switch out the smoke detectors’ batteries regardless of whether they’re dead or not, and replace any units that aren’t functioning properly. This task on your summer home maintenance schedule can one day actually save your life, so it’s extremely crucial that you don’t wait until the batteries are dead to replace them.    

Give Your Home’s Exterior a Touch-Up

If those bits of peeled paint on the picket fences have been bothering you for a while, now is the ideal time to give them the facelift that they desperately need. Grab a brush and some leftover paint cans and touch up any peeled spots on fences, decks, or sidings. Not only will you be giving those areas a fresh look, but you will also be protecting the wood from rot and mold. This summer home maintenance measure can ultimately save you a great deal in reparation costs down the line. 

Service Your HVAC

Summer is when you’ll be using your air conditioner the most, so it’s important to make sure that it’s in good condition early on. This means cleaning out the AC filters or replacing them altogether — depending on the filter type.

In many cases, when homeowners turn on the AC at the beginning of summer and it doesn’t work properly, they often assume it has stopped working altogether. In reality, the filters have probably been blocked for quite a while — most likely since the last time the AC has been turned on. Bear in mind that a cooling unit that functioned perfectly the previous summer wouldn’t stop working all of a sudden. Taking this summer HVAC maintenance tip into consideration will prevent the unit from overworking and possibly malfunctioning altogether in the future.

Cleaning or replacing AC filters helps to maximize the performance of the unit while preventing future damage.

Clear the Gutters

Cleaning the gutters and downspouts isn’t a homeowner’s favorite summer home maintenance chore, but that shouldn’t mean that it’s okay to skip it. If you have the proper skills and equipment to go about the process safely, Remove all the twigs, leaves, and other debris that has built up in the gutters over the stormy season. Since you’re up there, take the opportunity to inspect your roof for any missing or cracked shingles. You may also want to check for damage to the flashing around pipes, skylights, and chimneys. If you don’t feel comfortable climbing on the roof, you can always reach out to a trained professional.

Declutter Your Living Spaces

Decluttering your living spaces might take more than a day, so consider working on each room at a time. Get rid of items that you won’t be using anymore; donate those that are in good condition and throw out the rest. Once you have decluttered everything, go through each room again and organize what’s left. A helpful summer maintenance tip for your home involves categorizing seasonal items and storing them in boxes or plastic containers for later use.