Fall Cleaning Checklist
INDOORS:
- Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.
Wash interior windows. - Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath
and behind it. - Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
- Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters.
- Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, and clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week.
Open up space for holiday cooking. - Pull refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long,
narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris. - Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.
- Check and empty the central vacuum's collection area.
- Clean or replace humidifier elements before the heating season begins.
- Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
- Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds' nests. Make sure the exterior vent door
closes tightly when not in use. - Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don't wait for the first cold night!
- Buy a winter's supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort.
- Drain sediment from hot water heaters.
- If you're thinking of selling your home before winter comes, start with this cleaning checklist and add some
extra touches - find tips in this blog: 3 Tips to Sell Your Home In the Fall.
OUTDOORS:
- Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, children's summer toys.
- Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
- Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer's recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
- Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.
- Wash exterior windows.
- Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have
sprinkler systems blown free of water. - Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing
heating cable to prevent ice dams. - Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.
- If you are planning to sell now or when Spring comes, complete the tasks on this list to make sure your
home is showing-ready and home buyers don't get distracted by dirty windows or gutters.
Adapted from http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/fall-cleaning-chore-checklist