How’s summer going for you so far? Have you been lapping up the gorgeous weather while it’s lasted and making the most of your days off? For me, it’s been a tough task sitting still when there’s always something to be done at home.
If you read my recent post on summer projects to improve your home (which you can read here), you’ll know that now is a great time of year to come around to some of those home projects you’ve been neglecting for arguably far too long.
To give you some inspiration without sucking up too much of your time, I’ve thought and compiled three very simple summer home improvement jobs you can try out. It all starts with making some room in the freezer for your mint!
Freeze your herbs
In a recent post on how to make money from your garden, I talked a little about growing herbs when the weather is nice and selling them in local buy and sell groups. For those of us who have been lucky enough to have great weather in the last few weeks, you may have seen some of your herbs sprout up like it is nobody’s business.
I recently bought one of those mint potted plants in M&S about two months after needing some to make a cocktail and realising they didn’t sell mint in bags. Instead of picking half of it and neglecting it, I gave a go at leaving it on the windowsill and keeping an eye on it every other day. Even since then it has sprouted and then some.
To keep it under control, and be a little ingenious when making mojitos, I have been freezing my mint leaves by giving them a quick rinse before chopping them up, popping them in ice cube trays and filling up with water. It has worked a treat so far and from what I’ve read on cooking blogs, seems to be the best way of storing herbs in the long run. I recommend giving it a go if you’ve been growing basil and parsley which has grown rapidly in the last few weeks.
Sort out your radiators
“Have the radiators on in Summer? Are you mad?” is what I imagine most readers will be saying when I suggest sorting out your radiators over the warmer months. But hear me out… what if I told you it was the best time of year to check your radiators and maybe even buy new ones?
I’ve noticed a fair few sites that sell radiators have summer deals on the go right now when demand is lowest. UK based Trade Radiators have taken the quiet period to re-launch their site, and a little birdie has told me they’ll have 20% discount on their Trade Direct range this week if you use the promo code LAUNCH2019.
If you’re thinking it’s time to get a fancy towel rail for the bathroom or would rather have the kitchen getting a new radiator before the old one packs in over winter, use the code and see how much you could save on a spanking new model.
Get the emulsion out
Is the weather looking particularly cheerful in the next few days? Know that you’ll be keeping the windows open at night so you don’t feel clammy in bed?
Now is the perfect time of year to paint rooms in the house that need it. Get the emulsion out to breathe some life into your kitchen or bathroom, lighten up your halls or get everything out of your bedroom to spruce it up when you know you have the chance.
I’ve seen that B&Q have some 5L tubs of white emulsion from the likes of Dulux and Leyland for less than £30 right now. Homebase has deals on super trendy blackboard paint – that’s the paint that turns any wall into a massive blackboard you can write reminders on or let kids go mad drawing on the wall with colour chalk.
…and relax on a clean cushion
Just one last tip before I go that may seem silly, but hear me out. The good weather has seen most of the family spending their time out in the garden, and that has meant cushions and throws being banded in and out every day.
It wasn’t until the third good day of weather that I realised the cushion covers hadn’t even been washed (in fact it had been a while). I think many of us often forget to wash them as often as bed linen, so if you are seeing sofa usage dropping as the sun shines, get all your cushion covers washed. And don’t forget the throws too.
