One of my favorite summer tips is to plug in an electric fan on our patio. I have found that it helps keep flies and mosquitoes away –and cools us off as well.

(Admittedly, it can wreak havoc with the paper napkins on the coffee table.)

With school out and life as busy as ever for many families, tips like these come in very handy. Sure, summer is supposed to be easy and effortless –but it doesn’t always feel that way.

To help, we have compiled a list of other tips that may make the weeks ahead a little easier –and more fun:

Wrap up the school year by sorting through the papers and backpacks now. If you can’t do it immediately, at the very least rifle through the backpacks and remove any food, smelly gym clothes, etc. (Linda A. Birkinbine, local professional organizer, Keep It Organized).

To avoid tracking sand into the house, have everyone towel off at the door. The job will be easier if they dust their feet with baby powder before toweling (Heloise/Good Housekeeping).

You may even want to take baby powder in the car for trips to the beach, as well as old towels to protect the seats from sand and sunscreen.

The task of shucking corn can get old fast. One tip to try: To remove stubborn silks from freshly shucked corn, try gently brushing the corn with a clean terry cloth kitchen towel (Better Homes and Gardens).

To serve ice cream on a cone or in a bowl, first run the scoop under hot water. This makes it go through the ice cream faster and you’ll also end up with rounder, more uniform scoops (Heloise).

Keep a basket by the back door for flip-flops.

Pack a swimsuit in the trunk of your car. You never know

When entertaining a crowd, set up a table just for the kids. Cover it with butcher paper and have crayons available so they can draw (Home and Garden Television).

You may also want to stock up now on sidewalk chalk, balloons (for filling with water), balls, etc.

Enjoy candlelight even on breezy evenings by using hurricane lanterns or jam jars to shield the flames (Martha Stewart Living).

To ripen tomatoes, wrap them individually in newspaper (Real Simple).

In addition to bringing water along for drinking on summer outings, tote additional water in a spray bottle to keep skin cool and refreshed. But don’t forget to wear waterproof sunscreen (Real Simple).

Other quick body cool-downs: Place a piece of silverware on the back of your neck. Rest your wrist on a cold glass of ice water (Heloise).

Make a copy of your children’s school supplies lists for the fall and keep them in your coupon folder or another accessible place.

That way, if there is an opportunity to shop, you will have the list with you. Do the same with your children’s reading lists, for spontaneous trips to the bookstore, library, etc. (Linda Birkinbine).

And one of our favorites for helping keep floors cleaner, longer: Place heavy-duty runner mats, backed in rubber or vinyl, inside and outside every entrance. Make sure each mat covers at least four footsteps (neatness expert/author Don Aslett).