Although spring cleaning is traditionally when you deep clean your home, we’re a fan of welcoming every new season with a clean slate. And fall is no exception! It’s the perfect time to freshen each room of the house and prepare for cold weather outdoors.
Use our handy room-by-room fall cleaning checklist to keep track of each task as you go along.
Entryway
- Sweep and mop floors
- Clean doormat
- Put away summer accessories
- Organize shoes
- Hang up fall jackets
- Hang up fall hats or scarves
Kitchen
- Clean stovetop
- Clean oven
- Clean microwave
- Clean dishwasher
- Clean refrigerator and freezer
- Discard old or expired food in pantry, fridge and freezer
- Clear countertops (try these tricks)
- Degrease cabinet doors and backsplash
- Dust top of high surfaces including fridge, microwave/range hood, cabinets
- Sweep and mop floors
- Wash kitchen rugs
- Clean garbage disposal
Dining Room
- Dust and polish furniture
- Vacuum and spot clean chair cushions
- Clean or vacuum curtains
- Mop or vacuum floor
- Shampoo rugs or carpet
- Polish any silver dinnerware
Bathroom
- Discard expired personal care products and makeup
- Clean makeup brushes
- Wipe down vanity
- Clean mirror
- Clean tub and shower
- Clean showerhead (try this plastic bag trick)
- Replace shower curtain liner
- Scrub tile grout (this product works)
- Clean toilet
- Clean hardware
- Sweep and mop floors
- Stock up on extra toiletries for holiday guests
Laundry Room
- Clean washing machine
- Clean dryer vent
- Organize laundry supplies
- Sweep and mop floors
Closets
- Store or donate outgrown clothes
- Wipe down shelves
- Bring cool weather clothes out of storage
- Put summer clothes away
Bedrooms
- Dust and polish furniture
- Wash bedding including sheets, pillows, duvets and bed skirts
- Put away light summer bedding and bring warmer linens out of storage
- Vacuum carpets (deodorize with baking soda first)
- Flip mattress
- Clean or vacuum curtains
- Mop or vacuum floors
- Shampoo rugs or carpets
Living Room
- Dust and polish furniture
- Wash blankets and pillow covers
- Vacuum upholstered furniture—check out why our editors love this Dyson vacuum
- Clean or vacuum curtains
- Dust and clean lamp shades
- Dust electronics
- Dust and clean decor
- Switch out seasonal decor, if needed
- Sanitize remote controls
- Mop or vacuum floors (don’t forget under the furniture!)
- Shampoo rugs or carpets
- Sweep out the fireplace
- Have fireplace inspected by professional
Office
- Recycle or shred unneeded paperwork
- File important paperwork
- Dust and polish furniture
- Dust electronics
- Sanitize keyboard and mouse
Throughout the House
- Dust ceiling fans
- Wipe down baseboards
- Wipe down doors and walls
- Vacuum air vents
- Change furnace filter
- Sanitize door handles and light switches
- Dust blinds
- Dust curtain rods
- Clean windows
Outdoors
- Replace screens with storm windows
- Check for cracks in siding and for window drafts, plug with caulk or weather stripping
- Turn off all outdoor faucets and coil garden hoses
- Put patio furniture in storage
- Stack and cover firewood
- Check bulbs in outdoor light fixtures
- Wash outside of windows
- Rake leaves
- Clean gutters
- Prune back shrubs
- Pressure wash driveway and walkways
The post The Ultimate Room-by-Room Fall Cleaning Checklist appeared first on Taste of Home.
Erica Young