Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

Our 9 favorite summer cleaning tips and tricks

By

Would you rather be scrubbing the floor, or lounging by the pool? Cleaning the bathroom or building sandcastles at the beach? Summer is short, and you should try to enjoy every minute that you can — but warmer weather and kids home from school could make your household chores a bit more challenging. 

But don’t worry, we have some easy summer cleaning tips and tricks to help you stay on top of your summertime chores so you won’t get a case of the summertime blues. 

Recommended Videos

Follow these 9 tips to make summer clean up a snap

Wipe food spills

Melting ice pops, drips of ketchup, and watermelon juice can all leave sticky messes on your counters or floors. Always keep wipes on hand for quick cleanups (and to avoid inviting trails of ants to set up house in your home)! Better yet—make al fresco dining—or in this case, snacking—a summer staple to banish indoor food spill cleanups completely.

Related

Clean floors

Between kids running in and out to use the bathroom, wet feet from the pool, or tracked-in sand from the beach, your floors take an extra beating in the summer. But, you can make clean up easier and more efficient. 

  • Start with a quality doormat at both your front and back door entrances, and institute a “no shoes in the house” policy to reduce the number of all-out floor cleanings required—and more outdoor time for you.
  • Vacuum or wash high-traffic areas once or twice a week.
  • When it comes to sand: Vacuums work best. Even a hand-held vacuum is a better option than a broom, and it’s far less labor-intensive, too! 

Manage kitchen trash

Summer heat can make kitchen trash cans really stinky, so plan on emptying the trash more frequently than you do in colder months.

  • Do a quick wash every week by adding a few drops of dish detergent, a 1/4 cup of bleach, and a few cups of water. Rinse, and use paper towels for drying. 
  • Once dry, sprinkle a bit of baking soda at the bottom of the trashcan to help keep odors at bay.
  • If you’re using plastic trash bags, wad up some old newspaper at the bottom to help absorb odors and prevent leaking from liquid garbage. 

Eliminate ceiling fan dust

Your ceiling fan will be working overtime, and the last thing you want is for it to be blowing dust around your home. One simple way to clean ceiling fan blades is with a pillowcase. Place the pillowcase around each blade, grabbing the dust off as you slip the case off. The dust collects inside the case, so when you’re done, you empty it into the trash and pop the pillowcase into the wash the next time you do laundry! So simple, so effective. 

Banish bathroom mildew

Summer heat and humidity can lead to bathroom mildew—yikes!  Be certain you keep your exhaust fan running while you shower and leave the bathroom door open when you’re done. It can really help to slow the spread of mildew. Use microfiber cloths to wipe down shower doors and walls after each use to prevent mildew further.

Spruce up outdoor furniture

Get your outdoor furniture ready for a summer full of BBQs and fun. Hose everything down to get rid of dirt and debris. Then, use a rag, ordinary dish soap, and warm water to bring it back to life! 

Degrease your grill

Has your grill seen better days? We’ve got a great way to clean it that involves very little elbow grease and absolutely no harsh chemicals. Take ordinary apple cider vinegar and some balled-up pieces of aluminum foil to remove greasy gunk, so you can get back to being the undisputed king or queen of backyard cookouts.

Get creative with your dishwasher

Clean your flip-flops without having to waste even one valuable summer minute scrubbing or rinsing. Pop them in the dishwasher—top rack only—and they’ll come out as good as new. 

Spruce up pool toys

Are your pool toys & floaties a bit grimy? You can eliminate gunk and germs by cleaning them with a mixture of one-part vinegar with three-parts water. Pour into a spray bottle, spray down, and wipe clean—use a scrub brush to banish stubborn dirt. For smaller items, you can soak overnight and hose down in the morning.

Summer cleaning tips for beach or lake living

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so be proactive in what you do this summer to lessen the amount of cleaning you’ll need to do each and every day.

  • Instead of sneakers, wear flip-flops to the beach to reduce the sand you’ll track back to the house.
  • Tote beach toys and suntan lotion in mesh bags that can be shaken out or hosed down before bringing them inside the house.
  • Sit on chairs instead of towels when you’re by the beach, lake, or pool. Hose them down and leave them outdoors to dry. 

Our handy summer cleaning tips will keep your house and outdoor areas fresh and tidy, without making you spend your whole summer cleaning. Just a few minor adjustments to your regular routine will maximize your cleaning results, with minimal effort so you can get back to enjoying every magical moment of summer fun. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kim Renta
Kim Renta
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kim has written for Bloomingdales, Movado, and various e-commerce wine sites. When she's not writing about wine and…
Sick of cloudy glasses? This is the cleaning hack you need
Say goodbye to cloudy glasses with this simple item you probably have in your kitchen
Water glasses upside down on a rack

Dishwashers are a godsend for busy families, saving you from the elbow grease needed to clean a sink full of dishes with a scrubbing brush or sponge. But the downfall of these machines is pulling your supposedly clean drinking glasses out of the dishwasher only to find them cloudy and dull. It's a common frustration that many households face, but fear not, there's a simple solution to cloudy glasses that's been making waves on social media.

Enter the cloudy glasses Instagram hack -- a viral cleaning trick that promises to banish cloudy residue and leave your glasses sparkling clear. Let's dive into what causes cloudy glasses, the Instagram that's taken the internet by storm, and other methods to keep your drinking glasses gleaming.
What does it mean when glasses are cloudy?

Read more
How to clean glass shower doors the right way (say goodbye to streaks)
The natural way to get a sparkling, clear shower door — without all the chemicals
Shower with a glass door

Glass shower doors add a touch of elegance to any bathroom, but they can quickly lose their sparkle because of soap scum, grime, and pesky streaks. Fear not! With the right cleaning techniques and a few simple ingredients, you can restore your glass shower door to its pristine condition. Let's explore effective methods for how to clean glass shower doors without leaving behind streaks.
What is the best thing to use to clean glass shower doors?

When it comes to cleaning glass shower doors, you have two primary options: DIY natural cleaners or commercial glass cleaners. DIY solutions are often cost-effective and environmentally friendly, while commercial cleaners may offer convenience and specialized formulas for tough stains.
White vinegar and dish soap for cutting grime
For a powerful yet natural cleaning solution, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, adding a few drops of dish soap. Spray the solution onto the glass surface and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen the grime. Then, scrub gently with a sponge or microfiber cloth and rinse thoroughly with water. However, exercise caution when using vinegar on surfaces like natural stone, as it can cause damage.
Baking soda and dish soap instead of vinegar solution
If you prefer to avoid vinegar, a mixture of baking soda and dish soap can also effectively tackle grime on glass shower doors. Create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of dish soap, then apply it to the glass using a sponge or cloth. Scrub gently in circular motions, focusing on areas with stubborn stains, before rinsing thoroughly.
Lemon and lemon oil to kick streaks to the curb
Harness the power of citrus to banish streaks from your glass shower doors. Simply cut a lemon in half and rub it directly onto the glass surface, focusing on areas with visible streaks. The acidic properties of the lemon help dissolve residue while leaving behind a fresh, citrusy scent. For added protection against future water marks, lightly coat the glass with lemon oil after cleaning. Your glass won't streak again for a long time!
Tips for keeping your glass shower doors clean and streak-free

Read more
10 simple yard cleanup tips that will make your life easier
Restore your neglected yard to its former glory with these essential cleanup tasks
Single-family home with curved walkway and large tree in front yard

Is your once-lovely outdoor space starting to become an eyesore? If your yard has been neglected, it's probably time for some heavy yardwork and landscaping to restore to its former glory. But trying to get your yard, trees, bushes, and beautiful garden space back into shape after a long bout of neglect may seem overwhelming. That's why we've broken down the task into 10 simple yard cleanup tips that will get your lawn and your outdoor space looking pristine once again.

What does a yard cleanup consist of?
Not sure where to start with your yard cleanup? There may be a ton of debris from storms, and there are probably a lot of mangled trees, weeds, and dying spots of grass that need some TLC. But the whole process is pretty straightforward and generally consists of three overall phases:

Read more