Get ready for summer hosting

12 tasks 4–5 hours Spring

Outdoor living season is just around the corner, so it's a good idea to get your outdoor living spaces looking their best. Whether you're planning to entertain guests all summer or planning to chill out solo or with the whānau, now's the time to set the stage.

Your November checklist

Deep clean the kitchen

A sparkly clean kitchen is the perfect blank canvas for your delicious summer meals. Get into every nook and cranny and make the whole room shine. A clean and tidy kitchen makes cooking less stressful and obviously, has some health benefits too.

Clean out the fridge and freezer

Check everything in your fridge and freezer and get rid of anything past its best to make way for your summer favourites. Wipe down the shelving to get rid of any spill residue, and give the freezer a defrost if it's needed too.

Dust skirting boards and high-touch surfaces

Skirting boards accumulate dust pretty quickly and it's easy for it to go unnoticed until you inspect it up close. The same goes for higher surfaces you're not necessarily looking down on. A good dusting will make the whole house feel tidier.

Clean kitchen appliances

The main culprits here are usually the oven, the microwave, and air fryer, but you should clean down all of your appliances whether they get used regularly or not. When they're cleaner, your food is safer, and everything will be good to go.

Check outdoor taps and hoses

Check your taps and hoses for leaks and water flow. Plastic fittings can degrade over time and leak. Double check everything is working as it should and replace anything not up to scratch.

Clean rangehood and heat pump filters

It's time to clean the filters in both your range hood and heat pump. These filters trap a lot of grime when air is being moved around and need to be cleaned regularly for these appliances to maintain their best performance.

Inspect fly screens and insect screens

If you have fly or insect screens in your place, now's a good time to check there are no holes or gaps around the edges. The last thing you want in the heat of summer is pesky insects bothering you.

Test irrigation systems or garden sprinklers

If you have an irrigation system or garden sprinklers it's also a good time to check there are no blocks, leaks or holes. As your garden will require a little more water over the summer, you don't want to find out the hard way that your system isn't doing its job.

Tidy pathways and entrances

Whether you're weeding or waterblasting, get your pathways and entrance areas tidied up and sorted out. It won't just be more welcoming for guests, but it'll make coming home a treat.

Refresh outdoor cushions

If the cushions on your outdoor seating are a little past their best, it's time to grab some new ones. Whether you're prioritising soft luxury or contemporary colour, we've got what you need to stay comfy and stylish.

Refresh your flowers

Add some seasonal colour to your outdoor pots or planters. If your current plants are going strong, no worries, but it might be time to get some fresh growth and a nice burst of colour to your outdoor spaces.

Organise your outdoor entertaining space

If you're planning to spend those long summer days entertaining at home, now's the time to get your spaces sorted. Whether it's a general tidy or you want to add some storage, shade or new furniture, we've got you.

Good to know