A Comprehensive Guide by Fresh Nest Cleaning Inc.
As the leaves start to change and the air becomes crisp, it’s a telltale sign that fall is upon us. It’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the upcoming season and ensure it remains cozy, clean, and comfortable since you’ll be spending a lot more time inside once winter hits. With a few simple steps and some assistance from your trusted residential cleaning service, you can make sure your home is ready to embrace the beauty of autumn. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential tasks to prepare your home for the fall season.
De-Clutter and Organize
Before you dive into the cleaning process, start by decluttering and organizing your home. Fall is a great time to go through your belongings, donate what you don’t need, and organize what’s left. You’ll likely be pulling out your fall or Halloween decorations right now, and might even be making sure you and your family have the proper winter gear to prepare for the months ahead, so make sure you go through any seasonal items now to give yourself a fresh start and a good base to work from. A clutter-free home creates a sense of calm and allows for more effective cleaning, as there are less items to collect dust and dirt, or to move out of the way when you wipe down a surface. Having less to do always makes a task easier to handle and having less items in the house will make cleaning easier to keep up with.
Deep Clean Your Home
As you pull items out of storage and go through your home to de-clutter, now is also a good time to give your home a good deep clean! As you empty things like entryway closets to sort through your seasonal gear, you might notice all the dirt and dust that’s been collecting underneath your shoes or on top of your closet shelves. We recommend focusing on one room or area at a time so that you don’t get overwhelmed with a large project, and it can help to focus on specific cleaning tasks to keep you on track:
- Dusting and Wiping: Pay special attention to areas that accumulate dust, like baseboards, shelves, and electronics. Especially with the windows closed for the next few months, you’ll want to get as much dust out of the house as possible to ensure good air quality to help keep your family healthy.
- Window Cleaning: Clean windows to allow maximum natural light during the shorter fall days. You want to maximize the amount of sun that gets into your house to help heat it up and to help with your mental health.
- Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaning: Scrub countertops, sinks, showers, and toilets, and pay extra attention to disinfecting high-touch areas. Flu season is fast approaching, and with more upcoming holidays with everyone gathering indoors (especially if you have young children), regular disinfecting will help keep germs in check.
- Floor Cleaning: Vacuum and mop all types of flooring. Consider professional carpet cleaning to remove deep-seated dirt and allergens. Gravity is constantly pulling dust, dirt, and hair down to your flooring where bacteria can multiply, so make sure to give yourself a clean sweep (literally) to remove as much indoor grime as possible.
Focus on Seasonal Maintenance
Don’t forget about making sure your home is in good working order to make sure you’re keeping your air quality high and protecting the surfaces in your home during the cold winter months. With the extreme temperatures between the weather outside and the interior of your home, moisture especially can lead to big issues in your home and can affect the health of you and your household. Plus, the last thing you want is to have to deal with winter weather coming into your home after you’ve worked so hard to make it a comfortable oasis for you to enjoy your time in!
- Inspect Heating Systems: Have your heating system serviced to ensure it’s in good working order. Clean or replace filters for efficient heating and to keep indoor air quality high
- Check for Drafts: Inspect doors and windows for drafts. Seal any gaps or cracks to keep the cold air out and warm air in. Especially in areas with lots of moisture, keeping the cold winter air out and keeping your home properly insulated will help prevent condensation inside your home which can lead to mold or mildew, which can cause health problems for you and your family.
- Gutter Cleaning: Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent clogs and potential water damage during fall and winter. Basements especially tend to be damp, and keeping water away from the home will help keep your foundation strong and your home dry.
- Inspect Roof and Chimney: Ensure the roof and chimney are in good condition to withstand fall and winter weather. Proper maintenance of your roof will help prevent moisture issues and heat loss, but making sure your chimney and/or venting from your heating system are in good shape is vital to the health of your household by preventing serious health issues like carbon monoxide poisoning. Especially if you have a fireplace that you’ll be using lots during the winter, you want to make sure all the toxic gasses and ash from any fires are going outside instead of seeping into your home.
Create a Cosy Atmosphere
Now that you’ve cleared out the clutter and cleaned up all the surfaces of your home, make sure you enjoy spending time in your home by making it as comfortable as possible. The winter months can be hard on your mental health, so make sure you surround yourself with some of your favourite things to enjoy while you’re stuck inside.
- Switch to Fall Decor: Swap out your home decor for autumn-themed items like warm-colored pillows, blankets, and decorative pumpkins. If you don’t have the budget to buy new decor, think DIY! Some cheap frames from the dollar store and leaves from your yard can make some simple and creative art for your wall. A vase from a second-hand store and some unique branches and dried flowers make beautiful decor for your surfaces. Think outside the box for how and search sites like Pinterest for more ideas for how to make cheap or free decor with things from nature and things you probably have around the house already.
- Add Fall Scents: Incorporate fall scents with candles or essential oil diffusers. Scents like cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin can create a cozy ambiance. If you prefer a more natural air freshener, add some orange slices, cinnamon, and vanilla extract (or whatever spices and fruits you like) and make a simmer pot to add a delicious fragrance to your home as it heats on your stovetop throughout the day! *Make sure that you’re always keeping an eye on anything heating by itself, especially candles*
- Stock Up on Fall Essentials: Ensure you have enough blankets, comforters, and cozy socks to stay warm during the cooler months. If you’re crafty, you can knit or crochet a blanket with a yarn that you love, or gather some old materials from around your home like old shirts and sweaters, and make a cozy quilted blanket for yourself or a family member.
Outdoor Preparation
Fall and Winter don’t last forever, so make sure you’re preparing your outdoor space for the spring so you’re ready to enjoy the beautiful weather as soon as possible!
- Lawn Maintenance: Rake leaves, trim bushes, and prepare your lawn for the change in weather. Make sure to take care of any sprinkler systems by blowing out any water left inside the pipes, and check around your home to insulate things like water taps.
- Store Outdoor Furniture: Clean and store outdoor furniture, cushions, and garden tools to protect them from the elements.
- Gardening: Plant fall flowers and bulbs for a beautiful garden come spring.
Schedule Professional Help
If the task of preparing your home for fall feels overwhelming, consider scheduling a professional residential cleaning service. Professionals can tackle deep cleaning, window washing, and other specialized tasks to ensure your home is spotless and ready for the season! At Fresh Nest Cleaning Inc. we specialize in interior cleaning, but there are lots of local companies providing services to help you prepare your home including window washing, yardwork, and carpet cleaning.
Preparing your home for the fall season is a wonderful way to embrace the changing weather and create a comfortable, inviting space for yourself and your loved ones. Whether you choose to DIY or enlist the help of a residential cleaning service, investing time in preparing your home for fall will undoubtedly set the tone for a cozy and enjoyable season ahead. Happy fall cleaning! ????????