5 Upgrades Your Home Deserves Before Summer Ends
Let’s face it: we all just want to bask in the final rays of summer sunshine. But the end of summer is the perfect time to upgrade your home in preparation for the cooler months ahead, too.
So, in between trips to the pool, pick-up games of baseball and family barbecues, perform the following five upgrades. That way, your abode will be just as warm and cozy in winter as it is right now:
Wash and Store Patio Furniture
You’ve got a lot of use out of your patio furniture this summer. So, by the end of the season, you’ll want to give each piece a bit of attention to preserve it until it’s sunny again.
Start with the furniture cushions, which are likely to get moldy or mildew when they’re stored for long stretches of time. You can definitely wash the covers to remove any dirt or debris, but make sure they’re completely dry before storing them; you should also check the care labels to see how the fabric should be washed and dried. The same goes with the cushions — leave them in the sun to wick away any moisture.
As for the furniture itself, find out how the specific material should be washed. For example, you only need an all-purpose spray and sponge to wipe down your plastic chairs and tables. You can scrub metal furniture down with a brush and dish soap.
The end of summer warrants a grill cleaning, too. Even if you plan to use yours during the cooler months, take some time to remove summer barbecue residue from the grates with a soapy sponge or cloth. You might want to oil any of its moving parts if they’ve gotten creaky, and detach gas valves if you’re not using the appliance until the weather’s warm again.
Play Up Your Windows and Mirrors
Window washing is an outdoor task, so do it now — you don’t want to be doing it when it’s cold out there. Plus, clean panes will let in more natural light, which you’ll want when the days begin to shorten.
Start with your garden hose and wash away any dirt and dust that’s built up outside. Then, wash each window more closely with a mixture that’s half water, half vinegar. Squeegee or wipe away the solution to reveal squeaky-clean windows. Use the vinegar-and-water cleanser indoors to finish the job.
You can further play up your windows with the perfect window treatment, which is another great pre-winter step to take. That’s because you can close your chosen curtains on the chilliest days to keep cold drafts from blowing through your abode. Accentuate the room one step further by placing mirrors throughout your home to add even more style as well as create the illusion of having additional space!
Repaint the Interior
The truth is, you can paint around the house year ’round. But the end of summer is the perfect time to slick on a new layer of paint because you can still crack open the windows for ventilation. Plus, because the heat’s usually high and humidity is low, your new hue will dry faster. If you paint in the winter, you might have to wait a few days for the fumes to dissipate and the walls to dry.
If you’ve never painted a room before, start by laying down tarps or cloths to protect your flooring. You can use painter’s tape to protect the edges of the room’s wood molding, as well as the crease between the walls and the ceiling. Or, you can edge those spots with a smaller paintbrush before rolling a layer of paint onto the walls. If necessarily, slick on a second coat for saturated color.
Reorganize the Garage
Another space that might need some attention pre-winter is the garage. Perhaps you use yours as a storage space. If so, now’s the time to reorganize, reduce clutter and make room to park your car. Giving your vehicle shelter during the year’s coldest months will save you from defrosting the windshield every morning — that should be incentive enough.
Start by going through everything out there and divide it into piles — keep, donate and trash. Then, organize the keep pile and store them by category, so they’re easy to find. Once you’ve cleared away everything else, give your garage a sweeping. You might want to add shelving or paint the floors to make it feel even more like an extension of the home. Then, pull the car into its designated space and enjoy having a warmer vehicle this winter.
Revamp the Landscaping
The changing of seasons will inevitably be the end of your glorious summer landscaping. Before the end of the season, you should start prepping for fall and winter, too. How will your beds transition? How will you tend to the falling leaves? These are all gardening must-dos to consider at the end of summer.
The transition between seasons is also a great time to consider planning permanent additions to your garden, namely trees and shrubs. So, use the time at the end of summer to envision your landscaping with this type of foliage, plan it and make it happen come fall.
Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer!
The best part about these upgrades is that they’re not so time-consuming that they’ll eat up the rest of your summer. Instead, you can spruce up your home, prepare for winter and truly enjoy the final days of everyone’s favorite season — there’s not much better than that.
