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When the leaves on trees begin to change colors and fall from the trees, you know autumn is in the air! With a new season arriving, now is the perfect time to do a fall cleaning of your home, with an emphasis on a few seasonal cleaning chores that will prepare your home for the cooler months ahead!
You might be thinking that it’s unnecessary to do any type of fall cleaning, but you’d be wrong! Fall is the perfect time to tackle certain areas of your home that are often neglected. Plus, cleaning these areas when it’s cool is a lot more motivating than when it’s 90 degrees outside, and you’re sweltering.
By tackling these critical to-dos, it will help keep your home clean and looking great! By doing some deep cleaning, your house will look and smell fresh, and you will be prepared to tackle Winter!
Today, I am going to share my top ten professional Fall cleaning tips for your home!
Table of Contents
Recommended Fall Cleaning Tips
1. CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
At the beginning of each new season is the perfect time to clean out your closets. If you pack away clothes for each season, you’ll want to grab your storage containers and put up your clothes for Summer and bring down and replace for cooler-season items. Don’t forget to bring down coats, boots, gloves, and other cold weather gear!
Empty your closet and take the time to wipe down your closet walls from any cobwebs or dust. Also, vacuum or sweep the floors, and purge and declutter what you don’t want or need
Grab three big bags – one for trash – one for donations – and one for things you’ll sell either at a yard sale or on Facebook Marketplace. This way you can quickly purge and sort what you want to get rid of.
2. CLEAN UNDER FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES
When was the last time you cleaned underneath your furniture? If you can’t recall, fall is the perfect time to move your furniture and clean under sofas, tables, and even appliances.
Under these household items food crumbs, dust and more can collect.
It is a perfect time to move your furniture and really clean underneath them. Vacuuming your cushions are a good idea as well!
3. CLEAN WINDOWS, BLINDS, AND CURTAINS
Start with the windows. Over the spring and summer months, dirt, dust, pollen, bugs and the like have made their home on the outside casings and sills. Give your windows a good cleaning inside and out. My favorite way to clean them is with a bucket of soapy water (I use Dawn Dish soap, vinegar, and water). Use a squeegee to make it as simple of a process as possible.
Before you tackle the windows take all curtains or drapes and wipe down blinds. Wash what you can yourself, or send them out to be professionally cleaned.
If you open your windows on a nice Fall day, you want fresh air to blow in, not a lot of dust from build up on the curtains and blinds.
4. FLIP OR ROTATE YOUR MATTRESS
When you turn back your clocks, that is a perfect time to flip or turn your mattress. Some mattresses can’t be flipped due to being a pillow top, if this is your case, just rotate it 180 degrees. Whether you flip or not, sprinkle baking soda over the top of the mattress, let it stand an hour and then vacuum up, or try this hack.
If you want it to smell great, add a few drops of lavender essential oils to a spray bottle and spray the tops and side of the mattress. Let it air dry before putting your sheets back on the bed.
5. CLEAN CARPETS EITHER DIY OR HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
I used to do my own carpets all the time when I was a bit younger and had more energy; now I hire out. But if you can do it yourself, cleaning your carpets is not that difficult. You can rent a machine at almost any home improvement center. They come with clear instructions and someone at the store can always walk you through the process if you’re new to rug cleaning.
If you do opt to have a professional come to the house, October is a great time to clean your carpets. Your carpet can collect dust, dirt and other bacteria, and getting them regularly cleaned, can help eliminate all that nastiness. Plus regular cleaning makes the whole house look nicer.
6. CLEAN GUTTERS
After all the leaves have fallen from the trees, head out and clean out your gutters. Gutters without leaf guards can get stuck and jammed with leaves and other debris making rain and snow not flow properly through the gutters, leaving a mess for you. Severe ice dams and other issues can be caused by gutters that don’t work properly due to being clogged up.
So this Fall head out and clean out your gutters. If you are unable to do this, you can hire someone.
7. CLEAN REFRIDGERATOR COILS
To keep your fridge running efficiently and help you to save money on your energy bill, clean out the coils. Remove the refrigerators kick plate and vacuum around and over the coils on your fridge. They can collect pet and human hair, dust, and more very quickly. I recommend doing this more than one time a year, but once a year at a minimum.
Once that’s done why not tackle the inside of the refrigerator too.
8. CLEAN BEHIND AND UNDER YOUR WASHER AND DRYER
This is a cleaning chore most of us rarely if ever think about. But lots get stuck behind your washer and dryer and so cleaning the sides and behind them helps to improve the cleanliness of your home.
Start by pulling out your washer and dryer and wiping down the tops and sides. Grab your vacuum and vacuum up all the dust, lint and debris that has collected under the machines.
Check the washer hoses for bulges or cracks and replace if needed. Home improvement specialists recommend replacing the hoses every 1-2 years. Then make sure to check your dryer exhaust tube, to ensure it is clean of any debris. Head outside and see that your vent is clear as well and that you don’t have a birds nest or anything nesting inside.
Here are some kits I recommend for a DIY job!
9. SWEEP THE CHIMNEY
Before you start up your fireplace for those cooler fall nights and chilly winter days, hire a professional to come and clean and inspect the chimney to ensure it is safe to use.
This isn’t a task I recommend you do yourself. They will not only clean the chimney but inspect it for any damage.
10. CLEAN OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND STORE FOR WINTER
Most if not all outdoor furniture should be stored away for winter to prevent damage, cracking or breaking under the strain of heavy snow, freezing temperatures and wind.
Take the time to clean it according to manufactures recommendations and if possible store in the garage or shed. If you don’t have room to store it inside, consider purchasing covers that will protect it from the elements. Your furniture will last much longer if you care for it in this way.
Use this handy guide to learn how to clean all types of patio furniture.
BONUS CLEANING TIPS – CLEAN LIGHT FIXTURES
Remove light covers and remove the bugs and dust that have collected over the years. This includes ceiling fans and chandeliers, wash and replace. Wipe down ceiling fan blades too.
Vacuum fixtures paying particular attention to areas that collect dust and make sure to use the right attachments.
To wash any glass either spray and clean in place; or remove, wash and replace.
CONCLUSION
Fall is the perfect time to tackle those cleaning jobs that have been ignored all summer long. You’ll ensure your home is in tip top shape and even might save yourself from other costly repair jobs because you took the time to maintain parts of your home.
Either way, your home will look and feel great by using these fall cleaning tips. Best part, you’ll be ready to head into winter knowing you’ve covered important aspects of your home.
