Cleaning Tips for Florida Homes After a Summer of Kids and Guests

By Andrey Zhilin, Professional Cleaner (and Father)

If you live in Florida and your house was the place this summer — full of kids, cousins, friends, pool parties, and surprise visits — then I already know what you’re dealing with.

  • Beach towels in the laundry that were “forgotten” two weeks ago
  • Stickers on the fridge, glitter in the grout
  • Juice stains no one confessed to
  • Someone’s mystery sock behind the couch
  • A lingering smell that might be sunscreen, or maybe… cheese?

Welcome to the post-summer reset — or as I like to call it, “finding your house again.”

Why Florida Homes Need Extra Help After Summer

Summer here isn’t just hot. It’s humid, sandy, sticky, and chaotic. Between indoor/outdoor traffic, sweaty swimsuits, and constant activity, most homes take a silent beating.

I’ve cleaned homes that looked fine on the surface — until we moved a chair and found crackers, sand, and a LEGO.

So here’s what I recommend to get your home back without losing your mind (or your vacuum).

Tip 1: Don’t Just Clean — Declutter First

Get a laundry basket and walk through the house. Pick up every out-of-place toy, charger, flip-flop, or half-empty sunscreen bottle.
One room at a time.
You’ll be amazed how much visual stress disappears once the clutter is gone.

Tip 2: Clean the “Invisible Zones”

Florida homes hide grime in places you stop noticing during summer. Now’s the time to get into:

  • Window tracks (sand + humidity = grime glue)
  • Ceiling fans (full of dust and pet hair)
  • Baseboards and outlet covers (fingerprints galore)
  • Under furniture — trust me, just look.

These aren’t daily chores — they’re seasonal survival moves.

Tip 3: Refresh the Soft Stuff

Beds, couches, curtains — everything’s been touched, jumped on, or sneezed into.

  • Wash all linens on hot
  • Steam-clean upholstery if possible
  • Flip mattresses (especially kids’ beds)
  • Spray a vinegar-water mix (3:1) on soft surfaces to neutralize odors

Bonus: hang items outside for sun-drying — UV rays help kill bacteria and that “summer funk.”

Tip 4: The Floor Deserves More Than a Quick Mop

Sand, juice, hair, food, pet drool — your floors have seen it all.
Vacuum first. Then mop — slowly and thoroughly. Use a floor-safe disinfectant with no waxy residue.

If you’ve got tile, now’s the time to scrub the grout. Yes, really.
(Or call someone like me — I won’t judge.)

Tip 5: Let the House Breathe

Once the cleaning is done, open the windows. Let air move.
Florida homes stay closed all summer to keep the A/C running, but they need a refresh. Even just 15–20 minutes of ventilation makes the house feel “alive” again.

When to Call in the Big Guns

Some jobs just aren’t worth the stress. If your house needs a reset — especially if you rent it out, had guests for weeks, or just feel overwhelmed — bring in pros for a seasonal deep clean.

We’ll handle the stuff you forgot about — like under the stove or inside the A/C vents. You focus on recovering from your summer.

Final Word

Your house did a lot this summer. It was the snack station, the guesthouse, the storm shelter, and the splash zone.

Now it’s time to give it back its dignity — and your sanity.

Happy post-summer cleaning. You’ve earned it.