July Cleaning Checklist: 15 Mid-Summer Cleaning

Mopping high-traffic floors during summer

By July, summer has settled in. The patio is being used. The air conditioner is working overtime. Towels appear everywhere.

The refrigerator is packed with drinks. People walk in and out of the house about fourteen thousand times a day. And somehow there’s sand in a room located nowhere near a beach.

This is not the moment for ambitious deep cleaning.

July cleaning is about containing summer mess, keeping the hardest-working parts of the house clean, and dealing with what summer specifically throws at you: coolers, swimsuits, road trips and the Fourth of July.

What should you clean in July? Focus on mid-summer jobs: high-traffic floors, the AC filter and fans, the fridge and trash bins, the grill, the cooler, swimsuits and towels, the car, the busiest bathroom and pet areas. Then do a reset before and after every trip.

Here are 15 July cleaning jobs actually worth your time.

1. Reset the Entryway and High-Traffic Floors

Yes, again. By mid-summer, the entryway is collecting sandals, sports equipment, beach bags, hats, and whatever everyone dropped when they came through the door.

Clear out what doesn’t belong, shake out the mat, and sweep or vacuum. Then keep going through the rooms that get the most traffic: the kitchen, family room, hallways, eating areas and the spaces around the back door. Mop the hard floors with warm water and a few drops of dish soap.

July floors don’t need equality. You are under no obligation to provide every square foot of flooring with identical service.

Then look at what keeps landing by the door. If the same three things are always on the floor, don’t keep blaming the people. Give those things an easier home. Sometimes clutter is simply a storage problem announcing itself repeatedly.

2. Check the AC Filter and Clean the Fans

Your cooling system is running nonstop, which means its filter is filling up faster than usual.

•            Central AC filter: Pull it out and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. ENERGY STAR says to check monthly, and in heavy-use months like July, you may need to change it more often.

•            Window and portable AC units: Slide out the filter, rinse it under the faucet, let it dry and put it back.

•            Fans: Turn ceiling fans off and slide an old pillowcase over each blade to catch the dust. Unplug portable fans, pop off the front grille, and wash the grille and blades in warm, soapy water. Dry everything before reassembling.

This is one of those jobs you don’t notice needs doing until you clean one blade and discover the fan is apparently a different color.

If the AC isn’t cooling, is making strange noises, or keeps running without catching up, call for service. Don’t assume that lowering the thermostat another six degrees constitutes a repair.

For seasonal upkeep, visit our Home Maintenance Guide.

3. Give the Fridge and Freezer a Mid-Summer Cleanout

Mid-summer refrigerator cleanout.

July refrigerators work hard. Drinks. Fruit. Leftovers. Barbecue food. Condiments. Containers brought home from somewhere and immediately forgotten.

•            Toss leftovers older than three to four days, plus anything spoiled.

•            Wipe spills and the produce drawers with warm, soapy water.

•            Group drinks in one spot so people can find them without holding the door open while conducting a full inventory.

•            In the freezer, dig out the food that has disappeared under an avalanche of ice packs and popsicles. Group like with like.

•            Dump clumpy ice from the ice bin, wash the bin in warm, soapy water, and dry it before putting it back.

If something has been sitting there since Memorial Day, its moment has passed.

Summer freezer organization doesn’t require matching containers. It requires being able to retrieve something without three frozen objects landing on your foot.

For more, see our Easy Refrigerator Maintenance Tips.

4. Clean Kitchen Trash and Recycling Bins

Hot weather makes this job particularly worthwhile.

Empty the bins and rinse them out. Scrub the inside with hot water and dish soap, then wipe it down with a bleach solution of 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Leave it on for a minute, rinse, and let the bin dry completely before putting in a new bag.

Also check the floor and wall immediately around the kitchen trash area. That’s often where you’ll find the evidence nobody noticed when the bag leaked.

5. Do a Fast Fourth of July Reset

Hosting? Skip the deep clean. Guests see about four things. [new joke]

Before the party (30 minutes):

•            Clean the bathroom guests will use, put out a fresh hand towel, and add a spare roll of toilet paper where people can see it.

•            Clear the kitchen counters.

•            Empty every trash can and put extra bags in the bottom of each one.

•            Wipe down the patio table and chairs.

After the party:

•            Soak spent fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them away. A firework that looks dead can still be hot.

•            Treat berry, popsicle and barbecue-sauce spills on clothes and tablecloths right away with cold water before they set.

•            Load the dishwasher and run it before bed so you don’t wake up to the party.

6. Clean the Grill and Patio

Grill with vegetable on it in backyard.

If you’re grilling regularly, built-up grease isn’t just messy. It’s what starts grill fires.

•            Scrape the grates while they’re warm after each use.

•            Empty the grease tray and drip pan.

•            Replace grill brushes that are shedding bristles. Loose wire bristles can end up in food.

•            Keep the grill well away from the house and deck railings, and out from under eaves and branches.

Barbecue sauce belongs on dinner. Not permanently attached to the patio furniture.

Then give the patio a 15-minute reset. Set a timer, sweep, throw away trash, return toys and equipment, straighten the furniture, wipe the table, shake out the mats, and put the gardening tools away.

Fifteen minutes can turn an outdoor area from “something happened here” back into somewhere you’d willingly sit.

For a full deep clean, see How to Clean a Grill. For more outdoor projects, visit our Backyard & Garden Guide.

7. Clean Out the Cooler

The cooler comes back from every outing with a half inch of mystery water in the bottom.

1.        Drain it and wipe out any food bits.

2.        Wash the inside with warm water and dish soap, including the lid and the drain plug.

3.        For odors, scrub with a paste of baking soda and water, then rinse.

4.        For mildew spots, wipe with 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water, then rinse well.

5.        Dry it with the lid open. A cooler stored shut while damp will greet you next time with a smell.

8. Rinse Swimsuits and Pool Gear

Chlorine, salt water and sunscreen break down swimsuit fabric and elastic fast.

•            Rinse suits in cool tap water as soon as you get home, before they go in the hamper.

•            Hand wash them in cool water with a little mild detergent.

•            Lay them flat or hang them to dry in the shade. Skip the dryer; heat ruins the stretch.

•            Rinse goggles, pool toys and floaties with fresh water, and let them dry completely before you put them away.

9. Wash the Beach and Pool Towels

Gather the towels. All of them. Check bathrooms, bedrooms, cars, pool bags, patios and wherever else damp fabric has migrated.

Wash them on warm or hot, skip the fabric softener (it makes towels less absorbent), and dry them all the way through. Then give clean beach and pool towels one specific storage place.

A towel system doesn’t need to be sophisticated. Clean towels here. Wet towels there.

The floor is neither.

10. Clean Out the Car

Summer lives in the car, too. Remove:

•            Empty drink containers

•            Food wrappers

•            Receipts

•            Beach sand and debris

•            Sports equipment

•            Unnecessary bags

•            Random objects nobody remembers bringing into the vehicle

Vacuum the seats and floors, using the crevice tool for the sand. Wipe the dashboard and console with a damp microfiber cloth.

Then take out anything that shouldn’t bake in a hot car: aerosol cans, sunscreen, lighters, crayons, electronics, groceries and medications.

For a full reset, visit our Family Car Cleaning & Organizing Guide.

Hot car safety: Never leave a child or pet in a parked car, even for a minute and even with the windows cracked. The inside of a car can heat up about 20°F in 10 minutes.

11. Reset the Busiest Bathroom

Summer means more showers, more towels and more bathroom traffic. Give the busiest bathroom a real clean:

•            Sink and faucet

•            Counter

•            Mirror

•            Toilet

•            Tub or shower

•            Floor

•            Trash can

Wash the bath mats in hot water and hang them to dry completely. Recycle the empty bottles while you’re there.

If six almost-empty shampoo bottles are lined up in the shower, congratulations: you’ve found a five-minute decluttering project.

For more help, visit our Bathroom Cleaning & Organizing Guide.

12. Clean Pet Areas

Pets bring summer indoors enthusiastically.

•            Bowls: Wash food and water bowls in hot, soapy water every day. Water bowls get slimy fast in the heat.

•            Bedding: Wash pet beds and blankets weekly in hot water. Summer is flea season, and washing kills eggs and larvae.

•            Floors: Vacuum around pet beds and feeding areas a few times a week, and empty the canister outside.

•            Gear: Wipe down crates, carriers and leashes.

Stay on top of pet hair in the rooms where everyone gathers. If fleas show up anyway, see our Less-Toxic Flea Removal Tips. For more pet help, visit our Pets & Family Guide.

13. Do a Before-Vacation Reset

The best gift you can give yourself on vacation is coming home to a clean house. Spend 30 minutes before you leave:

•            Clear the fridge of anything that will spoil while you’re gone.

•            Take out every trash can, including the bathrooms.

•            Run the dishwasher and empty it, or at least leave the door cracked so it can dry.

•            Finish the laundry. A wet load left in the washer for a week will make its feelings known.

•            Put clean sheets on the beds.

It’s an extra half hour on the way out. It’s a whole different homecoming.

14. Unpack After Every Trip

When you get back, follow one rule: unpack promptly.

Not “put the suitcase in the bedroom.”

Not “open the suitcase and remove the things I need.”

Unpack. Start the laundry. Put toiletries away. Return travel gear to its home. Throw away travel trash. Put the suitcase away.

A vacation ends much more pleasantly when its luggage doesn’t continue living with you for the next three weeks.

15. Clear One Summer Clutter Hotspot

By July, your summer systems have been running long enough to show where they’re failing. Find the spot that keeps getting messy:

•            The kitchen counter

•            The entryway

•            The garage entrance

•            The dining table

•            The patio

•            The laundry room

•            The family room

•            The car

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Toss the trash. Put obvious things away. Donate things you clearly don’t need. Then ask why the clutter keeps collecting there.

Sometimes the solution isn’t “try harder.” It’s adding a hook, moving a basket, or giving frequently used things a home closer to where they’re actually used.

Your Quick July Cleaning Checklist

Save or print this version:

•            ☐ Reset the entryway and high-traffic floors

•            ☐ Check the AC filter and clean the fans

•            ☐ Clean out the fridge and freezer

•            ☐ Clean the kitchen trash and recycling bins

•            ☐ Do a fast Fourth of July reset

•            ☐ Clean the grill and reset the patio

•            ☐ Clean out the cooler

•            ☐ Rinse swimsuits and pool gear

•            ☐ Wash the beach and pool towels

•            ☐ Clean out the car

•            ☐ Reset the busiest bathroom

•            ☐ Clean pet areas

•            ☐ Do a before-vacation reset

•            ☐ Unpack after every trip

•            ☐ Clear one summer clutter hotspot

If You Only Have One Hour

Time

15 minutes

15 minutes

15 minutes

15 minutes

Job

Reset the entryway and vacuum the busiest floors

Clear the fridge and wipe the kitchen counters

Gather all the towels and reset the bathroom

Clean out the car or the cooler

That’s plenty. Your house will look better without taking the day away from you.

July Cleaning FAQ

What should I clean in July?

High-traffic floors, the AC filter and fans, the fridge and trash bins, the grill, the cooler, swimsuits and towels, the car, the busiest bathroom and pet areas. Add a quick reset before and after every trip.

How often should I change my AC filter in summer?

Check it every month. ENERGY STAR recommends changing it at least every three months, but in July, when the AC runs constantly, you may need to change it monthly, especially if you have pets.

How do I get the smell out of a cooler?

Wash it with warm water and dish soap, scrub with a baking soda paste, and rinse. For mildew, wipe with 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water and rinse well. Always dry and store it with the lid open.

What should I clean before going on vacation?

Clear out perishables, empty every trash can, run and empty the dishwasher, finish the laundry so nothing sits wet in the washer, and put clean sheets on the beds.

How do I wash a swimsuit?

Rinse it in cool tap water right after swimming, hand wash in cool water with mild detergent, and dry it flat in the shade. Don’t put it in the dryer.

How do I dispose of used fireworks?

Soak them in a bucket of water before putting them in the trash, even if they look spent. Leave them in the water overnight to be safe.

Keep Going

Keep the rest of summer under control with these related guides:

•            June Cleaning Checklist: Catch up on June’s summer-traffic jobs, from trash cans to the evening reset.

•            How to Wash Towels: Get the sour smell out and keep beach towels fluffy.

•            How to Wash White Clothes: Keep summer whites white, even after sunscreen and sweat.

•            Grease Stain Removal Tips: For barbecue sauce, burger drips and sunscreen.

•            How to Remove Chocolate Stains: S’mores season is chocolate-stain season.

•            Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips: Speed tricks for the bathroom everyone is using.

•            How to Clean Your Phone: Get the sunscreen and sand off your most-touched gadget.

•            Kids’ School Lunch Ideas: Back-to-school is closer than you think. Get a head start.

Too Much Stuff? Not Enough Space? Clear the clutter, let go of the guilt, and reclaim your home, one room at a time. Discover Room by Room by Tara Aronson.

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