5 Things You Must Do Before Summer—or Regret It All Season

Chengdu temperatures suddenly hit 30°C the other day. I frantically searched for the AC remote, turned it on—and got hit with a musty smell.

That’s when I realized: summer is really coming, and I prepared absolutely nothing.

Determined not to repeat this, I made a “pre-summer must-do list.” Share it today—these are best handled before temperatures really climb, or you’ll suffer all season.

Task 1: Clean AC filters.

I remind myself annually, yet almost forget yearly. AC sits unused all winter—filters packed with dust and mold. Off is fine; on blasts everything into your room. Cleaning is simple: remove filters, rinse with water, spray cleaner, dry, reinstall. DIY-inclined? Professional deep cleaning runs around $50-70 but works wonders.

Task 2: Rotate summer wardrobe.

Pack away winter layers, unpack summer clothes. Check two things: any mold? Do they still fit? Last summer’s purchases might not appeal anymore—toss what you won’t wear.

Task 3: Inspect summer bedding.

Bamboo mats and summer blankets sat stored all year. Wipe and sun-dry before use. I once developed red spots from an unwiped mat—mite irritation. Summer blankets also benefit from sun exposure for sanitization.

Task 4: Stock mosquito defense.

Don’t wait for mosquitoes to shop. I stockpile electric repellent refills early and check window screens for holes. Ground floor dwellers especially—get defenses ready or summer nights become warfare.

Task 5: Organize the refrigerator.

Summer means heavy fridge usage. Clear expired items, free up freezer space. Summer joy largely comes from chilled watermelon, cold drinks, and ice cream—inadequate fridge space equals misery.

These five tasks take roughly one day but buy you a comfortable summer.

I used to think “I’ll handle it when the time comes”—but “the time” always arrives too late. Musty AC gets endured, mosquitoes prompt emergency store runs, missing clothes require emergency shopping.

Now I schedule these 1-2 weeks ahead, so when summer truly arrives, I can peacefully enjoy chilled watermelon and air-conditioned comfort.

If you haven’t started prepping, tackle it this weekend. After all, summer happiness requires advance preparation.