Spring cleaning is a big deal in many households. After months of hibernating indoors, it makes perfect sense. That feeling of cleaning out the old, making room for the new. Clearing the air, washing the floors, and dusting the long-forgotten nooks and crannies that haven’t been seen, let alone touched, in months.
And when it was all done?
You know that feeling of moving into a new house? A fresh start. A new place. Long days of deep cleaning are over and it’s time to relax.
But today, we’re talking about something different than Spring cleaning.
It’s a new season, filled with colorful leaves, colder weather, warm clothes, and spending longer hours indoors.
There are good reasons for the Fall cleaning
Think about it, we put so much time into deep cleaning our homes in the spring, but we rarely think to do the same for fall and winter. I would think that would be just as important.
Alright, now we’re ready to start.
Plan to tackle these Fall cleaning tasks over a weekend, or spread it out over two weekends if you need to. Take your time, and don’t stress it. And focus on the most important tasks (for you) first.
1. Clean up
Before turing your home into a winter castle, it’s a great idea to clear out all the dust, dirt, pollen, and muck that’s been accumulating throughout the summer. The last thing you want to do is get stuck inside with all of that for the next few months – especially if you have allergies! As the health experts point out, “Central heating and closed windows reduce ventilation and create dream conditions for dust mites, bacteria and mold“.
- Check and clean your air filters
- Wipe down the blinds, wash the curtains, and clean the ceiling fans, floors, and carpets
- Clean kitchen cupboards and appliances
- Wash the walls, windows, doors, baseboards, etc.
- Get behind and under all the furniture like couches, beds, bookshelves, etc.
- Declutter and tidy up. Sell what you can on Craigslist or have a garage sale, donate to a shelter or thrift store, and don’t be afraid to send some stuff straight to the dumpster if you need to
2. Holidays Are Coming
With the holidays approaching, it’s time to think about all the fun you will have with family and friends. You definitely don’t want to give your mother-in-law another reason to complain, so make sure your house is clean. Give it a deep cleaning at the end of October then when it’s time to clean for the party guests you won’t have all the grim and build up to work through.
Using a warm, wrung-out microfiber cloth, wipe down everything top to bottom. To avoid damaging finishes, start with just water on the cloth and add gentle cleanser if needed. For a more detailed list of surfaces in every room, check out this house cleaning checklist.
- Focus on the kitchen. People tend to gather around the food during the holidays, so make sure your kitchen looks and smells nice. Don’t forget to dust the light fixtures and flush sink drains with boiling water.
- Sniff out bad smells. If you clean your home and something still doesn’t smell quite right, brew some coffee. The aroma will cover it up.
- Clean carpets and floors. Have carpeting and area rugs professionally cleaned if needed, or spot-clean on your own. Assess the condition of wood floors, and have them recoated or refinished if it’s time.
hiring a professional home cleaning service is a great option if you want a high quality top to bottom deep cleaning.
3. Prepare the Outside
- Have the gutters and downspouts cleaned before the rainy season starts
- Clean and store away a BBQ
- Clean beach toys and gear before storing them for the winter, and find a sheltered area to stow gardening tools and supplies
Tell us: What’s on your fall to-do list?