Five ways to prepare your home for summer in Perth

Rachel Preston-Bidwell via reiwa.com.au

Perth is well known for its sunshine and hot summer months, and while we are in the transitional spring season it’s the perfect opportunity to prepare your home for the warmer weather ahead.

Although the beach becomes a second home for many West Aussies during summer, it’s also a great time of year to spend at home with family and friends enjoying the long summer days. So we have put together five tips to help you prepare your home and make the most of it this summer.

1. De-clutter

Start with a clean home and head space by decluttering each room of the house.

Get rid of anything you don’t use by giving it to charity, friends and family, or throwing out broken and unusable items. Pack away winter specific items as well, such as blankets and heaters, in vacuum sealed bags or boxes and stow away in the shed.

2. Spring clean

Once you have de-cluttered your home, the next step is to do a thorough spring clean to freshen up your space and ensure it’s ready for your guests and summer BBQs. This can include:

• Washing your walls and windows.
• Thoroughly cleaning carpets, rugs and floors.
• Cleaning out cupboards and throwing away expired food.
• Removing mould, dust and cobwebs.
• Defrosting your freezer (and creating space for your favourite ice cream).

3. Make sure your summer appliances are in working order

Whilst performing your spring clean, it’s also a good idea to ensure your most used appliances during the summer months are in working order, such as:

• Air conditioners and fans – Perth summers pack a lot of heat, so it’s important you have good ventilation to cool your home. Double check the settings work on your fan or air conditioner units, and the blades/vents are clean to ensure you don’t circulate dust and allergens around the room.
• BBQ – an essential part of any summer dinner party is the Aussie BBQ. Now is a good time to deep clean your hotplates, check the gas and ensure the all the fittings are safely working.
• Pool and spa – if you’re lucky enough to have your own private oasis in your backyard, be sure to get your pool and/or spa ready for use during the hotter months. Get out the pool cleaner, check the jets and ensure your safety gate/fences are in tip top condition.

4. Prepare your outdoor area

It’s a safe bet you will be spending many nights and lazy days during December through to March outside on the deck or under the pergola. In this case, don’t forget your outdoor area in your spring clean.

Small but effective measures can be taken to ensure you backyard is summer ready, including:

• Mowing the lawn, cutting back hedges and trees, and removing any weeds.
• Hosing down pavement and/or oiling the deck.
• Cleaning your outdoor furniture to remove any dust and cobwebs.
• Fixing shade sails, purchasing an umbrella or replacing missing roof panels in your outdoor area to ensure you have appropriate shade from the harsh summer sun.

5. Decorate for summer

Just as winter brings out the richly scented candles and heavy fleece linens, in summer you may want to lighten up your décor.

Swap out heavy linens for lighter, cotton blends in the bedroom, and replace your fluffy blankets for a light throw in your living room. You can even introduce some greenery to your kitchen and living areas, such as a low-maintenance succulent plant, to create a more summery ambiance – some plants can even purify the stuffy summer air.