As the seasons change, it’s natural for families to need to make adjustments to their homes. We’re all familiar with the amount of work that goes into preparing a home for the winter. However, much of what is added to a home during the wintertime isn’t suitable as the weather begins to warm up.
It needs to be stripped away, and furthermore there needs to be preparations made to ensure that a home is ready for the summer. It’s important to remember that hot temperatures can be just as severe as cold weather, and in order to preserve your home against that severity you must be proactive. This is even more important for family homes, which tend to be larger and therefore more prone to problems if they aren’t prepared as they should be.
With all that being said, you won’t want to break the bank when preparing your home for hot weather. It’s all too easy to spend too much money on these types of alterations, and you really don’t have to. By saving money on prepping your home for hot weather, you’ll have more to spend on enjoying the summer when the time comes.
And you’ll certainly be better equipped to have a good time if you don’t have to endure sweltering temperatures! Let’s look into some of the more budget-friendly ways that you and your family can prepare your house for warmer weather.
1. Check Your Attic’s Insulation
Not every home has an attic, but those that do can potentially become hotter than those that don’t. Remember that attics are not only at the highest point of the home, where the temperature increases or decreases are often at their most noticeable. They also lack the kind of air conditioning systems set up in the rest of a house. This means that during the spring and summer they can build a heavy heat that is centralized in the attic, but can often affect the lower levels of the house, especially the one that is most directly below the attic itself.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to check your attic’s insulation twice a year. This would include once during the spring, and once during the fall. This way, the attic won’t release cool or hot air and compromise the rest of your home. Insulation is meant to seal in the attic, essentially. And as, on average, 40% of a home’s heat loss is due to an escape through the attic, this particular location should not be neglected. Ideally, checking the insulation will be easy and inexpensive, and staying on top of that will prevent you from losing money on energy costs.
2. Shop Locally And Act Early
Even before the weather fully or consistently heats up, you should be checking your home for any damage that may have occurred during the winter. So much of preparing your home for any seasonal change involves checking and maintaining, rather than making any dramatic changes.
Investing in maintenance doesn’t equal spending a lot of money. Rather than dropping a lot of money on tools online, try shopping locally. You don’t have to waste time driving from store to store. Just as 46% of Google users are searching out local information, you too can look up the right local store online and head there yourself. Buying locally is not only easier and more direct. It’s also often gentler on your wallet.
3. Consider Natural Products
Many of us have the idea that cleaning the house in preparation for warm weather requires using chemical cleaning products. There’s a misconception that a deep clean is impossible to achieve without harsh disinfectants. However, you can easily clean your house with more natural products, and you don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to do so.
Keep in mind that not all organic products are overly expensive. Nonetheless, investing in more natural cleaning products is also investing in your health. Right now, the United States is the number one consumer of chemical products globally.
These products often have an adverse effect on the health of individuals. You can easily inhale harsh chemicals without intending to do so, without even recognizing the health issues they cause until years later. This is why some people choose to make their own natural cleaning products, often featuring ingredients like lemon juice. But if you can’t avoid using chemical products, make sure to keep your windows open while cleaning.
3. Avoid Rugs and Curtains
Now, whether due to your personal preferences or simply because of the type of home that you own, you may not be able to avoid rugs or curtains in general. However, it’s a good idea to avoid excessive fabric hangings. For one thing, you can often save money simply by skipping on these types of furnishings.
For another, you may actually end up spending more money in the long term on maintaining these types of fabric products. They can easily collect dust, pollen, and other allergens; and for that matter, of course, dirt. Not only will you simply spend less if you avoid these types of furnishings; there’s also a certain degree of convenience that comes with having a home that is brighter and cleaner, especially during the summer months.
4. Decorate With Shabby Chic In Mind
Of course, preparing your home for the summer months isn’t just about doing the practical preparation. You’ll also want your home to look summer-friendly! Embrace shopping at thrift stores, or even looking at roadside finds. You can save a lot of money by embracing the beachy, ever-popular shabby chic vibe.
Don’t feel like you have to spend a lot to create a beautiful, summer-ready home. Rather, explore your own vision! With the right amount of innovation, you’ll have your home looking exactly as you want it to look.