September 25, 2023

Fall Home Cleaning Checklist

Now that your mood slowly transitions from contemplating a relaxing BBQ smoke to binge-watching your favorite Christmas movies, do not take long and sunny autumn days for granted. Mild fall weather in New York is a perfect time to clean your home and prepare it for the freezing evenings you hope to spend in the comfort and warmth of your abode. By this time, the spring cleaning effect is usually gone, and our homes crave rehabilitation from all that dust, sand, dirt, germs, and other forms of nature they harbored during summer fun activities.

Before you close your home tight for cold NYC winter months, it is vital to rid it of dust, allergens, mold, and germs to ensure that you are not trapping them inside and your family is safe at home. The fall cleaning is also a perfect opportunity to properly inspect and winterize your home and prepare for the holiday season.

Maybe you are still mentally in summer, digesting its sweet and bright memories, and not into cleaning at all. Do not worry if you do not even know where to start. We have you covered with our simple Fall cleaning checklist describing all the autumn cleaning to-dos. Just dedicate a sunny weekend to some fall cleaning elbow grease, which will surely pay off the day when you will be peacefully slicing your Thanksgiving turkey or your White Christmas cake.

Detailed, roof-to-baseboard fall cleaning checklist

Deep clean your home before winter

1. Take away summer stuff and declutter

We always recommend kicking off every seasonal cleaning with decluttering because three months is enough for a home to get cluttered with junk and seasonal stuff.  

• Collect all the summer toys and sports gear, put them into a plastic container or a bag, and prepare to store them in a closet, garage, or attic.

• Wash, organize, and put away summer clothes and shoes.

• Find your warm clothing (in case you stored it out of sight), winter accessories (hats, driving gloves, umbrellas, scarves, rubber boots), and tools (snow shovels, ice scrapers, etc.). Check their condition and rewash clothes if it needs to be refreshed.

2. Dust your home from top to bottom

You used to keep your home open during the summer months. Regardless of how furiously you dusted during summer, your home has accumulated tons of dust lingering in hard-to-reach areas. When fighting with dust, follow this simple rule: always dust from ceiling to baseboards because disturbed dust always settles downwards. On washable surfaces, instead of a duster, use a wet microfiber cloth that traps and completely removes dust without lifting it into the air.

• Dust ceiling fans, curtain rods, blinds, lamp shades, and light fixtures.
• Wipe wall lights, light switches, and picture/photo frames.
• Remove dust from shelves, kitchen cabinet tops, and tables.
• Launder the drapes/curtains or at least vacuum them.
• Clean your air vents with a vacuum cleaner.  
• Vacuum furniture upholstery, paying attention to the crevices where food particles, pet hair, and dust love to rest. (While vacuuming, inspect your couches for stains and treat them before the holiday guests arrive. Here is how you can clean your couch upholstery properly.)  
• Wash the rags and shampoo the carpeting.
• Dust electronics with a soft cloth.
• Wipe the baseboards and stair railings.
• Dust the doors not forgetting to wipe the door knobs with a disinfectant.
• Vacuum and flip mattresses.  
• Wash the doormat or replace it with a new one. 

3. Wash windows and windowsills on the inside and outside

Freezing November is not the best time to scrape your windows of dust and grime. So hurry up to use these last warm autumn days to open your windows and wash them properly with a window cleaner inside and outside. Remove and wash the screens, and then store them in a clean place until spring. Wipe the windowsills with a multi-purpose cleaner or a wood cleaner, depending on the surface.

4. Give your kitchen a thorough clean

The holiday season is approaching, and it means that you will be spending more time in the kitchen, testing new delicious recipes. When your kitchen will be filled with mouth-watering aroma, and you will be happily rushing from the stovetop to the oven, you will be thankful to yourself for getting your kitchen spruced up beforehand. Here is what your focus should be on:

• Straighten out your cabinets and pantry

Summer is a lazy time, so chances are your kitchen space has become pretty mixed up. Inspect and organize your cabinets to source items you won’t use until summer. Pack and store them out of sight. Also, look for damaged items, expired foods, and cleaning supplies and put them in the trash. Wipe the cabinets and drawers on the inside and outside with a suitable cleaner and replace liners before returning all the kitchenware back to its place.

• Give your appliances a good scrub.

Start from the fridge as long as it is usually the messiest part of your kitchen. Remove all the shelves, bins, and racks, including their content. If there is any expired food, send it to the trash. Clean the inside of your fridge with an all-purpose cleaner or homemade soda paste (baking soda plus very little water). A Magic Eraser sponge will help you to get rid of stubborn stains or dried-on spills on the inside. The outside is better cleaned with a soft rag and all-purpose cleaner, especially when cleaning stainless steel appliances.

Wipe your microwave using a degreasing spray, but first, run it with a glass of water for 3 minutes and the steam will loosen the buildup.

Clean your oven, stovetop, and range hood according to the manufacturer’s recommendations using specialized cleaning supplies for your particular type of appliance/surface.

Refresh your dishwasher by running a hot cycle with a container filled with two cups of white vinegar on the lower rack. Remove its filter and wash it with dish soap in hot water.

• Clean tiles and grout.

• Dust the tops of the cabinets, fridge, and range hood.  

• Disinfect the trash can and garbage disposal.

5. Spruce up your bathrooms

Hot and humid summer weather is the best for mold and germs to thrive. So fall is the right time to bring your bathrooms back to their pristine clean condition before you are stuck inside for long and cold winter months.

• Dispose of expired body care products and empty bottles.
• Wash the tiles with a disinfecting solution and then wipe them dry with a microfiber cloth.
• Scrub the toilet bowl, bathtub, and sinks using a disinfectant. Apply and leave it to work for at least 15 minutes for a better disinfecting effect.  
• Remove hard water stains and soap scum from shower doors and shower tiles.
• Clean faucets, shower fixtures, soap stands, and toothbrush holders from grime and limescale.
• Wipe down the vanity, medicine cabinet, and shelves.  
• Clean mirrors using a glass cleaner.
• Launder the shower curtain, but first, soak it in a disinfecting solution to kill the germs. (You won’t believe it, but it is the filthiest item in your bathroom).
• Make a shopping list for personal care items your holiday guests might need during their stay.

6. Turn the winter bed mode on

Wash your summer blankets (including those you used outside) and put them away until next year’s cricket chirps. Find your heavier winter bedding and wash it, including pillows and duvets at 130 degrees to ensure that not a single mite survives. Also, do not forget to do a seasonal mattress rotation to ensure the pressure distributes evenly and your mattress does not lose shape.

Winterize your home  

• First, check your heater and air conditioning system and replace the HVAC filters if needed.

• Vacuum the radiators to remove the lumps of dust, pet hair, and other stuff like Lego figures and hair bands from its “caves”. You will be surprised how many items you considered “lost” can be found there. Then wash radiators using a sponge and warm soapy water and wipe them dry with a clean cloth.  

• Inspect your fireplace. Start with sweeping your fireplace to remove ash from the previous winter if you did not do it in spring. Clean the chimney from creosote every year or hire a professional for it.

• Check your windows and siding for cracks and insulate your home before the first cold days arrive.

Winterproof your outdoors

Autumn outdoor cleaning is no less important than indoor one because improper maintenance of your home exterior or yard items during cold and wet months may cause serious damage to your property. Here is your outdoor cleaning list:

• Clean your gutters to remove clogging to prevent water leaks and, thus, damaging siding and foundation.

• Clean patio furniture and prepare it for storage in a garage or outside, covering it with plastic or tarp cases. 

• Switch off garden faucets and wind up hoses.

• Clean your garage. Start with decluttering and organizing the stuff you want to keep by storing the most useful during winter months tools closer to the entry and putting less useful ones closer to the garage’s back wall. Remove cobwebs, wipe the shelves, and sweep the floors.

• Rake leaves.

Sunny autumn days seduce with warmth and serenity, and cleaning sounds like the last thing to waste these beautiful days on. If this is your case, you can always rely on the White Glove Cleaner for tackling your fall tidying up in New York City. We will handle the elbow grease, letting you focus on something more pleasurable, such as shopping for exquisite fall decorations or knitting a pair of warm socks for your favorite person.