While you break out the bikini tops and SPF, your home also needs to be prepared for the summertime. This little tour of your home will save you space and time, and help you tweak the little things can lead to a super summer.

Kitchen

To always be prepared for the summer snack attack, double check and make sure you tools are up to par. After months of the grill sitting forgotten in the cold, now is the time to clean it off and fire it up. Plus, make sure the blender is ready to crank out some delicious cool-down smoothies for the kids or some margaritas for cocktail hour. Also, stock up that fridge with all the summer fruits we have been waiting for (think peaches, melons and berries).

Closet

If you never quite finished your spring cleaning, now definitely is the time. Clean out your closet for summer by stashing all the boots, sweaters and scarves in a safe, but far away, place. With all that heavy clutter completely out, you can organize your remaining summer wardrobe and shop for flat sandals, light breezy fabrics and shorts galore to fill up the open spaces.

Porch

Your porch deserves a little beautification after a dreary winter. Plant some new flowers to brighten up your home. Try planting summer flowers like sunflowers, marigolds and cosmos which all thrive extremely well in summer heat. Also, set up twinkle lights to give your patio some extra sparkle at night. During the day though, you’ll need some special gear to keep the sun’s rays in check. Protect your outdoor patio furniture by sun-proofing your fabric against fade with UV fabric spray. Also set up some large beach umbrellas or an awning to shield yourself from the sun.

Bedroom

Lose all of the heavy draperies on the windows and the duvet cover on the bed. Instead, replace them with lightweight breathable fabrics to ensure a comfortable sleep in these hot summer nights.

Car

Though you might not spend as much time in your car as your house, it is just as important that it is summer-ready. Keep a sun shade in the car to keep it from turning into an oven and also save your legs from being scorched. Also, it is nice to keep a cooler filled with water bottles in the backseat because the mercury is rising and it is easy to get dehydrated.

Finally, make sure that your air conditioner is working without a glitch. The AC breaking down is a surefire way to turn your living room into a sauna. Avoid this by changing your filters and having someone come look at it if it begins to act up.