Clean dusty ceiling fans
Since they’re situated high above your head, you don’t get up-close and personal with your ceiling fans very often. But when you do, there’s a good chance you’ll be horrified by what you see: an inordinate amount of dust. Before you start cleaning, though, make sure you’re doing it right. “Clean top to bottom—literally,” advises cleaning experts from Lemi Shine. “Start with the dust on your overhead light or fan, and end with the floor. This method ensures that all dirt, dust and miscellaneous items get sent to the floor and have no chance of being missed by the vacuum.” And after you dust the ceiling fans, set them to turn so that air circulates upward. This redistributes the warm air, which can save you on heating costs. Here are the things you may want to throw out before fall.
Scour your refrigerator’s secret spots
Cleaning the refrigerator door is a given, but it’s also important to get the door seals to remove crumbs that have collected, says Melissa Maker, cleaning expert and founder of Clean My Space. “The best way to clean a door-seal gasket is by using hot water and a mild dishwashing liquid,” she says. “Wipe it with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth, and dry thoroughly with a clean cloth. Make sure the seal fits properly when you put it back on since an improper fit can cause cold loss and temperature fluctuations.” It’s also a good idea to run the refrigerator shelves through the dishwasher for the cleanest results. Here are some other items you never knew you could put in the dishwasher.
Get rid of surface clutter
The shift in seasons is the perfect time to address the clutter that builds up in your home over a laid-back summer. “The first step is to toss out the trash—and this includes the expired coupons and mail on your counter,” says Melissa Witulski, a home-cleaning expert at Merry Maids. Addressing your fall organization now can take you smoothly through the upcoming holidays.
Change your bedding
Replace lightweight summer bedding with warmer covers for cooler nights. Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry, for the Clorox Company, suggests freshening synthetic fill duvets and comforters with a laundering cycle. Her pro tip: Add a few clean tennis balls to the dryer to “poof” the filling. And don’t forget to clean your pillows while you’re at it. Pillows can be a hotbed for up to 16 species of fungus as well as dust mites, and they should be cleaned every three to six months. Including this task on your seasonal to-do list will ensure that it doesn’t fall through the cracks. Here’s another thing to tackle this fall: Learn the right way to wash you pillows.
Scrub the BBQ
Before stowing away the barbecue for the season, give it a thorough cleaning, making sure to wipe down the often-overlooked knobs and handles. “Think about how dirty these little things get—[they’re] raw meat and sauce central,” says Maker. “They need to be cleaned to prevent greasy buildup and potential cross-contamination.” She recommends using a de-greaser, which will break down the bacteria-laden buildup. And here’s just how to do it!
Winterize your garden hose
Your garden hose needs special care in order to prevent damage, like cracking, which can happen when water freezes in the hose on cold days. After turning off the water, unscrew the sprayer nozzle from the end of the hose to drain out any remaining water. Coil the garden hose into large loops, then keep it from unraveling by screwing the two ends together before storing it.
Remove lint from the dryer
Drying bulky sweaters and winter coats will mean an increase in your dryer usage. And if you’re not careful, that can up your risk of having a dryer fire. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your dryer vent is on your annual cleaning checklist, says Jason Kapica, President of Dryer Vent Wizard. “As lint collects within the dryer exhaust system, it can back up into the clothes dryer itself,” he explains. “The dryer can then overheat and cause a fire.” Don’t miss these genius cleaning hacks from professional cleaners.
Tidy your home office
Get ready for all that online holiday shopping by clearing off, cleaning and organizing your desk. Experts at the Home Edit recommend Viva Multi-Surface Cloth. These soft yet strong cloth-like paper towels are particularly good at trapping and locking in a mess. And don’t forget to clean your computer: Gently shake crumbs out of the keyboard, wipe down the mouse and use special electronics wipes to clean your screen.
Organize kitchen cabinets
Before you start baking up a storm in the colder months, you have some work to do. Take the time to organize your baking pans and supplies, arranging everything in a way that makes sense to you, so you can easily find what you need. Then check your pantry for outdated baking ingredients. You always want them on hand, but they’re no good to you if they’re past their expiration dates. While you’re on an organizing kick, try these 40 kitchen organizing ideas you won’t believe you ever lived without.
Check the chimney
No fall-cleaning checklist is complete without a thorough chimney sweep. Before lighting the first fire of the season, enlist a professional to inspect your chimneys and flues, as well as clean them, if necessary. This will not only keep your chimney working well—but also keep you safe. If you neglect the condition of your chimney, it can cause a fire. Some of these fires are explosive and obvious, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, but others may go undetected and cause structural damage to your chimney and the nearby sections of your home.
Declutter your home’s entryway
Between bags from holiday shopping and seasonal accessories—like gloves, hats, scarves and assorted shoes—the entryway can become a cluttered mess. The Home Edit has a simple solution: Create drop zones. They’re specially designated spaces for each member of the family, where they can drop their bags, shoes or packages. Keeping everything in its place will help to keep the area organized. Next, find out how to declutter and refresh your kitchen.
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Jamie Novak