4 Summer Household Tips You NEED To Know

Summer's sweltering temperatures are right around the corner. 

It's time to clean off the grill, overhaul the lawnmower and get the back patio ready for three months of barbecues and plenty of sunshine. 

But while you're getting things ready for an endless string of backyard parties, don't forget to set aside time to do a few very important things to your home to make sure it -- like your grill -- is ready to take on all that the summer has to give. We've done a little research and come up with five things you need to know about summer home maintenance. 

Four Summer Household Tips

1. Check those windows

Windows play a vital role in keeping the cold and the heat out of your home so you don't have to spend a fortune on heating and air conditioning. The experts at SheKnows recommend taking a quick tour of all your windows and checking for the following:

• Make sure the caulk on the inside and outside of your windows are don't show any exaggerated wear
• Inspect the weather stripping lining the window
• Clean all those hard-to-get corners with a toothbrush or a small paintbrush.

2. Clean those gutters

Things can get real ugly real quick in your gutters. Imagine a winter's worth of leaves finding their way into your gutters. Add some spring rain. Maybe a little mold. Throw in a small army of insects of all types. Then cook all that muck and grime under the hot summer sun. 

Not good. 

Popular home insurance company Allstate recommends you clean out your gutters before summer comes. They offered the following tips for busting up that messy gunk hiding in your gutters:

• Don't overextend yourself, literally. Call an expert if your gutters are too high.
• If you're using a latter, don't lean it on the gutter or on electrical wires
• Scoop out the leaves first, then use a trowel to scoop out the muddy mess below
• After you've scooped out the mess, use your garden hose to rinse out the utters.
• Cover your gutters in mesh if you want to keep debris out

3. Get your ceiling fan ready

Many websites feature lists about how to keep your home cool during the hottest months of the year. One of the easiest and most cost effective ways we've found to cool your home is the use of a ceiling fan. 

According to the U.S. government's Department of Energy, turning a ceiling fan on while your air condition is running distributes the cold air so well that you can turn your thermostat up a full 4 degrees and not feel uncomfortable. 

Also, make sure your fan's blades are turning the right way! Each celiing has a switch on its housing or a button its remote which allows you to put the fan on "Winter" mode (sucks hot air up) or "Summer" mode (pushes hot air down and out). Make sure you're set for summer!

4. Cut back on the hot appliances

Have you ever stood next to a dishwasher as it's finishing up its heat-drying cycle. The warmth coming from that little machine is tremendous. The same thing goes for your stove (obviously) as well as bright lights. 

Keeping yourself cool during the hottest season the year can be easier if you come up with alternative ways to cook (barbecue, anyone?!), alternatives to was your dishes (kids, anyone?!) and alternative ways to light your home (windows!). 

Ceiling Fan Photo Credit: The JH Photography, Flickr Creative Commons

Gutters Photo Credit: Ctd 2005, Flickr Creative Commons

Dishwasher Photo Credit: StarsApart, Flickr Creative Commons