On June 21 this year—aka the summer solstice—the sun travels the longest path through the sky, giving us the most daylight of any day of the year. Let's celebrate this day of maximum sunshine by using the sun's gift of light to clean.
Here are some things to clean using the sun's light and heat to your advantage:
1. The windows
Start with these early in the day so that the hot midday sun doesn't leave water marks on the windows as they dry. Getting them clean will let the beautiful golden light stream in all day.
2. Window screens, sills, and tracks
If you're spending the time to wash your windows, take the opportunity to get every part of your windows clean.
Wash out garbage cans and recycling bins with a hose, erase scuff marks with a magic eraser, scrub nooks and crannies, and then leave them out to dry in the sun, which will disinfect them naturally.
4. Your whites
If you have some dingy white laundry that you'd love to whiten, toss it in the wash, and set up a line to dry outside. Think white undershirts, towels, bed sheets. Not only will you take them down from the line whiter than before, but they'll have that heavenly sun-soaked smell.
5. Your front porch
Take advantage of all that the sun reveals by looking at your front porch with sharp eyes. Grab a ladder and a broom and brush away corner cobwebs, wash pillars with a solution of mild soap and water, beat your doormat out, and sweep and wash your front porch floor. Finish by giving your planters and front door a wipe-down with a damp rag.
6. Your outdoor furniture
If you haven't already done it, refresh your outdoor furniture with a hose or power washer. Scrub outdoor cushions and set everything out to dry in the sun.
