Fall is here. The nip in the air and the shorter days are tell-tale signs of the season of thicker clothing and higher boots. 

It’s hard not to get excited during the fall season because it usually means fewer outdoor activities and more opportunities to spend time with your loved ones at home. But you have to ensure you don’t get saddled with so many seasonal chores that you don’t enjoy the beauty of this fall season. The best way to make things easier for you is by starting early. Do most of the fall cleaning now, and you’ll have more time to enjoy these coming cold months indoors with your family.

As experts in everything home cleaning, we’ve come up with this list of tips to help ensure your home is clean and fall-ready.

Fall Cleaning Tips:

• Clean out downspouts and gutters
• Scrub outdoor trash cans clean
• Tidy up your yard
• Clean and store outdoor furniture 
• Clean windows and screens
• Declutter
• Wash and organize clothes and beddings
• Clean out kitchen appliances and pantry
• Wash out curtains and rugs

1. Clean out downspouts and gutters

The falling leaves and first frost are some of the most beautiful aspects of fall. But something so beautiful could become quite expensive if your roof gutters and downspouts already have some buildup from the previous season. 

If you live close to trees or in a multi-story home, you should consider making an appointment with a gutter cleaning company as soon as possible. Professionals will be able to make your gutters ready for the heavy rainfall, falling leaves, and snow buildup coming this season.

2. Scrub outdoor trash cans clean

You would want to clean out your outdoor trash cans before they freeze over and get harder to clean. Frozen trash could easily attract unwanted rodents, pests, and smells that will make you uncomfortable this season. 

Make sure to scrub your outdoor trashcan with strong detergents or dish soap and dry them properly before putting them out for the new season.

3. Tidy up your yard

Early fall is the perfect time to clear out any junk in your yard because when the weather gets too cold, they could get frozen in place, and you would have to deal with a cluttered, messy yard from fall to winter. Odd items in your yard could also become a shelter for unwanted pests and critters, so make sure to pick up any item lying around. Cutting down dead tree branches now would also save your home from possible damage if a heavy storm hits.

Outdoor gardening and lawn care are impossible in autumn, so you also have to safely store outdoor equipment for the season. Ensure to clean and service each one of them before storage. It will be best to fix any maintenance issues and winterize the gas-powered equipment before you store them.

4. Clean and store outdoor furniture 

Spring and summer are perfect for outdoor activities like grilling, picnics, etc. However, fall isn’t much of an outdoor season, so it would be best to store any furniture you wouldn’t be using often.

Before storing, you should clean movable furniture like deck chairs, foldable tables, and large outdoor umbrellas. Cleaning them before storage is necessary because putting them off for later would only make the task much more difficult. If you don’t have enough storage space or your outdoor furniture is fixed, you should protect them with waterproof tarps or covers secured with cords.

Consider winterizing exposed outdoor faucets and pipes to keep them from freezing. You should also drain or cover your outdoor pool if you have one.

5. Clean windows and screens

Autumn days can get short and gray, so you will need as much light as possible entering your home. Cleaning your windows in the first days of fall will ensure that dust and other dirt buildups from the summer don’t deprive you of much-needed sunlight later on. 

Window screens could also impede the amount of light that comes into your home, so it would be a great idea to remove them now. If you have storm windows that help with heat conservation, installing them now would be great.

6. Declutter

Since you and your family will spend a lot of time indoors, you need to maximize every available space. Decluttering would also help you when you want to start your indoor fall cleaning as it makes the process easier. 

Store items you wouldn’t need this season. You could use this opportunity to sort through your stuff to know what you might want to donate, sell or throw away. After decluttering the rooms in your home, you can almost hear them breathe a sigh of relief.

7. Wash and organize clothes and beddings

Wardrobe organization is one of the essential preparation steps for a new season. Your closet would need a literal overhaul from light to thicker clothes for this fall. Empty your closet, sort your summer clothes, then store the ones you plan on keeping. Ensure there aren’t any pests or dirt in your closet before you fill it with your fall clothes. You can read our post on fall closet organization for a better guide.  

Similarly, your summer beddings would need washing before you store them. Before putting them out, you should also dry clean fall beddings like quilts and duvets.

8. Clean out kitchen appliances and the pantry

Your kitchen appliances will handle much more work these coming months, so you must clean them beforehand. Some ovens, dishwashers, and other devices have self-cleaning modes that you could use. 

Your pantry and spice rack would also need your attention. Toss out expired items, get an inventory of the things you need to stock up on for the season, and ensure you pest-proof your pantry. You can keep pests away from your foodstuff by keeping grains in sealed containers, sanitizing your space, and using natural deterrents like peppermints.

9. Wash out curtains and rugs

Rugs and curtains are those household items that are not given much attention till specific times in the year, and this is definitely one of those times. Neat rugs and window drapery gives a refreshing feel to your home that you will appreciate this fall season.

As you clean your windows, make sure to clean the window instruments as well. You could easily toss some fabrics into the washer, but most drapery must be dry cleaned. This is an excellent time to wipe down your window sills and clean your blinds and shades. If you have area rugs in your home, vacuuming and cleaning them would keep them smelling fresh in the coming seasons.

Conclusion

Fall cleaning is not easy, but it's very important if you-re going to enjoy the coming winter months without worry. If you decide to hire professionals and need deep cleaning services in Atlanta, Clean Tu Casa offers high-quality and comprehensive deep cleans. Contact us to get a free quote today.