Summer is here! That means it's time for your annual beach pilgrimage, backyard cookouts, and more time with your family. It also means that you have a chance to do some deep cleaning around the home. Not sure what should be on your summer cleaning list? Below, we'll provide critical summer cleaning tips to help with seven of your deep-cleaning tasks.
Get the Right Tools
Before discussing what you need to deep clean this summer, ensure you have the tools for the job. Don't worry; the list is pretty basic. You’ll need a good spin mop (we recommend the Casabella Clean Water Spin Mop), a broom and dustpan, an extendable duster, cleaning cloths, toilet cleaner, and other cleaning essentials, like gloves and a facemask.
Now that you’ve got your tools and supplies, let’s talk about cleaning tasks.
Tackle the Bathroom(s)
If there’s one room in the home that no one wants to clean, it’s the bathroom. That’s particularly true if you have boys in the house, but any bathroom can quickly become unsightly. And with the onset of summer heat, that’s not a situation you want to find yourself in.
Cleaning the bathroom will require some time and a strategy. Focus on the toilet and the floor around the toilet first. We recommend cleaning everything with a microfiber towel that you can wash later rather than a disposable towel.
Once it’s cleaned, go back and sanitize using a mixture of one gallon of water and 1/4 cup of household bleach. That’ll take care of the bacteria that cause that dreaded bathroom smell.
The toilet is likely to be your biggest challenge in the bathroom, but we have a few additional summer cleaning tips for this space. Go ahead and clean the tub/shower and wipe out the sink. Don’t neglect the mirror, and use your duster to clean the light fixtures, too.
Clean Your Microwave
Does opening your microwave's door make you cringe at the sight of spattered sauce and cooked-on grime? You're not alone. It's on most people's "hate to clean it" list, but with most of your summer cooking happening on the grill, now's the time to tackle that task.
The good news is that you don’t need a lot of special equipment to get that microwave sparkling clean. Just put a bowl of water in the center and turn the microwave on. Let it heat until the water warms up and moisture coats the entire inside of the oven. Then just wipe it all out.
If you're concerned about bacteria, use the same bleach/water ratio mentioned above to sanitize the inside. You can also toss the turntable and ring into your dishwasher for a quick clean.
Dust Your Home
Dust builds up very quickly. Before you know it, you have a quarter-inch layer of gray dust over everything. Summer is the perfect time to get rid of it. You'll need your extendable duster, as well as your broom and dustpan.
Start at the top of each room and work your way down – go from the ceiling fan and light fixtures to your curtains/blinds and window frames, and then tackle furnishings.
Clean Your Doors
If there's one surface in the home that most of us forget to clean regularly, it's our doors. Dirt and grime can build up quickly on doors, doorknobs, and nearby walls. One of the most important summer cleaning tips is to use this time to clean these areas.
The good news is that you should be able to tackle this with a microfiber cloth and your regular all-purpose cleaner. Just lightly spritz the area to be cleaned, let it sit for a minute or two, and then wipe away the grime.
Clean Your Floors
Do you struggle to find time to deep clean your floors? If so, summer is the perfect time. Sweep them first with a broom and dustpan, then use a spin mop to deep clean everything.
Focus on your high-traffic areas first, like the kitchen and the well-worn path out the back door. But make sure to deep clean the rest of your floors, too, including your guest room and other little-used spaces.
Your Stove Hood
When was the last time you cleaned your stove hood? It's one of the more overlooked summer cleaning tips. Clean the dust and grime off the top and what builds up underneath the hood. Don't forget the filter! Remove it and run it through the dishwasher to eliminate stubborn grease.
Inside the Oven
The last of our summer cleaning tips is probably most people's least favorite task (next to cleaning toilets) – cleaning the oven's interior. Take a moment to wipe everything down, then use your oven's self-cleaning cycle. It takes time, but when it's done and has cooled down, you can just wipe the charred debris out with a damp cloth.
Keep Your Home Spotless With our Summer Cleaning Tips
Summertime is a great time to tackle some of your home’s more overlooked areas. Don’t let dirt and grime ruin your summer – use our tips and cleaning essentials like the Casabella Clean Water Spin Mop to deep clean neglected areas and keep your home sparkling clean.