Fall Cleaning Checklist - Getting Your Home Ready For Cold Weather

Once the air gets a chill to it you know its time for your fall cleaning checklist, so you can get your home and your family weather for the cold weather.

Photo by *Micky

I generally recommend doing your bigger cleaning in the spring, after the long winter stuck indoors. However, you still need to do a smaller fall house cleaning.

Since this is a once a year event I suggest using a checklist so you don't forget anything. Below I have listed everything you need to do as part of your autumn cleaning. (I also have a printable version of this list at the bottom of the page.)

To Do Throughout The House

• Clean window treatments (either at home or dry clean depending on their type)
• Replace light window coverings with heavier weight ones
• Clean and dust light fixtures
• Wipe down all handles, door knobs, etc.
• Dust and/or wash mini blinds and other blinds and shades
• Dust blades of ceiling fans and other hard to reach areas, such as tops of doors, etc.
• Oil door hinges
• Wash windows and window screens
• Wash mirrors
• Declutter and organize

Fall Cleaning Checklist In Various Rooms

Kitchen

• Vacuum refrigerator coils
• Clean the oven

Bathrooms

• Replace or wash shower curtain

Bedrooms

• Clean blankets and linens, including mattress covers and dust ruffles
• Wash pillows
• Flip mattresses
• Replace summer bedding with winter weight bedding
• Store warm-weather clothes and replace with cool-weather clothing

Laundry Room

• Clean out dryer vent thoroughly to remove lint from hose

Attic / Basement / Garage

• Clean the floors
• Replace filter in furnace and/or AC unit

Outdoors

• Put up storm windows
• Clean gutters
• Scrub exterior areas such as driveway, deck and patio
• Clean outdoor furniture, and then store it
• Drain and store garden hoses
• Close your pool, if applicable
• Pressure wash house exterior, and touch up paint, if necessary

Related Links At Household Management 101