For some reason, when everyone talks about deep cleaning your house, it’s always about spring. But you should actually deep clean inside and outside your home several times a year. In fact, when the seasons change—especially from winter to spring and summer to fall—it's the perfect time to make sure everything is clean and organized for the months to come.
And that makes sense if you think about it! Before you decorate for fall, you should take the time to clean, organize, and put away your summer essentials first, so you set yourself up for success. After all, fall begins a busy time of year. Everyone is back to work, back to school, and before you know it, the holidays are here!
Plus, a major overhaul once a season will make your weekly cleaning schedule that much easier, and that’s essential to keeping your busy life on track. So what does that entail? Behold: your handy-dandy fall home cleaning checklist!
Download the checklist here.
This fall cleaning list includes suggestions for what to tackle in every major room in the house, plus some outdoor and general home maintenance tips. As you start tackling it, feel free to add your own, too. (There’s space on there to customize!) You may have something specific to your household that you'll want to remember for next year. Ready to make a fresh start for fall? Good, let's get cleaning!
Living Room
While cleaning your floors might be part of your weekly to-do list, take the time to deep clean them. Break out that upholstery cleaner and give your furniture, cushions, carpets, and area rugs a thorough cleaning. Make sure you wipe down your walls and baseboards, too, to clear away all that summer dust and grime. And don't forget the small stuff! Wipe down remote controls and electronics, and clean your TV screen according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Kitchen
Now is the time to reassess your pantry. Take the time to empty and reorganize it, throw away anything expired, and stock up for the busy season. The same goes for your refrigerator and freezer: clean them out and deodorize them, then tackle other appliances like your microwave and air fryer. And don't forget to clean the cleaning tools! Clean your dishwasher and replace your sponges and scrubbers.
Bedrooms
Your bedroom may be the coziest space in your house during cold weather. But before you swap out your crisp linens for your warmer bedding, take the time to rotate or flip your mattress (if recommended by the manufacturer) and wash the items that may not get weekly love, like bedskirts and mattress/pillow protectors. Give those rugs and furniture the same deep clean treatment you did in your living room for a dander-free space.
Bathrooms
Chances are, you scrub your shower, sinks, and toilet fairly often. But when was the last time you cleaned the shower head or cleaned out your drains? It's not a glamorous job, but it's important. Also, much like your pantry, take the time to clear out your cabinets and under the sink. Reorganize and restock essentials because cold and flu season is coming!
Closets
If you are in the habit of switching out your wardrobe each season, you know it's the perfect time to purge. Donate or discard items you no longer wear. Even if you don't swap your wardrobe, now is still the time to take stock of what you need to get rid of and replace for the cold weather ahead. And while you're at it, dust and sweep before you put everything back.
General Maintenance
Think of all those easy-to-forget maintenance tasks, like changing your HVAC filter and testing your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Your health and safety depend on these items, and they don't take long to maintain. And give some love to your windows, including drapes, shades, and screens, to make sure they're clean before you settle in for the longer months ahead.
Outdoors
Now that you're done with the inside, head outside while you still can and winterize your home. Clean out those gutters. Wipe down your cushions and put away your outdoor furniture. And take the time to clean up your trees, shrubs, and garden plants and prep them for the colder months ahead.
While it may seem like a lot to tackle, remember to take one task at a time. You may find that checking off each item on the list gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel better knowing it's all getting done. Before you know it, you can cozy up in a clean house and enjoy all the spoils that the autumnal season brings!
AnnMarie Mattila is the Senior Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering a wide range of topics from food and cooking to home, beauty, style, and more.
