
7 Tips For Cleaning Your Home For Fall
Fall is the best time of year to clean your home, because it allows you to make sure that you’re getting rid of everything that you don’t need. It also gives you an opportunity to make your space smell fresh and new with the changing season. Below are seven great tips on how to thoroughly clean your home so that it’s ready for fall cleaning and can also remain fresh and clean throughout the rest of the year as well.
1) Sweeping and mopping
Fall is a great time to clean your floors. Do you want a quick way to do it that requires no extra equipment? Why not sweep the floor first and then mop it with hot water? That way, any crumbs or dirt on the floor will be loosened and removed by the sweeping action. Mopping usually removes cleaner than just vacuuming since there is more contact time with dirty surfaces. Hot water is best for mopping because it dissolves some types of dirt better than cold water does. Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners on wood floors as they can ruin them and make them less resistant to water damage in case of leaks or flooding.
2) De-cluttering
When it comes to getting your home ready for fall, the first thing you’ll want to do is go through your belongings and look for any items that you haven’t used in a year. This may seem daunting at first, but don’t worry; this task only needs to be done once or twice a year. You’ll be able to avoid the clutter that piles up if you stick with this rule.
Moving on from our summer cleaning, we should also set about organizing our drawers and cabinets. Grouping similar items together will make things easier when looking for what you need later on.
3) Start with the Windows
You can start by getting down on your hands and knees to look under, around, and inside your windows. Window sills get dirty from shoes being dragged across them and furniture scraping against them. To avoid this problem, use an old towel or T-shirt as a glove when cleaning these areas so that you don’t drag any dirt into the house.
Take off the window screens and curtains in order to vacuum or dust behind them. Put your ladder away after using it and place furniture back where it belongs for the best results when vacuuming the carpeted parts of your windows. If possible, remove shoe moldings from all around the base of your windows to allow for more effective vacuuming underneath. Remember to clean the gutters before snow begins falling to avoid clogged drains and water damage. Finish up with dusting all surfaces in sight including shelves, ceiling fans, dressers, and light fixtures.
4) Finish with the Floors
Thoroughly sweep, vacuum, and/or mop your floors before mopping them. We recommend using a carpet cleaner to clean deep down dirt that has penetrated the fabric, or if you have tile or wood floors, use an appropriate cleaner for those types of surfaces. Fill a bucket with water and detergent and moisten the mop with it. Swirl it around the floor first in one direction and then in the other direction to get into every nook and cranny on the floor. Work from one corner to another until you’ve done as much as you can with your cleaning solution before dumping out whatever is left over in your bucket back into the bucket of clean water; this will save you time so you don’t have to constantly run over to dump out dirty water.
5) Vacuuming
Vacuuming is the best way to keep your floors looking clean and getting rid of dust that can exacerbate allergies. Start by turning off all the lights, find a comfortable place to sit (such as on your couch), put on a podcast or show, and turn your vacuum cleaner on. It’s okay if you have to stop for more than five minutes at a time, just try not to stop for too long. The important thing is just getting into the habit of doing it once or twice a week. Remember: there’s no need to vacuum every day if you’re busy!
6) Organizing closets
Now that you’ve decluttered your clothes, it’s time to give your closets a fall makeover. Follow these seven steps to get your closet looking fresh and organized this season:
1. Declutter by sorting through your clothes and items. Pick up anything that does not currently fit you and put it in a donation box for charity. Place what you are not wearing on another box and then put the donation box in storage for later this winter.
2. Use sheets, towels, or other soft material to line drawers or shelves so when you put away folded clothes they won’t be scratchy against the fabric of the clothing (e.g., sweaters).
7) Cleaning Walls and Floors
If you are looking for a quick and dirty way to scrub your home, try using baking soda. To clean walls, just give them a good scrubbing with baking soda and water and then wipe away the residue with a dry cloth. To get rid of unwanted dust on the floor, make sure to sweep thoroughly first. Then sprinkle some baking soda on the floor in front of the vacuum cleaner as you go back and forth over it; this will release a refreshing lemon scent from your vacuum cleaner!