Autumn is here with us. It’s that time of the year when many people give their homes a deep clean in preparation for the winter months. There is an article on Wikipedia which covers Spring cleaning. But what about Fall cleaning? People clean their houses a lot during Autumn, am I right?
Cleaning your home need not be a daunting task. If you’re wondering how to get started or how to go about it, worry no more. This autumn cleaning guide provides a step by step process on how to do it. From scrubbing the walls, vacuuming the floors, to cleaning the windows and doors, I will show you how to make autumn cleaning easy and thorough. Let’s get started.
Contents
Supplies for your Autumn Cleaning
Before we get into the actual cleaning, we have to talk about the things you will need to do the deed – the tools of the trade. Here’s a short checklist:
- Vacuum – have your vacuum ready. A cordless stick with a detachable handheld would be the most ideal. You will use it in different places, and portability is paramount. Ensure it uses HEPA filters if you have a problem with allergens. If you think there will be a lot of dust to pick up, a powerful and bagged vacuum would be preferable.
- Mop – it will help you to clean floors after you have vacuumed the visible dirt. Also, if there are stains to remove, this will prove invaluable. Or you could try alternative solutions, such as the Bissell Crosswave Cordless.
- Microfiber cloth – you will need it to wipe off surfaces.
- A duster – to dust various surfaces such as around or underneath appliances.
- Squeegee – to scrub and clean high places. A combination of a squeegee and a scrubber would be better.
- A bucket – to hold a cleaning solution as you mop or squeegee surfaces. Make sure it’s large enough.
- All-purpose cleaner – for floors, doors, and windows. To clean the kitchen, i.e., have with you the appropriate cleaner, the type meant to be used in the kitchen. Check out my list of good cleaners.
- Scrub brush and sponge – to clean the floors, especially those made of tiles or for the removal of stains.
- Paper towels – to be used when cleaning countertops or the toilet bowl
- A broom – it’s an indispensable tool when cleaning your home. Have a dustpan too.
- Trash bag – to hold trash as you go about cleaning different rooms. You may also consider a laundry basket for the clothes and bedding that will need to be washed.
- Protective gear – includes a face mask, gloves, hair net, and clothing to protect yourself from harm.
Depending on your situation, you can clean your home in a single day (if you have a helper or helpers, of course, or if your home is not large), several days, or even a week. Some people prefer to tackle one room at a time while others choose to clean the whole home at once. Regardless of the time, you take to accomplish everything, here is how to do your Fall cleaning.
Start De-cluttering the most Important Living Areas
Getting things out of the way makes cleaning easy. With less clutter, you will work faster and have fewer moments of delay. Move things that could make cleaning difficult, and pack away items that you do not use every day. Decide on what you want to keep and what to get rid of. Consider giving away the things that you no longer need. Separate and store away the winter clothes. Having cleared the various rooms of items, you can now start cleaning.
Cleaning the Kitchen
You can start with any room, but the kitchen works for most people. This is the room in your home that will likely take up much of your time. With grime and greases to remove, surfaces to scrub, and appliances to take care of, the kitchen is one of the hardest to clean.
Kitchen
Start by dusting the ceiling, ensuring no part remains uncleaned. Next, wash the walls. You may use water and mild soap. If you encounter stuck-on stains or stubborn greasy spots, a little vinegar could come in handy. Or, you can get a commercial grease remover if the stains prove difficult to remove. Don’t forget to clean the parts of the walls behind appliances. Use a piece of microfiber cloth for that.
Wash the cabinets, both inside and outside. The counters, too. Because you’re carrying out an autumn cleanup, you don’t want to be superficial. Take out the appliances from inside the cabinets and wash every part of the assembly with water and soap solution. For the hard to reach spots such as crevices, you may use a brush to scrub out dirt. Wipe appliances such as the fridge. Clean the microwave, too, especially if it’s a long time since you had its interior scrubbed.
Finally, clean the floors. Use a powerful vacuum cleaner to ensure everything gets removed. You may need to pick up large debris first, or items that may have fallen to the floor. Once dirt and debris are no more, get down to work on the floor. Scrub it manually. Wipe off tight places such as baseboards. If the floor it tiled, clean the grout. If anything in the kitchen is broken, this is the best time to fix or replace it. It can be the plumbing, cords, or any other fitting. You may also want to reseal the grout if you have tiled surfaces.
Cleaning the Bathroom(s)
The bathroom is another part of your home that will need a lot of work to clean. Just like the kitchen, you might have some stains to remove. Be sure to arm yourself with the right cleaning materials, such as stain removing solution and brush. As usual, start from the top going down. Using a broom or brush, dust the ceiling. Next, use your cleaning solution to wash the walls. Scrub every part of the bathroom, from the shower-head, tub, to grout.
Bathroom
Clean the toilet bowl using an all-purpose cleaner and toilet brush. There may not be much cleaning to carry out here since most people do it regularly — clean fixtures such as mirrors, cabinets, and other things in the bathroom. Finally, scrub the floors. If there’s grout to be cleaned, do so and reseal it afterward. Arrange everything in an organized way after the surfaces have dried up.
Cleaning the Bedroom
We already removed clutter so that we will go straight to the cleaning part. Again, start by dusting the ceiling and cleaning the walls. Clean all the furniture in your room. Move things from their position to reach and wipe every surface.
Bedroom
Take out and wash bedding. Remove the curtains, also, and take them out for washing. Vacuum the different places, most preferably using a handheld. Clean the mattress and pillows by passing the vacuum’s cleaning head over them. Vacuum the floors and every area rug in the bedroom. Take rugs out for washing and give the floor a thorough cleanup.
Cleaning the Living Room
The living room is usually a high traffic place and often messy if you have kids around. As with the other rooms, start by dusting the ceiling before moving to the walls and, finally, the floor. If you have a ceiling fan, wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Clean the light fixtures also. Dust the couches and any other upholstered furniture in the living room. Check the furniture for damage and fix everything that needs repair.
Living room
The living room will have an entertainment area. Wipe the items there with a piece of cloth. Slightly dampen the material, and take care not to introduce moisture into the delicate electronic appliances. Check the cords if they’re in good condition. Replace broken ones. Arrange entertainment items after you’re through with wiping and checking their wires. Clean the floor by first using a vacuum and following it up with a mop. If there’s grout on the floor, clean and reseal it.
Cleaning Other Areas
Apart from the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and the living room, other places also need to be cleaned. These are areas that usually are not cleaned daily. They include the following:
Windows and Doors
Windows accumulate a lot of dirt, yet they are among the least polished. Remove dust from all window crevices. Clean the blinds and shades. Use a commercial cleaner to clean the glass. If you don’t have one, use warm water mixed with vinegar. Clean the doors, ensuring that you remove dirt from every crevice.
Windows
The Attic
The attic is usually a forgotten part of the home. As a result, it’s often dusty, with all kinds of allergens. Mold may also be present if there are damp surfaces. If that is the case, be sure to have your and mouth and nose mask on. Use a duster to remove most of the dust before vacuuming the place down. Remove mold that may be growing and clean the surfaces with a standard household cleaner. Arrange the things in the attic after you’re through. It will make the next cleaning session easier.
Attic
The Basement
Some homes have a basement. If yours is one of them, you will need to include it in your cleaning plans. Most likely, the basement will be your storage place where you keep things that you do not use regularly. Work on this part of your home by organizing the items kept there.
Basement
Avoid keeping anything on the floor. You never know when water will find its way into the basement. Have everything up on the shelves and neatly arranged. To make things easier to identify, consider labeling the storage boxes or containers.
The Porch
If you have a porch, clean it alongside the other areas in your home. Remove any cobwebs and clean the furniture that you have there. Check to see that everything, including the grill, is firm and not broken. If there’s anything to be fixed, have it repaired. Clean the light fittings. Arrange everything nearly and get rid of what shouldn’t be on the porch.
Porch
The Garage
The garage in most homes is a messy place with all sorts of items dumped there. You may not be able to handle everything without help. Consider finding someone to help with going through the mess and separating useful items from those to get rid of.
Garage
You can pack unwanted things in boxes, so the whole place looks organized. Once everything is sorted, sweep the floor of the garage. Remove cobwebs and arrange the remaining items.
The Yard and Gutters
If you have a yard, it’s part of your home that deserves to be cleaned. Remove any fallen branches, leaves, and anything that makes the yard untidy.
Backyard
Mow the lawn and edge the parts that border the driveway or sidewalk. Remove any weeds that might be growing by uprooting them. If the whole yard requires a facelift, consider having a qualified person to work on it. Don’t forget to clean the gutters.
Gutters
Autumn Cleaning Tips Short List
To make the exercise a success, consider these autumn cleaning tips for your to-do list:
- Have everything you will need ready, so your cleaning goes on uninterrupted
- Finish with one part of your home before starting to clean the next
- It helps to de-clutter the rooms before you begin your cleaning
- Air linen, cushions, and other fabric items such as mattresses outside. It will kill bacteria and other organisms. Sprinkle baking soda on beds to eliminate odors
- Leave area rugs to dry completely before returning them to their places
- Use the right cleaner for different surfaces. Some may damage delicate surfaces
- Give attention to parts that are mostly forgotten during regular cleaning. These include crevices, underneath cushions, and other places
- Work with enough ventilation
- If the cleaning work overwhelms you, consider finding someone to help
Final Thoughts
Giving your home a thorough and deep clean once in a while offers many benefits. A clean home uplifts your mood and can help relieve stress. It also removes allergens to make you healthier. During cleaning, you can arrange things to create more space and make your place look more organized. Because you are likely to reach every hidden area, a deep cleanup can help you locate lost items. You find which things have broken and require repairs. Before starting your autumn cleaning, have all the products needed with you. If your home is large, you may need a helping hand. Ensure that you also have ample time to finish cleaning every part. Don’t stress if you don’t finish cleaning in one day. Take your time, and enjoy the experience.
Jason Roberts
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