Summer Cleanup: Preparing For a New Season

Before you know it, autumn scents (hello, pumpkin spice!) and cool temperatures will replace the sweltering summer heat. Leaves will be in bold fall colors, and cozy sweaters will be in abundance.

With every new season, we’re ready to make some practical and fun changes. “Summer cleanup” is a way to say goodbye to summer by sprucing up your home in anticipation of fall. This year, think of it as a way to declutter your living spaces and embark on a fresh start.

Clean and store your beach and outdoor essentials:

Save plenty of room in your home by putting those beach towels, chairs, and other summer fun essentials away in your garage or closed indoor storage areas . But before you store away these items, it’s important to make sure they’re clean and ready to be used again next summer. Here’s how:

1. Wash beach towels in hot water with a little fabric softener.  Dry thoroughly.

2. Wipe outdoor tablecloths down with plenty of soap and water. Place in the washing machine with the gentle cycle, and machine dry on delicate for around 15 minutes. If the cloth is still damp after this cycle, hang it up to dry on its own.

3. Cleaning muddy or dirty outdoor furniture may be time-consuming, but it’s worth it. Use mild detergent and water, and stay away from “abrasive powders, chlorine bleaches, and silicone cleaners.”

4.  Clean beloved pool toys with an easy mixture — 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water. Soak the toys for five minutes, then rinse and air-dry. Keep them in closed storage to avoid dust.

Time to say goodbye to BBQs and clean the grill:

Your grill and its tools also need to be cleaned and put away. Clean your grill by running it on high heat until all the food is burned off, then scrape the leftovers with a grill brush. Use soapy water (once the grill has cooled) to clean it off. Don’t skimp on the hard to reach spots, and make sure that rinse the grates with water to get that soap off.

Similarly, wipe down the whole outside of the grill with a washcloth or rag. (Pro tip: take a hose to the cloth grill cover). Put your grill cover in place only when the whole thing is dry — you don’t want any unpleasant rust next summer. Storing your grill inside would be the preferred option, but if you can’t, make sure it’s set in a place that will be optimally shielded from rain and snow.

Get ready for the coziness ahead:

Fall weather and baking are two things that we look forward to all year long. Picture yourself wrapped in a warm blanket, enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal while the leaves rustle in the crisp wind outside. Here are a few ways to ready your home for optimal fall enjoyment:

1. Now would be a great time to clean your mattress. Flip and turn it end-to-end, then launder or dry-clean the bedding that you oftentimes skip, “such as mattress pads, pillows, blankets, bed skirts, and bedspreads.”

2. Once your bed is at prime coziness,  get your carpets and rugs in the same shape. You can rent a carpet cleaner and steamer or schedule a professional.

3. Get ready for baking season by cleaning out your kitchen cupboards and pantry. Make sure to clean out and reorganize the equipment that you’ll be using for fall and holiday baking, such as pie pans, baking cups, and rolling pins.

4. Believe it or not, it’s almost time for cozy fires! Clean out your fireplace by removing items that you may have left in there during the summer, like piles of magazines, newspapers, or books. Sweep up leftover dust, smoke residue, and soot until it’s as good as new.

Last but not least — the dreaded freezer:

This part may seem daunting, but it’s well worth the work! Cleaning out your freezer is not only important, but puts you in the right mindset for a new season. Doing so can also help you get on track with a new diet or healthy lifestyle change. Summer months may have been spent scooping ice cream out of pint containers, but the fall months can mean a fresh approach to snacking and meals.

Before the beginning of fall, let’s clean out our cooling appliances and welcome the new season with a bang.

1. Let’s get your freezer in tiptop shape. It’s safe to say that there are certainly some items jammed in there that you’ve forgotten about. Turn your icy mess into an icy oasis — unplug your freezer and revamp its contents.

2. Throw out what’s expired or what you know you won’t eat, and then remove all the shelves and drawers for washing. Fill up your sink with warm water and fragrance-free dish soap. Once the drawers and shelves have warmed up, wash them and set aside to dry.

3. Next, you’ll want to create a cleaning solution. Mix hot water and vinegar, or 1 quart of hot water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Funnel your mix into a spray bottle and make sure to spray the inside of the freezer as liberally as possible.

4. Once you’ve sprayed, wipe down the freezer (don’t forget the doors and door seal) with a sponge or dishcloth. Stuck-on food can be hard to clean off — keep applying the cleaning solution if you need to. An old toothbrush to scrub the area can do the trick!

5. Speed up the drying process by drying the inside with a paper or dishtowel.

6. Finally, replace the shelves and drawers. Make sure the freezer is completely dry first, then plug your freezer back in and allow it to cool once more.

Easy freezer organization:

Now that you’ve got your freezer looking and feeling fresh, it’s time to reorganize and prioritize your food. A few easy organization tips: vacuum-seal your bags for maximum space, use (clear) milk crates or other storage bins for similar items, label items with name and expiration date, and group your foods by category (vegetables vs. meat).

If you’re spent the summer gardening, forget frozen snacks — fill up your new freezer with the tomatoes and fresh berries that you never got around to eating during the summer! Check out this delicious recipe for Homemade Fruit Popsicles. Pro tip: Subzero’s spacious Built-In Freezer accommodates the needs of larger families, so everyone can enjoy their favorite foods (and they won’t go the waste!) Once you know what you’re keeping in the freezer, .

Giving some extra attention to a few spots in your house is always a good idea to prepare for a new season. Get your summer essentials safely stored away for next year, your home ready for maximum coziness, and your freezer ready for new foods — it’s almost fall!