Experts reveal the 7 most skipped and hated summer cleaning jobs – and how to get past the mental block to tick them off your list

We all do it – neglect key cleaning jobs because the summer is here and quite simply, we'd rather spend time outside with friends and family instead of dealing with pesky cleaning jobs.

However, some are integral to having a stress free summer. It's easy to put these jobs off – who wants to be up a ladder cleaning gutters or scrubbing the BBQ for the second time this season when temperatures are soaring and the wine is flowing?

We've asked our professional cleaning experts for their advice on what the most skipped summer cleaning jobs are and how to hack your brain to tackle them quickly and efficiently. From cleaning windows to outdoor rugs, we get the lowdown on some outdoor cleaning tasks and what not to miss.

1. Interior windows and window screens

Cleaning the inside of your windows and sanitizing window screens is a draining and repetitive summer job we often skip. But think of all those grubby hand marks from the children and grandchildren, or the grimey smudges from your nosy cats who love to people-spot on your windowsill.

When it comes to cleaning inside your windows, it's easy to feel overwhelmed as there are usually lots of them to tackle and it's a repetitive summer churn, as the long, bright daylight hours make it easier to see the marks.

The best way to overcome this is to either call a professional to do them for you, or tackle them in smaller chunks – one room at a time usually works best.

Steam cleaning windows will give you a good, quick result. The Bissell Steam Shot OmniReach handheld portable steam cleaner, available on Amazon is great for tiles, grout and windows and has thousands of high ratings.

The best way to clean window screens is to set aside a time to tackle them. Scott Schrader, CMO at CottageCare, a leading home cleaning company says we skip this summer job because we see it as time-consuming and finicky. 'A top tip is to clean a few screens at a time instead of all at once so it isn't too much.'

2. Scrubbing outdoor furniture

The sun arrives and the patio furniture either gets taken out of storage or the covers are removed. If you've put it away clean it will still look great.

But after a few weeks, hot dusty days or a few damp nights, garden furniture can start to look a little worse for wear during the summer, and this is when it needs your attention.

If you know family and friends are arriving this coming weekend, then put a note in your calendar to research how to clean your outdoor furniture so you get an idea of what's involved. This will give you the impetus to spend time checking yours over and seeing if it needs a quick clean or a more thorough one.

For the best results, we love these cleaning solutions and tools that are ideal for any type of patio furniture.

3. Patio and decking cleaning

This is another job we often do earlier in the year as we move from bitter cold to balmy spring days, but debris and dead leaves will continue to accumulate during the summer months.

It might be that you're unsure of how to clean your patio and all you need to do is a quick sweep every week to keep on top of it – put it on your weekly cleaning checklist for accountability.

'Why do we skip this summer cleaning job? 'The equipment may be intimidating, and there is prep work to do,' says Scott. 'Make it easier for yourself by renting or borrowing a power washer for a few hours, you can do the job section by section, and use a basic cleaner like Simple Green.'

Bud Summers, executive vice president of operations and training at PuroClean says summer is a great opportunity to check over your patio and decking for damage too.

He says, 'Mildew, pollen, and grime build up on decks, patios, siding, and driveways in spring and early summer. Make sure to inspect wood decks for rot or loose boards and re-seal if necessary. Use a low-pressure setting on wood surfaces to avoid damage – always test a small area first.'

Walmart's 30 Seconds outdoor cleaner will remove algae, mold and mildew from concrete, wood and decking with ease.

4. Cleaning the grill

Let's be honest, how often do we think of cleaning the grill? Even though it will get used the most in summer, it's an arduous tasks that many of us bury our head in the sand about.

'It’s easy to skip cleaning the grill because we never really notice the state of it unless we are using it – and it’s impossible to clean your BBQ while using it,' says Adrienne Gibbons, cleaning expert at CLR Brands.

'No one wants to scrub stubborn grill grease off a BBQ, but the payoff is so worth it – a shiny grill that won’t flare up and burn your food,' adds Adrienne.

So how can you hack your brain to make you finally get this mucky summer cleaning job done? 'A great motivator is to invite friends over for a BBQ and carve out time that morning to clean the grill,' Adrienne suggests.

You can also organize barbecue equipment as recommend by the pros too, you'll be glad you did when your family and friends arrive for the weekend!

Learning how to clean a charcoal grill and the best cleaning products to use will help, so you can do this job quickly with less elbow grease.

Just remember that using metal grill cleaning brushes can pose a risk, as parts can break off and end up in food that's then ingested and cause injury.

5. Outdoor rugs and cushions

Grubby hands and muddy footprints can appear on both outdoor rugs and cushions, but with them being in use alot when it's warm, it can be hard to whisk them away to be cleaned.

If you have a warm weekend due that's guest free or an evening when the temperature is going to be hot, then mark it up in your diary. That way these items will only be out of use short term.

Learning how to clean outdoor cushions will make your life easier in the long run, while an outdoor rug can be cleaned up quickly and easily with a pressure washer on a low setting.

Scott agrees, 'We skip this job because outdoor cushions and indoor/outdoor rugs are large, often dirty, and take up space and time to dry. If you're not keen on using a pressure washer, consider a gentle soap spray for an easier and thorough clean-up. You can use a drying rack or just leave them in the sun for some time to assist with drying.'

Dawn Free & Clear power wash spray from Walmart will work for this, simply spray, wipe and rinse. This solution is free and clear of dyes too and cuts through grease.

6. Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is an essential job that we skip – mainly because none of us really fancies climbing up a ladder to remove all of that debris that's accumulated over the past months. This is especially important in summer if you have skipped the usual winter or spring clear out.

'When a job is out of sight, it's also out of mind,' says Scott. Keeping your gutters clear in summer is vital to the overall maintenance of your home and can prevent all sorts of potentially pricey issues like damp and mold. There are different ways you can tackle this job, you can learn how to clean gutters from the ground safely using tools or from a ladder.

'Pick a weekend and define a time to do it, then use gutter cleaning tools with an extendable handle, or even a brush on a stick, so that way you stay out of trouble – or hire someone if it's too overwhelming for you,' suggests Scott.

Take away the stress of going up a ladder by investing in Amazon's Buyplus gutter cleaning tool, it has a hose attachment and can reach up to 8ft with a bendable gutter wand and five spray patterns.

7. Checking your AC and HVAC unit

The summer is the ideal time to clean your HVAC system and inspect your air conditioning units. Why do we put this off? Because it's not exciting and can take a few hours, but leaving it can have dire consequences.

'AC units work overtime in the summer, and dirty filters or coils can reduce efficiency and air quality,' says Bud. 'You should replace or clean air filters, remove dust and debris from vents and ducts, clean the condenser coils on outdoor units, and schedule a professional HVAC tune-up if it hasn't been done in the last year.'

This can be an overwhelming summer task, so to make it easier, you can break it down. For example, order some new filters and replace them first – Target's Filtrete Premium allergen, bacteria and virus air filter 1900 MPR have great reviews and a five star rating. Then the next day allocate an hour to remove the dust and clean the coils.

Bud's top tip is to 'do this before the first major heat wave to ensure your system runs efficiently when you need it most. A lot of people don’t check this until it’s too late!'

Meet our experts

Scott Schrader

Scott Schrader is the Chief Marketing Officer at CottageCare, a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. A U.S. Army veteran, Scott joined the family business in 2006 and is an expert in all things cleaning as well as overseeing brand growth, digital strategy, and customer experience. In addition to leading marketing efforts, he actively supports the CottageCare Rwanda Project, a long-term humanitarian initiative focused on community development and poverty relief.

Bud Summers

Bud Summers serves as executive vice president of operations and training at PuroClean. This gives him the extensive knowledge and experience to offer expert advice on all things cleaning.

Adrienne Gibbons

Adrienne Gibbons is a cleaning expert with deep product expertise in removing hard water stains including calcium, limescale and rust, as well as mold and mildew, tarnish, grease and grime. She is also the director of marketing at Jelmar, home of CLR Brands.

Although summer cleaning jobs are not very appealing, let's be honest, there are some that are essential to everything running smoothly and looking great throughout the season, which means you have more time think about how to stay cool when hosting outside in the summer instead!