Fall Cleaning Checklist

It is that time of year again, the leaves are changing, the weather is cooler and the dust from summer is still hiding under the couch. Yep, Fall Cleaning. I can’t say this is something I enjoy, but I do love the feeling it gives me when I am done. I have put together a 4 week long checklist to help you get your house fall/winter ready. No need to kill yourself by completing it all in a couple days, instead let the checklist help you schedule when to do get things and in one month, your house will feel sparkly and clean! Be sure to print off the checklist below to help you get your home Fall and Winer ready.


Week 1

This is when you will want to call to schedule any professionals for carpet cleaning, pool repairs/service and air/furnace maintenance. If you are handy, feel free to do it yourself!

Kitchen

  • Clean top and under your refrigerator, remembering to wash vents

  • Clean inside of fridge and freezer. Discard any old or expired foods and condiments. An easy disinfecting spray to use is, 1/2 Cup Vinegar, 1 Cup Water, 3-5 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil mixed in a spray bottle. I also LOVE The Honest Company’s Multi-surface Cleaner

  • Clean out the pantry and restock with winter food necessities

  • Clean stovetop and inside of oven

  • Clean drains and garbage disposal

    • For Drain- Dump 1/2 Cup Baking Soda down drain, pour a mixture of 1 Cup Vinegar and 1 Cup Hot Water down drain and quickly seal drain with plug. Wait 10 minutes for bubbling to quit and pour kettle of boiling water down drain to clean.

    • For Garbage Disposal- Put a couple cups of ice cubes in bowl and sprinkle liberally with coarse salt. Dump ice into disposal, do not fill above plug line. Insert plug. While hold plug in place to prevent it from popping out, run garbage disposal without water. Run until you hear no more chopping. Add 1/2 Cup baking soda and 1 Cup Vinegar. When bubbling stops, turn on disposal and run COLD water. Finally cut one lemon in half and drop one half in disposal, seeds and rind included. Run Disposal. This will deodorize and disinfect garbage disposal.

  • Clean coffee pot. Brew 2 cups of vinegar 2 times through, then brew 4 cups water 3 times, changing out new water for each brew. Clean outside of pot with baking soda and vinegar mixture, wiping clean with warm rag.

  • Dust top of kitchen cabinets and wash cabinet fronts. I am a HUGE fan of the Norwex EnviroCloth for cleaning any surface!

  • Mop floor

Laundry Room

  • Vacuum lint trap

  • Run hot water and vinegar cycle through washing machine


Week 2

Livingroom

  • Wash and dust light fixtures and ceiling fans

  • Dust blinds

  • Spot clean furniture, vacuum under cushions and under couch

  • Touch up paint throughout house

  • Shampoo or spot clean carpets. For tough carpet stains, mix up a solution of 1/4 Cup Vinegar, 3/4 Cup Water, a few drops of liquid dish soap. Soak a colorless towel or rag (do not use colored rag, because the color can transfer to carpet) wring out extra liquid and place over stain. With an iron on med-high, iron over the stain with wet cloth still in place. Lift cloth to see that the stain has transferred to towel!

  • Replace filters

  • Wash interior windows. I do not bother with any special cleaning solution and only use a wet Norwex EnviroCloth and dry Norwex Window Cloth. You will be left with NO streaks. Zero, Zip, it’s magic! If you do not know a Norwex rep, I can hook you up with mine! She’s amazing ;)

  • Vacuum or wash curtains


Week 3

Bedrooms

  • Rotate summer to winter clothes. Donate any summer clothes that do not fit or didn’t wear all summer

  • Wash all summer bedding and store, replace with winter bedding

  • Clean and flip mattress. Vacuum bed, then create a solution of 3 Tablespoons Baking Soda, 8 oz Hydrogen Peroxide, 1 Drop Liquid Dish Soap in a spray bottle. Using immediately, spray onto bed and allow to sit and dry. Once completely dry, vacuum again.

Bathrooms

  • Clean shower, including washing shower curtains on hot cycle.

  • Clean cabinet under sink

  • Discard any old or expired shampoos, soaps, toiletries, and medications

  • Scrub floors

Office

  • Backup phone and computer

  • Organize office supplies

  • Dust shelves and computer, remembering to blow out keyboard

  • Shred and dispose of old forms and documents


Week 4

Outside

  • Wash doors and windows, checking weather striping. Replace if needed

  • Clean gutters

  • Clean, cover and store patio furniture

  • Remove leaves and debris

  • Trim and remove dead tree limbs

  • Store children’s summer outdoor toys

Here is a list of my GO TO Cleaning Supplies!

Honest Company Multi- Surface Cleaner

Honest Company Bathroom Cleaner

Norwex EnviroCloth

Norwex Window Cloth


Sarah SuraComment