How to keep your home clean(er) ALL summer

Summer in Wisconsin is a fun time, but all that fun can also make it incredibly busy. Between the sports camps and games, baseball outings, parties, grill outs, hiking, biking, and all those other summer favorites, life can get incredibly hectic. Those hectic summers can take a toll on the home (and the mind!)—especially when the piles of stuff gets as high as you. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips that’ll get you and your home through the summer as clean and organized as possible.

Do as much daily cleaning as often as possible.

Small cleaning tasks do add up, so try to do as many small cleaning tasks as possible. Routine cleaning tasks, such as sweeping or wiping down the table, prevents a build-up that takes more time and elbow grease to clean. Routine cleaning also keeps floors and surfaces looking new and prevents damage, such as when you do a daily sweep of a wood floor. A daily sweep removes gravel and debris that can scratch and damage hardwood.

Be prepared for busy times.

When your calendar starts to fill up, take a moment to organize and get ready for a busy week (or month!). Prepare by organizing the mudroom, and putting items that are needed for activities into a bag. For example, put all your swimming items into a bag, sports chairs into the car, and any other items into a bag or backpack that you can easily grab and go.

Enjoy al fresco dining.

If you want to minimize the mess in your home, head outside! Eat meals out on the patio or deck every night so you can keep the mess outside (plus it’s a lot of fun to eat outside!).

Bring in the pros.

Don’t have time for anything other than light cleaning? Contact the pros to do deep cleaning processes, like cleaning the floors. Schedule a floor cleaning before or after a party, or when you have time to let the carpet dry (like right before you go on vacation!). A good deep floor cleaning keeps floors looking new, removes allergens from carpet, and maintains the warranty.

Prevent the mess before it starts.

When you don’t have time to clean, try to keep the mess outside. Place mats by all exterior doors to keep gravel, water, and debris from being tracked in. If placing the mats on a wood floor, contact your local flooring store about protection that should be put under mats to minimize fading or other problems.

Clean faster.

Anyone who has ever sold their time can tell you that speedy cleaning is possible (especially when your agent calls about that possible buyers want to see the home!). Use as many “fast home cleaning” tactics as possible, such as carrying cleaning supplies with you to prevent trips back and forth, so you can keep your home clean and enjoy all your favorite summer activities out in the sun.