Home Cleaning Tips for the Arizona Summer Heat

Home Cleaning Tips for the Arizona Summer Heat

One of Phoenix, Arizona’s most famous characteristics is it’s sun-soaked summers and record-breaking heat spells. Here are some tips from our cleaning experts on things to pay attention to to keep your house fresh, clean and ready for Summer.

Refrigerator and Freezer Cleaning Tips

During summer, the refrigerator in freezer are in even more demand than usual. Whether it’s keeping ice cream freezing cold or preserving hamburgers until they’re ready for grilling, this appliance works hard to keep our summer’s fun and breezy. Because of this, Summer can be a great time to show your refrigerator some extra love and care. Here’s some tips on how to do that:

For both Refrigerator and Freezer:

1. Discard old, expired or unwanted items
   Cleaning your refrigerator and freezer is a great time to take inventory on the good, the bad, and the smelly. Check expiration dates, clean out any glass or plastic storage containers and keep only the things you want to put back post-cleaning.
2. Have a cooler handy
   Once you’ve identified the items you’d like to keep, stash them all in a cooler filled with ice for safe keeping while you clean. Once the refrigerator and freezer shelves and drawers are free, you’re ready to introduce cleaning supplies
3. Wipe down Shelves and Drawers
   Refrigerator and Freezer shelves and drawers can get really messy over time. To clean these naturally, remove them from their holders. Then, take a mixture of vinegar and water, and a cloth and wipe down any messes. For stuck on debris, you can wash them with dish soap and a sponge.
4. Disinfect High Touch Surfaces
   Refrigerators and Freezers are constantly being opened and closed, making them a high touch surface. This also means handles or buttons like ice and water dispenser controls come into contact with bacteria almost everyday. While you’re deep cleaning, it’s a good idea to disinfect things like handles, drawer pulls, thermometer controls and high-touch surfaces on the appliance exterior.

Odor Free Trash Cans in Summer Heat

Without regular cleaning, trash cans are already at risk for odor. But any odors that may occur can be amplified if exposed to the summer heat. With proper air conditioning, and a few tricks of the trade, trash can odor during summer can finally be a thing of the past. Here’s few DIY tips you can use to prevent

1. Baking Soda
   Baking soda is the ultimate natural, heavy lifter. But apart from lending scrubbing help, baking soda can also be used to soak up unwanted odors. To use baking soda with your trash can, simply place a box at the bottom of the can. Alternatively, you can sprinkle a bit into the bag each time you take out the trash.
2. Dryer Sheets
   Dryer sheets are another great way to soak up unwanted odors and leave a fresh scent in your kitchen or other living space. Start with your favorite scented dryer sheet, grab a few sheets, then place them in the bottom of the trash can. You can place new bags in the can as normal. Just be sure to change these out every so often to keep the fresh scents and odor absorbing action coming.
3. Scented Trash Bags
   Finally, trash bag manufacturers offer a great solution to odors. Brands like glad, hefty and even store-brand generic trash bags can be purchased in a variety of scents. This fix is super easy, just use as you would any other trash can. The real pro tip is combining scented trash bags with the baking soda or dyer sheet method for an odor free kitchen.