THE ULTIMATE FALL CLEANING CHECKLIST: 47 MUST-DO TASKS
You are going to love this ultimate fall cleaning checklist to get you motivated and get the things done! Your home is going to be organized, fresh, and fall ready!
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Fall is the perfect time of year to deep clean all or parts of your home! And who says it all needs to be done in a day or even a week?
I’ll break down a months worth of must-do’s that will have you’re home fall ready. Whether it’s for those unexpected guests or you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll be prepared!
This post is all about those must-do tasks to cross off of your fall cleaning checklist
Let’s be honest, nobody truly LOVES cleaning, right? Ok, I’m sure there are a few that do thoroughly enjoy it, but I’m not one of them. But, effects that cleaning has on my mood and overall well being is what I love the most when I’m finished! Which brings me to my next point, “keeping your home clean and engaging in the cleaning process is good for you. In fact, research shows that cleaning—or the lack of cleaning—can have a direct impact on mental health” -Sherry Gordon at verywellmind Well, that’s good news, right? That’s what keeps me motivated, knowing that in the end, I’m going to be so glad that I did it and my mental health will be positively impacted!
Ultimate Fall Cleaning Checklist: 47 Must-Do Tasks
With two boys, 5 animals running around, dust and dirt being tracked in from all of us, my home could use this deep clean! I plan to spread these tasks out over 4 weeks to make them more manageable. Time is valuable in this house, and I’m sure it is in yours too. We are constantly on the go with school and sport commitments as well as general to-do’s and family time outside of the home.
Each task should be fairly simple to complete; several can be doubled up on to take only a couple of minutes, most no more than 15-20 mins and a few that may take longer to complete. For the tasks that you know are going to take longer, I recommend doing those items on less busy days, such as the weekend, when you have more time. Of course, you can always tweak everything on this fall cleaning checklist to your individual needs, but this will get you off to a great start!
So…what are we waiting for!? Let’s get into it!
Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash
Kitchen:
- Degrease/wipe down cabinets and wipe down the insides. My favorite way of doing this is Dawn dish soap and warm water but check out this post for 4 other ways you could try!
- Dust the top of your cabinets if they don’t reach the ceiling.
- Remove items like flatware, utensils, etc, from drawers and wipe clean of any crumbs and such.
- Wipe down backsplash.
- Clean out the fridge and freezer of any expired and freezer burnt food.
- Wipe fridge clean both inside and out.
- Clean underneath of your fridge and the fridge coils.
- Replace fridge water filter, if applicable.
- Clean the dishwasher: Affresh dishwasher cleaner is my go to for cleaning our dishwasher every few months.
- Clean the oven. TIP #1: Check out this post from Arm and Hammer on how to clean your oven without harsh chemicals.
- Pull the stove out to clean any crumbs that have fallen along the sides and any grease that may have accumulated dust. (This is something I remember as a kid my mom doing once or twice a year. I never understood it until I became an adult!)
- Deep clean the microwave.
- Clean and disinfect trash cans.
- Wipe down legs of kitchen table as well as chairs and any stools.
- Clean out the pantry of any expired food and reorganize.
Living Areas:
- Wash throw pillows and pillow covers
- Dust ceiling fans throughout the home. TIP: If you live in a colder climate this time of year, switch fans to turn clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room
- Dust lampshades by running a lint roller over them
- Dust window blinds
- Wash curtains
- Clean tv/computer screens
- Dust behind tv/consoles and tv stand
- Wipe down/disinfect remote controls
- Vacuum couches/loveseats/upholstered chairs
- Pull couches and end tables out to vacuum underneath
Bedrooms:
- Vacuum your mattress and if appropriate, flip your mattress for even wear.
- Switch out seasonal/cold weather bedding.
- Pull dressers and nightstands out to vacuum underneath
- Dust dressers and nightstands
- Change out your seasonal wardrobe. TIP: This would be a great time to purge anything from your closet that you haven’t used in a long time, has no sentimental value, and are willing to part with.
- Vacuum under the bed
Bathroom:
- Wash shower curtains and replace inner liners
- Clean the shower head
- Wash rugs
- Remove items from bathroom vanity and wipe the inside down
- Throw out any expired makeup
- Sort through medications and dispose expired/unused properly
Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash
Laundry:
- Wipe down exterior of washer and dryer
- Clean inside of washer with affresh washing machine cleaner
- Vacuum out dryer vents
General areas throughout the home:
- Wipe down walls: I find the absolute EASIEST way to do with is with the Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Super Extendable Handle.
- Clean windows
- Wipe down baseboards
- Clean grout
- Clean air vents
- Roll up rugs and vacuum and/or mop before replacing
- Clean and disinfect switch plates and door knobs
This post was all about the ultimate fall cleaning checklist. I hope you’ve found this super helpful!
