9 cool summer cleaning tips

Don't break a sweat keeping your home looking its best.

1. eliminate exhaustion (with an exhaust fan)

Save yourself the time and exhaustion of scrubbing stubborn shower mold and mildew— prevent it in the first place. Simply keep your bathroom exhaust fan running while you take a bath or shower, and for 30 minutes afterward.

2. stop dirt in its tracks

The best home investment in summer, bar none, is a sturdy nylon mat. A no-shoes rule also helps cut down on dirt.

3. go scrubless

Use a shower cleaner that does the work for you, like Scrubbing Bubbles® Daily Shower Cleaner. Spray it daily to prevent the build up of lime scale, soap scum, and grime with no scrubbing needed. Simply spray and walk away, and you’ll have more time to enjoy your summer!

4. go on mirror patrol

Mirrors constantly fog up and collect dust and grime in the summer due high humidity. Make the rounds a couple times each week and clean all glass surfaces in one fell swoop with Pledge® Multi Surface Every Day Wipes.

5. speed clean the toilets

Cleaning toilet bowls can be a drag, especially in summer, when bathrooms tend to steam up. Spend less time cleaning toilets and try Scrubbing Bubbles® Fresh Brush® Starter Kit & Caddy. The textured cleaning pad cuts down time spent scrubbing and the long handle keeps your hands far from the yuck.

6. sequester scrap paper

Summer homes accumulate paper of all kinds—extra bills, receipts, souvenirs, etc. Using Ziploc® brand containersand Ziploc® brand bags makes organization a breeze. If your house is crowded with kids’ artwork, transition it to a Ziploc® brand Big Bag for long-term storage. Be sure to mark the bag with your child's name and year.

7. filter the dust, not the breeze

Air conditioning does more than keep your home cool. It allows you to keep windows closed so dust stays outdoors. If you like to save money and prefer the windows open for that cool summer breeze, use window filters that keep airborne particulates and dust out of your house.

8. outsmart smelly trash cans

Avoid garbage odors, which are even worse in the summer heat, by storing extra liners on the bottom of your trash can to protect against spills and leaks. Summer’s also a great time to spray down trash cans outdoors with a hose and a little dish soap—multitask and do it when you wash your car.

9. ditch the dishes

Traditional dishware, that is. You can spend more time enjoying summer parties and less time doing dishes when you use paper dishware for your gatherings