9 Ways to Prep Your Home for Summer

The first day of summer is less than a month away! Soon enough the joys of summer sun, waterparks, balmy days, and outdoor adventures will be in full swing. Here are nine ways to get your house ready for the summer months ahead. 

1. Get routine HVAC maintenance done. In the middle of the summer, the last thing you want to be worrying about is a broken A/C system. You'll have to call the emergency line and even then it can be 24-48 hours before a technician gets there. It's best to have a routine checkup each year before the summer starts An HVAC technician can give you the all-clear or let you know what parts may need to be replaced on your system. 

2. Aerate, Dethatch, and Overeed the Lawn. This sounds like a lot of work, but it only needs to be done every 2-3 years. With regular lawn maintenance, you could extend that timeframe to 3-5 years. This summer, show your lawn the love it needs so you can enjoy luscious, green grass. Scott's Lawn Care has a guide on how to do this. 
3. Update exterior/landscape lighting. Summer nights are best spent outside. Good exterior lights are a key component in creating a welcoming atmosphere. Exterior outdoor wall sconces are perfect for patios, balconies, and home exteriors. You can use landscape lights such as spotlights, post mounts, or path lights to illuminate various parts of your backyard. Shop the best outdoor lights here.
4. Decorate with bright colors. This may seem like a no-brainer, but switching out darker-colored home decor for bright, summer colors can make your home feel summmery. You don't have to go crazy or spend a ton of money to do this. A simple swap of decorative pillows or bright linens (think bedding, towels, or even curtains) goes far on the quest for a summer-styled home.
5. Clean patio furniture. Summer nights are upon us. Clean off your patio furniture so you and summer guests can enjoy dinner parties and relaxing evenings outside. To clean patio furniture, you can use a 1:3 dishwasher soap-to-water solution to scrub off any marks or spots on the furniture. Afterward, give your pieces a good hosing off to rinse off the soap and any dust. Be sure to let the patio furniture dry before using it. 
6. Rotate your ceiling fans counterclockwise. In the summer, you want to rotate your ceiling fans counterclockwise so as to disperse cool air around the room. Doing this can cool a room by as much as 4°. In the summer 4°, can be the difference between feeling comfortable or uncomfortable in your home. Check out our best-selling ceiling fans. 
7. Spruce up your garden. Nothing is better than a beautiful summer garden. Start by removing any weeds or dead plants. After you have cultivated everything, don't forget to fertilize. Cosmetic fixes such as fixing broken fences or refreshing paint colors are also great ways to spruce up your garden for the summer.
8. Prep your windows. When getting ready for summer, there are two main ways to prep your windows. The first is to check window caulking. Be sure the caulking is sealed properly and/or is not moldy. If window caulking is cracked or peeling, removing it and redoing it is one of the easiest home DIYs. Mold on window caulking can also compromise the integrity. You can use a bleach and water solution to scrub the mold off. For a more natural solution, use vinegar and water. Vinegar has been shown to kill 82% off mold species. The second way to prep your windows for summer is with a good cleaning. Clean the inside and outside of your windows so you can have a clear view of the summer growth. Windex is the perfect solution for window cleaning. 
9. Scrub your outdoor grill. Hopefully, the summer brings a lot of outdoor cooking for you. If you plan on cooking on your outdoor grill, be sure to give it a good, deep scrub down. The Family Handyman has a great eight-step process on how to best clean your outdoor grill. 

Let us know if you try any of the above tips! We hope you have the best summer ever.