With every season, there are things to be brought out and other things to be put away. And that always means cleaning. For summertime, there are plenty of things that will need this kind of attention. Here’s how to clean all your summertime necessities.
1. Patio Furniture
You can’t enjoy your backyard with dirty patio furniture. Make sure yours is clean and ready for summer barbecues.
2. Pool Toys
Before you go to the pool, make sure your inflatables and kickboards are clean and ready for action.
3. The Grill
Did you know you can clean your grill with an onion? You can! That is, if you don’t want to use commercial grill cleaners.
4. Bicycles
Your pre-season cleaning can be done with any all-purpose cleaner, warm water, rags, and a garden hose. But you should also do a safety check on tires, chains, and spokes. Once your bike is clean, let it dry in the sun for at least half an hour.
5. Garden Tools
Is last year’s mud, rust, and other crud still stuck to your garden tools? Lubricate them with WD-40, then dunk every tool into a bucket of sand several times until clean. Then, just brush off the sand. And next time, remember to rinse your tools with the hose right after you’re done. Dry them well, and you can even store them in sand to prevent rust.
6. Beach Towels
Nothing beats lying poolside or on the beach with a huge, fluffy towel. But when you pull them out of the linen closet, towels may smell musty. Wash them in hot water (unless the tag says otherwise), and if you’re concerned about odors, add about 1/4 cup vinegar to the cycle. For a great fluff, tumble dry them, and shake them well before using. Your detergent should be gentle on colors, since spending all that time in the sun can fade them (even though it also kills germs).
When they get sandy at the beach, shake your towels well when you’re packing up. Then shake them again, outside, when you get home before you wash them. You can even spread them out and use a hand vacuum to grab extra sand before washing as you normally would.
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