10 Things You Should Clean In Your Yard Before Hosting a Memorial Day Cookout
Tidy up these areas before you fire up the grill.
Memorial Day is all about remembering those who dedicated their lives in service to our country, and there’s no better way to observe the holiday than by gathering around the table with loved ones. Because summer is on the horizon, the long weekend lends itself well to backyard cookouts, where friends and family can share food, trade stories, and enjoy one another’s company, all in nature. But aside from planning a delicious Memorial Day menu, you’ll need to get your lawn ready for company.
From grilling burgers to playing lawn games, your Memorial Day cookout will likely take place entirely outside, which means your front yard and backyard will need to be in tip-top shape. To help you prepare your outdoor space for visitors, we’ve curated a comprehensive cleaning checklist to cross off before your bash begins. Ahead, you’ll find all the outdoor areas and household items you’ll need to clean ahead of the party, from highly visible spots like your lawn and patio to hidden corners and crevices like trash bins and coolers (along with all those forgotten BBQ tools). With neatly trimmed grass, pollen-free furniture, and a pristinely restored grill, you’ll create a more inviting space to cook, mingle, and dine. Sprucing up your outdoor space won’t just make your yard look prettier, but it’ll also remove any hazards for a safer place to mix and mingle.
Ready to give your yard a refresh? Here are 10 outdoor spots to clean before a Memorial Day cookout.
Get ready for your Memorial Day cookout with more ideas:
The Lawn
A manicured lawn will set the tone for your cookout, both socially and logistically speaking. While a pristine outdoor space will help guests feel more welcome, it’ll also make grilling, eating, and mingling a lot easier to navigate. To properly tidy up your yard, start with the basics like clearing debris and mowing the grass. Then, shift your focus to the perimeter by pulling weeds and trimming the edges.
The Driveway
If your friends and family are parking out front, your driveway will be the first one to greet them. For a more aesthetically pleasing view and a smoother entrance, sweep away the dirt, leaves, and sticks before your cookout commences. If you have weeds growing in between cracks, now’s the time to pull those, too. If you want to go the extra mile, hose it down or use a power sprayer.
Walkways
As your friends and family shift locations from their car to your kitchen to the backyard, they’ll need a clear and inviting path to walk on. For every outdoor walkway in the front and back of your house, be sure to remove all obstacles that could cause slips and falls, such as sticks and branches. This is also an opportunity to beautify your pathways: Sweep the leaves, wash away dirt and pollen, scrub stains, and more.
The Patio
For a lot of folks, the patio is the heart of any Memorial Day cookout. It’s the place where everyone will congregate, kick back, and dig in, which means it’ll need to look tidy and feel comfortable. After sweeping the space, check for safety hazards like loose boards and protruding nails. Once you’ve assessed the damage, use a power washer to blast away pollen, algae, and other stubborn residue.
The Grill
For your first cookout of the season, you’ll probably be whipping up all your favorite Memorial Day grilling recipes. But before you flip the burgers, wings, and hot dogs, you’ll need to remove leftover residue from last summer. Scrape the grates with a bristle-free brush for a light cleaning, or soak the grates in hot, soapy water before scrubbing the insides for a deep cleaning. Whatever method you use, a cleaner grill will ensure safer cooking and tastier food.
Furniture
To make your backyard a cozier space for company, having clean furniture is a must. Wipe down all your outdoor tables and chairs (especially the ones where your guests will be seated for dinner) with mild dish soap and a sponge to remove any dust, pollen, and dirt. If any of your seats have cushions, be sure to shake them out and wash them down, too.
Trash Bins
Easily accessible trash bins are essential for any cookout. By scattering a few of them around the yard, everyone will have a place to discard paper plates, plastic cups, and disposable napkins. Translation: you’ll have less trash to pick up later! To keep the setup from looking and smelling even worse, empty and rinse the bins beforehand.
Coolers
You’ll need a cool, clean place to store all those drinks! To clean your cooler, remove any loose debris, scrub the interior with warm water and dish soap, and wash out the soap scum. For stubborn stains or smelly odors, apply a paste made with baking soda and water, and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it. To prevent mold and mildew, ensure the cooler is fully dry before filling it up for your cookout.
Décor
Backyard décor like planters, lanterns, rugs, and umbrellas will instantly add life and personality to your party, but after sitting outside all winter, they might look worn and dilapidated come Memorial Day. Give your outdoor decorations a refresh by dusting, disinfecting, and straightening them. You can also simplify your selection to create a more intentional setup, rather than a cluttered and chaotic one.
Hidden Clutter
Aside from your outdoor décor, there are probably a few other clutter hotspots you’ll need to handle before company comes. First things first, collect any stray toys sitting on and around your lawn. Next, clear the gutters, neatly coil your garden hose, and swipe away cobwebs from door frames and outdoor lights. A clutter-free space will make your cookout a lot more enjoyable for everyone!
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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