Summer Cleaning Tips and Tricks For A Fresh Home🤩

Jun 27, 20245 min read

Summer is in full swing!!☀️ Which means its hot outside and might be bringing a whole new bundle of issues to your home in terms of cleanliness....

So, in this week's post, we're detailing ALL of our best tips, tricks and advice for keeping your home fresh during these hot few months! (And trust us, we're from Texas so we know hot!!😉)

Cleaning Your Mattress🛏️

During these summer months, it is especially crucial to keep your mattress clean!! For starters, clean sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases frequently because we sweat more during these hot months. ☀️

Dust mites and other allergens tend to build up more quickly in the summer so when you strip you bed to clean the sheets, take advantage of this time to clean the mattress. Vacuum and/or steam clean your mattress to remove the dust, dirt and debris. Pay close attention to the seams, edges and crevices.🛏️

To remove odors, sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Vacuum it up afterwards for a refreshing, clean smell!🌼

By following these steps, you can keep your mattress fresh all summer long to promote better sleep quality and overall hygiene!😇

Dealing with Fruit Flies🪰

With summer, comes those pesky bugs flying around everywhere; especially those fruit flies. Here's how you can make an easy DIY fruit fly trap!🍉

Before you do anything, remember to toss out any infested fruit and clean around the area to ensure you aren't getting a nest.🪹
Now, fill a cup with apple cider vinegar or wine. Add in a few drops of dish soap to the mix (this reduces surface tension so the flies will sink to the bottom).🧼
Now, add a funnel to the top so it create a small opening making it harder for them to get out but easy access for them to be lured right in! 🪰
Leave it by the fruit bowl or sink so they are immediately drawn to it instead of your food. 🚰
You can toss the mixture out and replace it as frequently as you want! 🤩

For more info on this topic check out this post!✨

Dealing with Bugs Outside🦟

We all know the nuisance of flies, mosquitos and gnats outside when you're trying to enjoy a summer evening grilling out with friends. Here is a couple tricks to help prevent these pests!🥰

Did you know Irish Spring Green Soap has bug repellent qualities?!🤯 You can cut them up and put them in bowls placed strategically around your patio to repel them. Or you can rub them on various surfaces and patio furniture for a bug repellent effect! Either way, make sure you are leaving the soap exposed to air to allow the scent to disperse.🧼

Essential oils (ie. lavender, citronella, eucalyptus are the best) are also a great natural bug repellent. Place a diffuser in a central area on your patio to create a fragrant barrier and keep the bugs away. 🦟

You can also incorporate bug-repellent essential oils into your homemade cleaning solutions.🤩 Mix them with water, vinegar, or natural cleaning agents to create a fragrant cleaning solution that repels insects while cleaning your home.🪴

Cleaning Exterior Windows🪟

The summer is a great time to take advantage of the sunny weather and deep clean those window exteriors!🏠

Start by using a soft-bristle brush or sponge to remove loose dirt, cobwebs, and debris from the window frames, sills, and surrounding areas. 🪟

Pay attention to corners and crevices where dirt tends to accumulate‼️

Next, fill a bucket with warm water and add a small amount of window cleaner solution. 🪣

Follow the instructions on the cleaner bottle if you're using a commercial product. Or you can make a DIY solution by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water or using a mild dish soap diluted in water! 💧🧼

Scrub the windows with a brush or sponge to remove all dirt and grime. Then, squeegee the glass in horizontal motions. Wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth between each pass until the entire window is done. Dry the window completely with a microfiber cloth to ensure a streak-free finish!✨

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture☀️

Creating a clean outdoor space is a must during the summer months for comfortable evenings with friends and family! To clean outdoor furniture, make sure you are paying special care to the manufacturers care instructions as to not damage any specific piece of furniture! Overall, however, here is how we suggest to clean your patio furniture!🪑

Start by vacuuming up any dirt and debris on the furniture before trying to use any cleaning mixtures🧼
Then mix a mild soap or dishwashing detergent with warm water in a bucket.🪣 You want to avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage the furniture's surface. ❌
Use a brush or sponge to gently scrub the plastic, metal or whicker furniture, paying special care to stubborn stains or grime. 🧽
Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth (if you're cleaning whicker, let it air dry!)☺️

For any fabric cushions or furniture, we suggest using the Bissell Pro Upholstery Cleaner! It is great for spot stains or to just regular maintenance. You can use it on any upholstery indoor or outdoor and on rugs and carpet as well.😍 Check out this video to see it in action.

Create a Good Smelling Home (Without a Candle)🕯️

Now personally, I would rather not light a candle during the HOT, humid months, but I do love a good smelling home. Here are a few ideas to keep your homing smelling good all summer long without using a candle!

Fill organza bags with dried flowers (like these for example!) and place them near entrances, behind decor, in linen closets for a fresh smell! They are so small that they won't even be noticeable yet pack a punch for a great, but subtle smelling home. 🌸

Stuff stinky shoes with dryer sheets to absorb all the odors they put out! This one is super simple and easy, but a game changer for your mud room or if you keep a shoe rack near the front door!👟

Put some essential oil drops on fake plants to create a subtle but great smell in your living room, dining room or bedroom! Essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus also has bug repellant qualities and can help keep bugs at bay.🦟

Add baking soda to the bottom of your trash bins to absorb all those odors before they fill your home! This is especially helpful if you do not have a trash can with a lid on it to prevent that trash stinking up your kitchen.🍽️

And that wraps up some of our favorite summer cleaning tips. We hope you learned a little something to implement into your cleaning routine this summer! Wishing everyone a safe, fun (bug-free😉) summer!! 💗