Okay, we know the tradition of spring cleaning. It’s that one time a year when everybody feels an obligation to scrub their home from the attic to the baseboards. Some may even get excited for it, but despite good intentions, most of us fall short of cleanly expectations. This may sound alarming to some, but the cusp of summer and fall is another perfect time to get the house in order.

As summer wraps up there is quite a bit to do in order to prepare your home for the upcoming seasons.

Kitchen Organization and Cleaning

Fall and winter are stereotypically the most popular cooking and baking seasons. So many major holidays conglomerate around this time of year, and that means lots of food, lots of beverages, and lots of hosting. Start with the kitchen and make sure it is well stocked, organized, and cleaned for the upcoming months of dinner parties and tasty treats.

  • Take Inventory of Pantry: Sort through your pantry. Extract all the expired and stale items and replace them as needed. As you go through this sorting process:
    • wipe down the shelving
    • replace shelf liners
    • dust and clean floors and other surfaces.
  • Scrub Cabinets:
    • Wipe down shelving and cabinet doors
    • Replace liners
  • Clean the Oven: There is sure to be charred food residue built up along the sides and bottom of your oven. Save yourself some time later and clean your oven now, before the turkey is ready to cook.

Floors: How to get them shiny

After a long summer filled with guests, children, and pets constantly going in and out the house it is definitely time to power-wash those floors again. Think of all the pollen and dirt tracked throughout the house, wouldn’t you agree a few hours spent freshening the floors are a few hours well-spent?

  • Dust and Scrub the Baseboards
  • Clean Carpet: Either rent a carpet cleaner and get the job done yourself, or hire a professional to do the laborious work. Either way, your carpets deserve a deep condition before you begin hosting family and friends throughout the holidays.
  • Refinish Wood Floors: Whatever dirt was tracked indoors is plausible to leave surface scratches on your beloved wooden floors. Fall is the time to make them sparkle again.

Walls: Cleaning Tips

Just like the floors, walls are susceptible to attract a buildup of pollen, dirt, and grime from outdoors.

  • Dust Walls, Fans and Windowsills
  • Wash Walls, Fans, and Windowsills
  • Dust or vacuum blinds
  • Wash windows
  • Bedroom

In the summer, the sun always seems to beam into our bedrooms, waking us up in the early hours of dawn. The constant stream of sunlight creates a sauna-like effect, and we do the best we can to stay cool while in bed.

  • Switch Out Linens: Swap your light, airy summer linens for warmer winter linens
  • Clothing Swap: Make space in your closet and dresser by storing summer clothes and filling your closet and dresser with heavy winter clothes.
  • Flip Mattress: To preserve your mattress, flip it over, or rotate it 180 degrees. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of your mattress to eliminate any odors, then vacuum the baking soda before making the bed.

Upholstery: What to do to Clean

At risk of sounding redundant, dirt, pollen, and other grime is likely to build up in the upholstery of your couches, chairs, and curtains. Leave the allergy seasons to spring and summer and vacuum these surfaces for a fresh start to fall.

  • Vacuum Couches and Chairs
  • Vacuum Curtains

Chimney cleaning tips

Did you clean your chimney at the end of winter? Do it now if you haven’t already. Residue from soot, ash, and creosote have potential to cause a chimney fire.

  • Chimney Sweep

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke detectors should be checked twice a year to ensure proper functioning. It is recommended to do so on Daylight Savings, as an easy reminder. Daylight Savings happens to be Sunday, November 5th this fall.

  • Change Detectors’ Batteries
  • Replace Detectors (if necessary)

Other

  • Check weather stripping and caulking to eliminate as much drafts from outside doors and windows
  • Clean and organize attic
  • Dust and wash light fixtures