Stephanie
Photo by Jimmy Conover on Unsplash
It’s that time of year again and soon it will seem like fall has descended upon us overnight! While you might be thrilled about this exciting season, it is also a great time to get your home ready for the upcoming cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. If you’re anything like us, your house is probably a little too cozy for comfort. Your home should be where you can relax after a long day at work or school, not an anxiety-inducing labyrinth filled with cobwebs, dust bunnies, and piles of laundry. Luckily, with just a little bit of prep work, there’s no reason why your home cannot be ready in time for fall!
1. Deep clean your floors
While I am all for having a home that is well loved and lived in, one thing that should always be on your radar is the cleanliness of your floors. This is because they are often the first thing guests will see when they walk into your home and the last thing you see when going to bed. Also, it is the place your kids sit and play. Cleaning your floors is the perfect way to jump-start your fall cleaning. The process is easy, and it’s a great way to remove any grime and dirt that has been building up over the summer months and get them clean for fall. Cleaning your floors is best done with hot water, a cleaning product, and a mop or microfiber cloth. With these three items, you can clean almost any type of floor. We recommend cleaning your floors at least once a month or after any big or messy event where your floors may have been exposed to a lot of foot traffic or have been exposed to spilled drinks and food.
2. Dust and vacuum your ceiling fans
If your fans are anything like ours, they are covered in dust and other debris. To protect your fans, check the cord length to ensure they are unplugged. Next, you want to use a standard feather duster to clean the blades. Be sure to go slowly and carefully, as they can be pretty fragile. Once the edges are clean, vacuum the rest of the fan and your ceiling. If you’ve got ceiling fans with light fixtures, you’ll want to clean those as well. The best way to do so is to use an old shirt you don’t care about and soap and water. You can also use a microfiber cloth or a paper towel if you don’t want to get your shirt dirty. Make sure to dry any moisture you come across, and then set the fan to oscillate to dry the rest of the room. Checking your air filters and cleaning out the drainage lines is also important. If you don’t have time to do this, it may be a good idea to hire an air duct cleaning services or another professional home cleaning service.
3. Polish your windows and mirrors
Fall cleaning is an excellent time to get your windows and mirrors sparkling just as you would do during a Spring cleaning. You can do so with a few essential cleaning products. Start by removing scuff marks and stains from your windows and mirrors with a few drops of dish soap and warm water. As we do, you may also use a diluted vinegar solution if you have hard water. After you’ve cleaned your windows and mirrors, you’ll want to polish them with a newspaper to make them shine. Place a few layers of newspaper on the paper, spray with a squeegee, and wipe down the newspaper to get a streak-free shine. Be sure to replace the newspaper as you go.
4. Freshen up your bathroom
The bathroom is an area that tends to get neglected, but it’s an important room to maintain. This is because it’s a room where many germs and bacteria live. You can make your bathroom feel fresh and new again by taking a few hours to clean it from top to bottom. Start by cleaning your bathtub and toilet. The best way to do this is to use baking soda and a scrub brush. Then, wipe down your sink and toilet seat. Once those are done, you can move on to the rest of the bathroom. Wipe down the walls (be sure to use a safe cleaner for painted walls) and then clean the floors, window, and ceiling fan. Finish up by putting a fresh, clean scent in the room with a scented candle or spray. Doing a deep clean in the Fall and Spring will help you keep it cleaning throughout the year.
5. Toss the clutter
While spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to get your house in order, you may also want to purge household items in the fall. This is because fall is the perfect season to bring out your cozy sweaters and blankets, and if styles or tastes have changed it is time to purge the clutter. Start with your closets. Take everything out and dump it onto your bed. Then, go through everything and ask yourself these questions: Have I used this in the last 6 months? Do I plan to use this in the next 6 months? Is it in good condition? Is it still within my style and tastes or fit and comfort? If you answered no to any of these questions, get rid of the item(s) by either donating it or throwing it away. Otherwise, you can also store items you don’t wear regularly in a storage unit and re evaluate next season.
Conclusion
Cleaning both in the fall and the spring go hand in hand. This is because it’s the best time to prepare your home for the upcoming fall season and summer seasons. With just a little prep work, there’s no reason your home cannot be ready in time for fall. So now that you know how to clean your home for fall make sure you don’t let it sit until next year!
