10 Things To Clean In August (That Everyone Forgets!)
August is a funny month isn’t it? It’s not quite fall but summer is starting to fade. The house is still a bit chaotic and maybe the kids are still off and cleaning might not be the top of your to-do list.
But it is actually the perfect time for a quick cleaning refresh. Especially those forgotten spaces that quietly collect dust while we soak up the last of the sunshine.
Let’s look at the 10 things to clean in August that you might have missed.
What with all the different activities that you can do in August, sometimes the reasons for cleaning the house are put to one side while you have fun!
August is the perfect time to tackle those overlooked spots that build up dirt and dust while we are busy enjoying the last of the summer days and avoiding the chores around the home.
Let’s reset our homes with these 10 simple, overlooked tasks to clean in August. You’ll head into September feeling calmer, tidier, and way more prepared for whatever fall throws your way.
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Daily Cleaning Checklist?
10 Things To Clean In August:
What are those 10 areas that could be hiding some dirt and dust that need a quick clean?
1) Ceiling Fans And Light Fixtures
Lights and ceiling fans are great surfaces for dust, mold spores, and pollen to settle up high! They are easily missed because you don’t look at the tops of lights or fans.
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A great product for cleaning these are the extendable dusters and microfiber cleaning sets that are designed to do the reaching for you so you don’t need to climb ladders to dust.
2) Window Tracks And Frames
When you have your windows open dust and debris can fill the tracks. Now is the perfect time to get those window tracks clean and sparkling along with your window frames too. And it’s a great time to check for any repairs before winter sneaks up.
You might need to use a brush to get into all the little spaces on your window tracks before you use your cleaning spray and cloth to wipe away the dirt.
Related article: How To Clean Black Mold From Window Tracks The Easy Way!
3) Patio Furniture And Outdoor Toys
Now is the time to get your outdoor furniture and toys a clean before you start to think about putting them away for the winter. It’s a great time to check to see if you need to get rid of any toys that your children have grown out of over the summer and if you are looking to replace your furniture next year now is the time to check out the end-of-summer sales.
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The tools that you might need to use to clean these items include a pressure washer, brushes, and an outdoor cleaner. If your cushions aren’t weather proof, a storage bag for these would be a great idea to protect them while they are stored away for the winter months.
4) Behind The Fridge And Under Appliances
It’s time to clean out where the dust bunnies have collected over the summer, and that means under appliances and behind your fridge. You will be surprised how much dust and debris ends up under these items.
I have sliders on my appliances so it’s easier to move the large appliances in my home, but you will also need to grab your vacuum and to clean the coils on the back of your appliances to help reduce the energy it needs to keep your fridge cool.
5) Dishwasher Filter And General Deep Clean
Keeping appliances clean that do the cleaning for us is so important. They work hard keeping your plates and crockery clean, let’s return the favour and make sure they are sparkly clean too.
There are so many products that you can use to deep clean the pipes and the inside of the machine, I like to use this product.
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But don’t forget to clean around the door, and the outside of the dishwasher too. For this I like to use my Ecloth and sometimes some cleaning spray too.
6) Washing Machine Drum And Drawer Dispenser
Your washing machine has seen the summer through like a trooper, dealing with whatever you throw it’s way. From beach towels and sweating clothes, it’s done a good job and needs a reward!
Let’s get the dispenser drawer clean, the drum and the filter too. Check out this article on cleaning your washing machine for tips and ideas of products you can use.
Related article: How To Clean Your Washing Machine With The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste
7) Closet Floor And Shoe Racks
Why do we neglect our closet floors and the shoe racks? It’s always the last place I remember to clean, yet it takes a lot in the summer with sandy shoes, pollen and even dust mites all settling on the floor.
Let’s get the vacuum out and really do a deep clean of the closet floor, and the shoe racks.
8) Trash Bins (Inside And Out)
There is nothing worse than a funky bin, you know the smell as soon as you walk in. Well let’s tackle those bins before they get to that state. Hot weather and trash can lead to smells quickly.
Let’s use hot soapy water to wash them inside and out, don’t forget any trash can s you have outside too, you might need to use your garden brush to scrub these out!
9) Bathroom Exhaust Fans
I know we are checking the bathroom exhaust fan, but don’t forget the kitchen one too! They can get dusty and dirty really quickly so keeping them clean helps to keep them in top condition.
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If you are using a step ladder to reach make sure you are doing it safely and you have the tools you need to clean the fans on hand so you don’t have to keep going up and down the steps.
10) Pantry Declutter And Wipe Down
It’s time to clear out the pantry, check what you have left and the items you might need to stock up on before school starts. Now is the time to get your pantry organized and ready for the next season coming up.
You will need a label maker to label where everything goes, clear bins so you can see what you have and a trash bag for anything that is out of date and needs to go.
Final Tips To Clean In August
Don’t go running and tackling the whole deep cleaning tasks for August in just one day, you have time to do a few a week to really make progress with the list whilst keeping up with your day-to-day lives.
Add the tasks to your planner, it’s a great way to slip in an extra task so you don’t become overwhelmed with too much to do.
If you have kids at home, you could get them to help with some of the tasks, make it a game and I am sure they will love it and you get to make family memories together. You could even add them to the list of household chores that you share with your family so it becomes part of your deep cleaning plan.
More Resources For Deep Cleaning Your Home
Keeping a clean home is an ongoing task, with so much going on in our lives sometimes cleaning is the last thing on your to-do list. Check out these other articles that will help you tackle the cleaning whilst also balancing this with everyday life.
- Simple Summer Cleaning Tips
- How To Do A Quick Summer Clean Up
- 25 Brilliant Ways To Use The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste Around Your Home
- 25 Things To Declutter Before Summer Ends
