Summer is here! It's time to step out of those layers and embrace the warmth of the sun as the new season rolls in and gets comfortable. With the colder days behind you, a condo improvement project is perfect to make you enjoy the Philippine summer heat. There's so much to be done so do get to them as soon as you can. To help you get started, here are 9 ways to have summer fun in your condo:
1. A (photo) finish for floors
The floors in your condo suffer through a lot of wear and tear, most especially in areas of high traffic like the kitchen. To soothe your floors from the damage of the previous year and to get it ready for next months, use a sealer. The simplest way is to use a combination-type sealer that washes and waxes your floor at the same time. Just follow the label instructions and enjoy the after-effects.
2. Give the walls some love
It may not seem like it but walls do gather dust as well. Most of it fall to the floor and other horizontal surfaces, but just enough manages to cling to walls, calling for an occasional bath from time to time. Giving your walls a bath refreshes them, making it look like you had a paint job when you didn't. And all you'll need is a sponge, some dishwashing detergent, and two buckets: one for soapy water and another for rinsing your sponge.
3. Get rid of useless stuff in your fridge
If you're like many people, you have a habit of stuffing everything inside your refrigerator. Just imagining how much you've stuffed there can be overwhelming, that's why no one lists cleaning out the fridge as one of their favorite things to do. Still, it must be done and it's easier than you think. The trick is to break it down into smaller tasks. Start off by throwing out everything that you can no longer eat. If it looks or smells funny, it better go to the trash. Take out everything else that's left so you can clean the interiors with baking soda and water solution. Use the same solution for the drawers and shelves. Rinse with water and let dry.
4. Time to unbundle
With the cold weather starting to wane, bundling up is no longer a requirement. Feel free to swap your heavy blankets and quilts with lighter coverings. Just make sure to wash the ones you're keeping and let them dry before storing to keep mold and mildew out. Washing prevents body oils that attract insects and moths. Securely keep thick linens away with sachets of lavender or cedar to keep them fresh until moderate weather comes back.
5. Bring in the green
If you don't have a garden outdoors due to space constraints, that's one less thing for you to worry about when the summer sets in. But if you're like many and would rather have plants to worry about, don't let the fact that you can't have a fruit tree get you down. This is what a container garden is for. Aside from bringing life to your condo, plants in container gardens make excellent air filters, improving the quality of the air you breathe indoors. You get a spruced up condo while improving your health. That's killing two birds with one stone.
6. Change the mood
Gone are the days when the weather makes you not want to be cleaning your condo. This should reflect when you bring summer spirit in your condo to give you the boost you need for summer. For an easy makeover, all you have to do is change certain pieces around your condo like table linens, towels, and beddings. Brighter fabrics make rooms pop of color, instantly changing the mood from subdued to sparkly. Do this with your routine linen-change and it's not going to feel like an extra step in your chores.
7. Update your wardrobe
If there is anything in your life that changes with the seasons, that would be your wardrobe. Take advantage of the need to pack your autumn sweaters by decluttering your wardrobe and taking away clothing items you have no need for. As a quick guide, anything you haven't used in a year should go. If you didn't take it out last year, it's highly likely that you will also be procrastinating this year. Gather those that can still be worn and donate them to charity. Everything else too worn out will make great additions to your collection of rags.
8. Make your condo office feel like a residential unit
While your condo office may not be as affected by the seasons as the rest of the premises of your unit, it will still benefit from a make-over when spring comes along. Aside from cleaning everything and sprucing up your little corner office, extend summer cleaning by taking on old files that need sorting and backing up important ones on an external hard drive. Cleaning can be therapeutic so you may experience a boost in productivity afterwards.
9. Bugs be-gone!
When the ice starts melting, insect activity starts buzzing. These little creatures are looking for food to replenish depleted resources from the winter. Don't be the buffet table they make a bee-line for by making sure all your dry goods are kept in airtight containers. If you have pets, clean their dishes when they're done eating so you don't attract insects by leaving morsels lying around. All trash bins must also be properly covered. These tips are beneficial in removing insects and termites.
Fresh and renewed, just like summer.
Summer cleaning requires work but the results are always well worth the effort. After all, no one really says they regret getting ready for Philippine tropical summer, right? Summer brings change but it also signifies hope. It's a reminder that after the cold always comes the warmth of the sun, ready to melt the cold and let life bloom anew.
