Fall Cleaning Checklist

It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that summer’s over when lately we’ve had record-breaking temperatures nationwide. As we ease into autumn, it’s important to prepare yourself for the colder weather and transition to the drastic change of season. Aside from cleaning out clutter and swapping out your wardrobe, here are some tips on what to do around your home to prepare for the fall and winter months.
Outside Your Home:
- Clean, cover, and put away patio furniture, grills, outdoor toys, lawn equipment and (drained) garden hoses.- Check caulk/weather stripping around windows, doors and the garage and make sure your air conditioner weather seal is correctly installed.- Clear out gutters and downspouts.Touch up exterior paint.Have chimneys and flues inspected if needed.
Inside Your Home:
- Wash and insulate windows and screens. The best way to clean screens is with the dusting brush attachment of your vacuum.- Vacuum your refrigerator’s condenser coils. For full fridge cleaning, see our article on how to clean your refrigerator here.Clean or replace humidifier elements.Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.- Flip your mattress over and turn it end-to-end to even out wear. Put on winter bedding.- Clean out kitchen cabinets, cupboards and freezer of anything old or expired.- Check the dryer exhaust tube and vent for lint build-up or other blockages. If you find that your dryer isn’t drying clothes as efficiently as it used to, check out our dryer maintenance article.
These are just a few of the many things you can do to prepare your home for the winter months. What do you do around your home to welcome winter? Let us know in the comments!
Photo courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt on Flickr