Get Your Home & Yard Cookout Ready

Memorial Day weekend is approaching us, and it's a great time to enjoy the outdoors with your friends and family, and celebrate our country. It's always been one of my favorite holidays because it marks the beginning of summer, and it's always been a tradition in my family to go to our towns parade and host a big cookout afterwards. Like 2020, many of us are celebrating Memorial Day a little differently this year. But it’s still possible to have an awesome cookout, while staying safe. We’re sharing a few tips on getting your home and yard ready!

Prepare Your Home 
We always tidy up our homes before we host a party. While most cookouts are held primarily outside, guests will still need to step inside to use the restroom or grab refreshments. Make sure that common areas in the home, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, have not only been tidied up, but wiped down and disinfected beforehand. While COVID-19 cases have dropped significantly and more Americans become vaccinated, this is still an important step when inviting groups of people into our homes. 

Temperature Control 
Memorial Day weekend weather is typically quite warm, so make sure that your guests are cool and comfortable. If you have not already, it might be a good day to turn on the air conditioning. We would suggest having your air ducts cleaned before doing so, as it will improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, and prevent dust, dirt and other allergens from spreading throughout your home. Temperature control outside is important too. Set up umbrellas or a tent canopy for extra shade. Also make sure you have cold beverages for everyone to enjoy and keep cool in the heat.

Prepare The Grill 
One of the best parts of Memorial Day is of course the the food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, are just a few cookout favorites. Before the party, make sure your grill is in proper working order. Check that you have enough propane, charcoal, pellets, whatever you need to get through a day of grilling. It's probably a good time to give it some TLC. Let your grill heat up for 15/20 minutes and then scrub the grates clean with a steel brush. Then clean grates and other greasy build up in the grill with a rag and hot soapy water. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure to dump out any old ash. 

Prepare Your Deck and Yard 
Give your deck a good cleaning to get all the winter filth off. Bring out the broom and sweep off any dirt or old leaves. I like to spray it down with the hose as well to get any leftover dirt off. Wipe down your patio furniture to remove dirt and pollen buildup and de-grime any glass, like table tops, windows, or any patio doors. Washing all your windows is a very time consuming, and sometimes even dangerous task. When your windows really need a good after-winter cleaning, hiring a professional service to clean your windows is never a bad idea. Lastly, pretty up your outdoor space with some final touches. Spruce it up with potted plants and flowers, comfy patio cushions, pillows, and an outdoor rug. This will create a warm and inviting area for entertaining all summer long!