Fall

Fall is a very pretty time of year.  The leaves start to change colors, the weather finally cools off and people start decorating for the holiday seasons.  It’s also a good time to do a thorough cleaning of your house.  After all, once winter comes, you’re going to start spending more time in the house.  Who wants to spend months choking back the accumulated dust of several months?  Nobody, that’s who.

So, here’s a fall cleaning checklist to help you make sure you get everything.

1. Cleaning the Windows

Using glass cleaner, spray down your windows and wipe them off with a microfiber cloth.  If you pick a cloudy day, you can see the streaks better and get a more complete clean.

2. Clean the Blinds and Curtains

Use a low setting on your vacuum cleaner and a brush attachment.  Vinyl shades can be wiped clean with a dampened microfiber cloth if they need more.  Check the labels on your curtains and window covers for washing instructions.  Some can be machine washed, but some will need to be sent to a professional cleaner.

3. Clean the Walls

First, figure out what kind of paint is on your walls; certain paints are less durable and may come off if you scrub too hard.  Dust your walls first.  When you’ve dusted, lay down towels to catch excess moisture.  Wipe down your walls with damp cloth, using only soft water first, starting at the top of the wall and working down.  If that isn’t enough, you can try warm water mixed with dishwashing soap.  If you still need something stronger, ¼ cup of ammonia and ¼ cup of baking soda mixed in a gallon of warm water and a good sponge should do the trick.  Be sure to dry off your wall with a towel when you’re done to prevent streaking and water damage.

4. Cleaning the Ceiling

Start with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment and vacuum.  Then get a feather duster and clear away what remains – you may need to clean the duster before you finish if the ceiling is particularly dirty.  If any dirt remains, use a microfiber cloth to wipe off the rest.  Do the same to any ceiling fixtures.

5. Vacuum and Spot Clean Upholstered Furniture

Using an upholstery attachment, vacuum your upholstery from left to right in short, overlapping strokes.  When it comes to spot cleaning, you’ll need to check your furniture for cleaning instructions.  Different kinds require different cleaners and have different instructions.

6. Kitchen Cupboards and Pantry

Empty your cupboards and pantry so you can see all of the shelves.  Wipe them down with a damp cloth, then follow up with a soft cleaner.  If you use shelf liners, replace them now.  While you have everything out, now is a good time to check everything for expiration dates and throw out anything that’s past its time.

7. Carpets

Carpets need a good deep cleaning twice a year.  Spring and fall are the usual times to do this. First, vacuum thoroughly.  Then spray down the entire carpet with a bottled foam carpet cleaner.  Scrub the carpet in a circular motion, moving from one side of the carpet to the next.  Let it sit for a few hours to let the cleaner break down the thick grime deposits that build up.  Finish by a second thorough vacuuming to clean up everything the cleaner broke down so it doesn’t thicken up again.

Sometimes, it’s a good idea to have a professional carpet cleaner come in and do the work.  They will often have specialized tools and cleaners that can do a much better job than you can on your own.

8. Wood Flooring

Using warm water and soap, mop your wood floors.  If you have scratches, you can hire a professional sand, recoat and refinish them to get them good as new.

9. Clean Your Computer Area

Computers get a lot of use in the modern day, so if they’re dusty, using them will subject you to a lot of allergens and cause health issues.  Clean and wipe down your keyboard.  Use a light duster to clean the dust off your monitor.  Using a microfiber cloth (very important to avoid scratching), spray a little bit of soft cleaner and wipe it down to get any fingerprints, or other remaining residue.  Check your computer’s instructions to see what cleaners are safe for this.  Scratches can be fixed with a scratch repair kit.

The inside of your computer also needs cleaning to keep it in good condition, but unless you’re experienced, it’s best to send it to a professional to do this so you don’t’ accidentally damage it.

10. Straighten out your closest

Empty out your closet.  Dust and clean it like you would the walls of your other rooms.  If you have any clothes you haven’t worn for a while, it might be a good idea to clean them just to get off any dust they gathered before you put them back.  While you have everything out, it’s a good time to go through it and see if there’s anything that’s worn out, or anything you don’t ever wear that you can get rid of to help declutter your home.

11. Replace Your Furnace Filter

The furnace filter needs to be changed about every three months.  Since you’ll probably be using your furnace a lot over the winter, now’s the best time to do it.

12. Test Smoke Alarms

Modern smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are very well-designed and can usually last for years – up to 15 sometimes – but you should still regularly test them just to be safe.

13. Chimneys

If you have a wood burning stove or fireplace, they need regular cleaning to get rid of the soot and ash that builds up over time.  This isn’t something we do, as there are very particular safety steps to follow.  For health reasons, you’ll need to hire a professional.

14. Declutter

People gather a lot of stuff.  It’s just what we do.  A lot of it is stuff we don’t need and only a lack of thought has kept us from throwing it out.  Since you’re giving your home a thorough clean, it’s a good opportunity to make decisions on what you have that you can do without.  It makes more space for you to live in, which is always more enjoyable.  And a yard sale is always a good way to make some quick extra cash for Christmas shopping!

Let Us Help

Clean Freak are experts at this sort of thing.  Not just homes, we also clean offices and commercial buildings.  For reasonable prices, we can do a lot of the cleaning for you, freeing up your time to do more of what you enjoy doing.  If you want to get a professional cleaning before winter comes so you can feel comfy and healthy through the cold months, get in touch with us today!