Let’s be honest, while it can be satisfying, no one loves cleaning. Granted, that's a strange thing to say as a household advice writer, but there's no getting around it. And if there’s one thing worse than chores, it’s doing them in the sweltering heat. Sweat dripping down your back as you try to scrub sticky stains off sunloungers or get the fake tan stains out of your bedding – the opposite of fun.
Us Brits already have a complicated relationship with the weather – we're too cold, too wet or suddenly too hot to function. So, why not make life a little easier and tackle those summer-specific tasks before the summer holidays kick in?
Whether you’re prepping to play host with the most or just want to prepare for barbecue season before it begins, I’ve rounded up my go-to summer cleaning tricks. Clever, practical and tested in the trenches of my own home.
1. Rub your BBQ with an onion (yes, really)
Keeping your grill in top shape all summer doesn’t have to mean scrubbing until your arm falls off. I have a few tricks that save you from the sweat (and the tears). After each BBQ, or before your next one, crank up the heat. Blasting your gas BBQ on full power for about 15 minutes burns off food residue, kills bacteria and turns hard-to-remove gunk into easy-to-sweep ash.
Skip metal brushes (those bristles can be a real hazard!) and opt for a nylon or plastic grill brush – or go natural with half an onion. Weird but it works. Rub it over the warm grill grates – it helps lift grime and even adds a touch of flavour for next time – but don’t rely on it for any antibacterial properties, as it’s a vegetable, not a miracle worker.
2. Wash down and wipe your outdoor furniture
Tell me the truth, you haven’t given your beautiful rattan armchairs a second thought in months, have you? Your wooden bench? MIA. That sleek stainless steel coffee table? Currently hosting a colony of cobwebs, mildew and who-knows-what? The forgotten furniture of winter.
But now it’s their time to shine. With garden gatherings, sunny lunches and impromptu drinks on the horizon, it’s time to bring your outdoor pieces back to life. Here’s how to get everything looking spotless.
Wood: Just a quick teak oil wipe twice a year will keep hardwoods, such as teak and oak, glowing. Softer woods like pine and beech will need a bit more love, so use a wood preservative, then add some varnish. For tired-looking painted or varnished wood, give it a light sand and a fresh coat to bring it back to life. Handily, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts have been busy painting their woodwork to bring you the best exterior paints for your garden makeover.
Resin: Give your outdoor pieces a bubbly clean with washing-up liquid and a soft-bristle brush. If you’ve acquired any stubborn stains during those months of neglect then a little mild bleach will do the trick. Or, for a speedy clean, grab a pressure washer and blast the grime away.
Metal: If your furniture is cast aluminium, wipe it with soapy water, and touch up chips with enamel paint (such as Hammerite). Just make sure to rub off any loose bits first. Cast or wrought iron might need buffing with wire wool, before a repaint job using anti-rust primer and exterior metal paint. Just make sure to pop on some protective goggles before tackling this task. Clean any tubular metal with warm soapy water, add a little wax polish for shine. And a note for next summer: make sure to store it indoors this time.
3. Put WD-40 on your tennis shoes
Accidents happen, it's a fact of life. But they somehow happen more when we’re living in light colours and dreamy pastels. Case in point, as I’m writing this, I’m currently looking at a Diet-Coke stain all over my lovely white summer dress. Be better than me and save yourself the drama by stocking up on a few go-to stain-busting essentials.
For grass stains on cotton, reach for Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils Cosmetics & Nature; it’s quite literally made for moments like this. Pop a clean white cloth under the fabric, soak the stain thoroughly, wash as normal and let it work its magic. If the green menace has attacked your white leather or tennis shoes, a quick spritz of WD-40 on the stain (yes, really!) followed by a wipe with a clean cloth can do wonders. For canvas shoes, try Vanish Oxi Action Gel – rinse and air-dry for best results.
If, like me, you identify as a golden goddess but were in fact blessed with a lily-white Irish complexion, you’ll be very familiar with fake tan stains. Dark sheets help, and for patches on clothes or towels, a 40°C wash usually does the trick. For tougher jobs, add Fairy Non-Bio Stain Removal Powder or spot-treat with Dr. Beckmann Pre-Wash Stain Devils – its built-in brush is brilliant for targeted touch-ups.
Vanish Powergel Stain Remover
Remove tough stains by pre-treating with this powerful cleaner before washing.
Excellent at dissolving traces left by sticky labels and chewing gum.
Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Pre Wash
Dr. Beckmann offers a range of stain-specific spot treatments – choose the one best suited to the problem.
Not just for squeaky hinges, WD-40 is good at dissolving chewing gum and greasy stains like tar, lipstick and boot polish too.
Fairy Non-Bio Stain Remover Powder
Leaves clothes clean and won't irritate sensitive skin.
Great on stubborn stains.
4. Prep for pollen season
Pollen-proofing your home doesn’t have to be a full-time job, a few small tweaks can make a big difference and help you wake up without the sniffles.
Allergy UK recommends the ‘common-sense’ approach for minimising how much pollen comes into your home – aka vacuuming. While there’s yet to be any concrete research on how often hay fever sufferers should vacuum, I’d say common sense would suggest at least a couple of times a week, especially if you’re leaving your windows open during the high season (March to September).
I also recommend switching to evening showers to rinse pollen off your skin and hair before it hits your pillow. Trust me, your sheets, and your sinuses, will thank you. Speaking of which, wash your pillowcases more often during hay fever season to keep those pesky particles at bay.
For extra protection, opt for the best hypoallergenic bedding. It’s designed to reduce allergens and keep things feeling fresh, not sneezy. An air purifier is another savvy summer buy to make now, helping to keep your home free from pollen.
