If you’re like us, you’ve probably been waiting for summer since the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, and we are very ready for sunshine, BBQs and blooming gardens.
But is your home as ready as you are? Here are our 10 top tips to get your abode prepped for our favourite season, so when it arrives, all you have to do is enjoy it!
Get your garage and/or shed in shape. There’s nothing worse than finally being able to make use of your BBQ tools, deck chairs and gardening equipment and then not being able to find it in your garage. Don’t waste a whole day of sun clearing out your garage, get rid of the things you stored in there over winter and make everything accessible before summer gets here.
Lighten up! Swap your dark, heavy sheets and décor for something lighter. We know it’s optimistic to expect glorious sunshine throughout summer in Britain, but with longer daylight hours it definitely will be brighter for longer. Lighter colours in your home reflect light, make rooms appear more spacious and give a nice summer, breezy feel.
Pest control One of the downsides to the summer months is the increasing frequency of bugs and insects intent on getting indoors. Spray the exterior of your house with a preventative insecticide to form a barrier, and check under sinks, stairs and warm areas for nests. Make sure that your house is fully sealed to protect from water damage as well as pesky visitors, and replace worn strips which can also help cut down on your energy bill – win win!
Tidy the garden There’s no reason to stay inside when summer rolls around - that is unless your garden isn’t in tip-top shape. Prepare for the warmer weather by trimming back shrubs, trees and keeping the grass cut so when BBQ weather arrives, you’re ready to go immediately!
Give your fridge some TLC Nobody wants warm drinks, especially in summer. That’s why it’s the perfect time to show your fridge a bit of love and catch up on its maintenance. Give it a good scrub and clean its coils (use your manual to locate these), unplug it and remove the top or base grate and give it a good clean out with a vacuum cleaner.
Al fresco furniture Rinse off the musty dampness winter inflicted on your garden furniture, so that you and your family can actually use it, not just the spiders. Give it a good scrub with some soap and hot water and top with colourful cushions and padding that hide all signs of neglect.
Add some magic Turn your garden into a wonderland with the addition of simple, yet effective lighting! Add fairy lights to fences or trees or get some tiki lights or lanterns to really create some ambience. Adding an outdoor fire pit also increases aesthetic appeal and works perfectly to take the chill off when the sun sets on a BBQ.
Get cleaning If we are lucky enough to receive some beautiful sunshine over summer, you’ll want to make sure your windows are dirt-free with no remnants from downpours, which will show up in the sun’s rays.. Get them sparkling clean so you can relax. Our tip: wash your windows on an overcast day. If left to dry in direct sunlight, windows can appear streaky.
Spruce up your drive Summer is a sociable time and guests are likely to turn up at your door. In the harsh weather of winter, nobody bats an eyelid at your overgrown drive plants and your un-swept pavements, but in summer, there are no excuses. Sweep away debris, pressure wash your drive, patch up any cracks and accessorise with some new colourful plants.
Safety first! Make sure you’re ready to relax by performing all of your safety checks. Check your smoke alarms and CO detectors, and change out batteries as needed. It only takes a few minutes, is cheap and could save lives. Now you’re free to enjoy the summer!
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