Summer is just around the corner! Time for warmer weather, ample sunshine, tasty grilling and outdoor gatherings with family and friends. But the switch to summer also calls for some seasonal upkeep on your home and outdoor space. Our teammate, Tracy Aguiar, has suggested four ways to prepare your house for the summertime.
1. Enhance the Landscaping
Landscaping is a great way to add shade, color, and texture to your backyard. Planters are an easy way to add colorful flowers or plants to a small space. Herb and produce gardens are popular, and many varieties can be planted in large pots or planters. Tall plants with full leaves double as privacy screens when strategically placed around patios or on decks.
2. Deep Clean your BBQ grill
To make cleaning easier, heat the grill for 10 minutes on high and once it cools, disconnect the gas. Then disassemble the BBQ before cleaning the roof, drip tray, burners, and so on with warm, soapy water. First wipe the grates with cooking oil and use a hard-wire brush and BBQ cleaner to clean the grill. Finally, wipe down the BBQ’s exterior before putting everything back together.
3. Prep the Windows
Caulk any gaps in the framing and check that the mechanics are working by opening and closing each window a few times. Fill up two buckets: one with 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of ammonia, and 1 gallon of hot water; the other with warm water. Wash windows with the vinegar-ammonia solution first, then with water only. Dry with a squeegee.
Quick tip: Wash windows on a cloudy day. The sun may dry the solution too soon, leaving streaks. 
4. Prepare for Outdoor Hosting
If you love hosting, you know that warmer weather means one thing: al fresco entertaining is right around the corner. From dinner parties on the patio to afternoon lunches by the pool, few things are better than gathering with your loved ones outdoors in the summertime.
Summer entertaining typically includes some sort of outdoor dining element, from small bites by the pool to an entire sit-down meal. Whatever party type you're hosting, make it easy for guests to eat and drink outdoors. Depending upon your outdoor space, using bistro tables to full dining sets, create a space where guests can eat.
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