As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp and chilly, fall is the perfect time to prep your home for the colder months ahead. A thorough cleaning during the fall not only helps to bring life back into your space, it also maintains a higher level of efficiency and comfort within your home throughout the winter season. With the hustle and bustle of a warm summer behind you, this season offers a great opportunity to declutter, organize, and deep clean your home. This article provides a simple yet comprehensive fall cleaning checklist to ensure that your home is ready for the seasonal transition.
DECLUTTER AND ORGANIZE
The best way to feel like you have lightened your load is to get rid of clothes and accessories you no longer need! Identify clothing items that no longer fit you or accessories you haven’t touched in years. Sort into piles to donate, keep, or throw away. Go through your summer clothes as you pack them away and bring out your winter wardrobe. Organize items like holiday decorations, sports equipment, and other seasonal items to save space. Consider using labeled bins or clear storage containers to keep everything neat but accessible. Clean the areas that house muddy and wet shoes to avoid tracking dirt and bacteria into your home. Consider adding shelves, mats, and hooks to hold dirty shoes, bags, and large jackets. Be sure to go through many rooms in your house to clear out items you no longer need. Check the kitchen and pantry for expired foods and reorganize your shelves for easy access and to better remember what you have to cook with.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Dusting and vacuuming is essential. Be sure to dust all surfaces, like your headboards, baseboards, walls, ceilings, vents, and light fixtures. Vacuum the carpets, rugs, and even upholstered furniture to remove dust and prevent allergies from being prevalent when it gets colder. Clean the inside and outside of your windows before it gets too chilly to do so. Dust and wash your blinds and curtains to remove dirt. Take care of your appliances this fall, too! Be sure to deep clean the oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, etc. Remove food debris from these items, empty the toaster, descale the coffee maker, and do what you can to give all of these items a new, fresh start. Scrub sinks, toilets, and showers to remove dirt and mildew. Consider replacing old shower curtains or bath mats with newer ones for a fresh look.
OUTDOOR PREPARATIONS
Take care of your lawn by raking leaves and other debris from your yard to prevent dead patches or bug infestations. Mow the lawn one last time before winter starts and consider aerating and fertilizing for healthy growth in your plants come springtime. Be sure to remove dead plants and debris from your vegetable gardens and flower beds, while also making sure to trim bushes, shrubs, and mulch your garden beds to protect them from the cold weather. Clear the gutters and leaves trapped in your roofs to prevent water damage or ice dams during the colder months. Inspect your home’s exterior for damage or wear, as it will become much more extreme with the colder months. Make the necessary repairs before the weather turns freezing to protect your home from the outside elements.
INDOOR COMFORT
Replace indoor filters, like the HVAC, to improve air quality and ensure that you have efficient heating. Be sure to schedule a professional inspection so someone can come in to check and see if your furnaces or heating systems need to be tuned-up. Also check for drafts around the windows and doors in your home and seal any gaps you find. This will keep your home warm and energy-efficient. There are also some safety measures that need to be inspected before the winter comes, such as testing and replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Ensure that all fire extinguishers in your home are charged and accessible. Emergency preparedness is essential, so stock up on emergency items such as flashlights, back-up batteries, and non-perishable food items in case of power outages or winter storm emergencies.
