Summer’s high temperatures and humidity mean we need to adjust some of our cleaning chores. Precautionary measures must be taken when it comes to storing food, and extra effort is needed to keep your home safe for your family.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Sanitize and prolong the life of your sponges and kitchen towels by soaking them once a week for a minute in a solution of 1 cup water and 2 teaspoons bleach. Rinse them thoroughly with water.

Trash bag trips are cut short if you double line your trash bins. This saves you the trouble of lining it after collecting the full one.

Wipe down your pool inflatables with white vinegar before the kids start using them. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant against basic germs.

Collect used plastic bags from your loaf bread and other purchases for picking up your pet’s waste or cleaning up any wet mess instead of plastic gloves. Make sure they don’t have any holes.

Polish your stainless fixtures like faucets with leftover lemon wedges. Rub the lemon directly on the surface, rinse off and dry. This will give a shine to your fixtures and a fresh, citrusy scent to the room.

Dry your sheets the old-fashioned way—hang them out for the sun to do its job. Take advantage of the scorching heat and save on electricity as well.

Defrost frozen meats and other foods in the refrigerator. Leaving food out to thaw can be potentially dangerous because of the high level of heat and humidity. It’s an open invitation for salmonella and the like to set in. It’s best to set back your defrosting time and put the frozen food in your refrigerator to thaw in safe temperatures.