With each change of the season comes a whole new list of things to think about and consider as far as cleaning and home maintenance tips. For summer, while there are still areas to focus on inside your home, you’ll also need to spend a lot more time outside maintaining and cleaning your yard and home exterior than you would in any other season. From lawn care to deep cleaning, here is the ultimate checklist of summer home maintenance tips to get your home ready for the season.
HVAC Maintenance
One of the most important summer home maintenance tips you’ll consider this season is checking up on your HVAC system. As the weather heats up, you’ll likely be starting to run your air conditioner and fans to keep cool inside. Before the temperatures rise too much, you’ll want to have a specialist check your HVAC to make sure there are no issues and that your system is ready to run. If there are any issues, make sure to book an air conditioning repair appointment as soon as possible. Summer is the busiest season for these professionals and the last thing you want is to be stuck without cool air on a hot summer day.
Wash Your Windows
Another of the important summer home maintenance tips to consider is window cleaning. If you didn’t clean your windows during spring cleaning, make sure to get to that now. With warmer dry weather, it’s a great time to get the exterior of your windows clean and make sure they’ll stay streak-free for a while. While you are cleaning your windows, you should also check for any damaged or missing screens and replace them. You’ll also want to check on all your window locks to make sure they are functioning properly and keeping your home secure.
Roof Checkup And Repairs
When you’re thinking about important summer home maintenance tips, don’t forget to check your roof. Summer is a great time to get any roof repair done as you have less worry for rain or moisture and longer days with more light to work in.
If you noticed any leaks during spring, getting specific leaky roof repairs is important to handle as soon as possible. It’s different than general roof repair because not only do you need to replace any shingles or tiles, you may also need to replace any wood or insulation that had water damage.
Porch and Outdoor Patio Cleaning
As you’ll likely be spending more time outdoors this summer, you’ll want to make sure that your porch and outdoor patio area are cleaned and ready for some summer fun. In fact, porch and patio cleaning are some of the most important outdoor summer home maintenance tips to consider. The first thing you’ll want to do is check for any rotting that may have developed in your porch wood or any nails that became exposed. Once you’re performed the proper repairs to your porch, make sure to seal the wood to prevent any future rotting issues.
You’ll also want to check over your patio and any damage that may have occurred there. Cracks in concrete can be a tripping hazard and are just unsightly in general. If the concrete on your patio has developed any cracks, get them repaired, then consider getting a sealcoating completed to ensure that your pavement lasts longer and looks even better.
Lawn Care
Similar to patio and porch care, lawn and plant care are some of the most important outdoor summer home maintenance tips you should consider this season. If your lawn needs help to grow lusher or get rid of weeds and clover, you’ll need to consider a fertilizer like weed and feed. You’ll also want to raise the blade on your lawnmower for longer grass. Longer grass is more drought-resistant, and if you’re working on getting rid of weeds, it will shade any germinating weed seeds, preventing them from growing.
Depending on the rain levels in your area, you’ll also need to be considerate of the amount of water you’re using on your lawn. If you have to lower your water usage, make sure to research tactics for keeping your lawn healthy with less water.
Checkout The Garage
Summer is also a great time to focus on your garage. It may have collected a lot of items and dirt over the cooler seasons, so now is a great time to clean it out and perform the necessary repairs. Start by cleaning everything out and sort between items you’ll keep and items that can be trashed or donated. Once you’ve cleared everything out, clean out all the dirt and other trash that are piling up. Dust away cobwebs on the ceiling, and check for signs of pests.
You’ll also want to check for anything that might need maintenance in your garage. Start by checking out your garage door. If you have an automatic door, check to make sure that the mechanics are all working properly. If you have a manual door, check to make sure that the door opens smoothly and that the tracks are clear of debris. If there are issues, contact a garage door specialist or mechanic to help out. They can assist with anything from garage door spring repair to replacing the batteries or fixing wires on the door motor.
Room Renovating
If you’ve been thinking about renovating or improving a room in your home, summer is a great time to take on that project. While it is the busy season for construction companies, summer is one the best times to perform a home renovation. The benefits of dry weather and more time to vacation away from home if needed make summer the ideal time to start a big project. If you’ve got kids at home, you may consider sending them to summer camps or another option to keep them occupied during the renovation.
Interior Deep Cleaning
One of the best summer home maintenance tips is to take the time to give your home an overall deep clean. Deep cleaning is more than just clearing out junk and wiping down surfaces. It’s the process of cleaning every nook and cranny in your home to combat dirt, dust, and scum of any kind. Some of the best ways to deep clean include:
- Cleaning baseboards
- Wiping exterior and interior of all cupboards
- Dusting the tops of tall cabinets and shelves
- Deep cleaning carpets and rugs
- Cleaning water scum and building up on all faucets, showers, and tubs
- Clean out expired food in your fridge and pantry
- Organize all closets
Deep cleaning will not only help you get a cleaner more organized home, it will also stop the buildup of dirt and dust that can flare up allergies for anyone in your family.
Consider Pest Control Options
One of the most important summer home maintenance tips you can consider is pest control. Summer is known for being a time where all kinds of pests are abundant, and you want to be prepared to keep them out rather than deal with them once they’ve already snuck in. Check spaces around the exterior of your home, like windows and doors, where improper sealing could give them an entrance. You may even consider working with a company to spray for smaller pests and set up traps for larger pests.
Inspections For Pests
While you’re preparing the exterior of your home to defend against pests, another of the most important summer home maintenance tips is to inspect your attic and basement for pests that may already be there. If pest control wasn’t done during the cooler months, pests like rodents, bats, or types of bugs could have made home in your basement and attic and could be causing structural and other types of damage. Make sure to hire a professional to check for any pests and then work with them to get rid of the pests and prevent them from getting into your home in the future.
While checking your attic and basement for pests, inspectors will also be able to look for indications of water damage, mold, and mildew. If you find any of these problems, make sure to get them handled as soon as possible as they can pose a serious health concern for you and your family.
Kitchen Cleaning
As one of the highest traffic areas in the home, the kitchen is in constant need of updates and cleaning. At the start of each season, you should give it a good deep clean as well as check appliances and cabinetry for any possible repairs that need to be done.
One of the most important appliances to ensure is running well this summer are fridge freezers. You want to make sure all of your frozen meat or frozen treats are kept at the right temperatures to keep them from spoiling.
If you’re planning to replace any appliances, consider choosing the stainless steel option. A recent market study found that over 40% of American homeowners want stainless steel appliances in their homes. That’s no surprise as stainless steel is easier to clean, is resistant to corrosion, and is fire and heat resistant as well.
Plumbing
When you’re considering good summer home maintenance tips, checking on your plumbing is an important one to remember. This could include maintenance on any pipes that had damage during the cooler months and ensuring that your pipes are properly pumping water to any sprinklers you have for lawn and plant care.
Plumbing maintenance doesn’t just mean checking on pipes, you’ll also want to check on drains and disposal to make sure you won’t run into issues with clogs or malfunctions. Even if you aren’t facing problems with clogs, it might be a good idea to have a plumber perform general drain cleaning to clear out the pipes and drains and make sure that they are ready to have water and other materials run smoothly through them.
Chimney Cleaning
One of the less common summer home maintenance tips is chimney care. While you likely won’t be using your fireplace again until fall or winter, summer is a great time to get any maintenance or cleaning done. Companies are usually less busy and you’ll have an easier time scheduling an appointment. You may even be able to get discounted prices as it’s the offseason. Getting your chimney cleaned now when you’re not using it means it will be ready to go when the weather cools down in a few months.
Check Monitors and Detectors
While you’re cleaning your home and making repairs, it’s the perfect time to also check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors. You’ll likely just need to replace the batteries, but if there are problems it’s important to find that out and get the proper maintenance done pronto to keep your family safe.
Declutter Every Room
While “spring cleaning” is generally known to be the time when most people dejunk and declutter their homes, summer is also a great time to get rid of anything lying around that isn’t being used. Especially if you’ve taken some time to clean out your garage and remodel any of your rooms, you’ll likely have trash or other old items to get rid of or donate. Before you do your donation run, make sure to check through your home to make sure you’ve done a full clear out of the clutter. Especially if you’ve got an office space in your home, that seems to be a room that collects clutter faster than any other.
In Conclusion
Summer is a great time to clean and maintain your home. Once you’ve finished, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your summer along with family time and celebrations. Happy cleaning!