The summer is officially over which means it is time to prepare for the brisk, dry, and sometimes rainy conditions of the fall season.  Your home may still be set up for the summer with open windows, outdoor furniture, and summer clothes, and the early fall season is the ideal time to transition your home for fall conditions.

It is important to take this time to clean your home inside and out and get prepared for the upcoming colder months.  Over the summer, the inside of your home may have gathered dirt and debris from people being in and out.  Deep cleaning your home before closing up for the winter will help ensure a healthier and more comfortable environment.  Your yard may also need attention as the seasons change and you should make sure that the exterior of your home is in good repair to handle cooler conditions.

This guide is a complete checklist for cleaning and maintenance tasks inside and outside your home that you should focus on early in the fall season.  Completing these tasks will ensure that your home is clean and prepared to provide a comforting haven in the winter.

Outdoor Cleaning

It is a good idea to begin your fall cleaning with the outside of your home before the weather becomes too cold.  You should make sure that your yard is cleaned up and that outside furniture and equipment used during the summer is properly stored.

The following tips will help you prioritize and complete the preparation of the outside of your home:

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Over the summer, leaves, sticks, and other debris may have accumulated within the gutters and downspouts which prevents rainwater from draining properly.  Blockage in the gutters can cause rainwater to overflow and run down the side of the house, and issues with the downspouts can cause water to pool around the foundation.

The water that runs down the side of the house can get into the windows and cause water damage to the siding while water around the foundation can cause foundational damage and water in the basement.  During winter months, clogged gutters can cause ice dams to form at the edge of the roof which can cause structural damage and prevent melted ice and snow from draining.

Make sure you do the following to clean your gutters and downspouts:

• Remove accumulated debris from the gutters
• Remove and clear out downspouts
• Make sure downspouts drain water between 3 and 10 feet from the foundation
• Install protective screens over the gutters if you have the time
• Look for and replace damaged gutters and downspouts
• Clean your gutters regularly during the fall until the leaves stop falling

Raking Leaves and Yard Cleanup

Before the winter freezes the ground and brings snow, it is important to clean up your yard by removing leaves and debris.  Early in the fall, clean up the sticks and other debris leftover from the summer.  You can also mow your lawn for the last time before it goes dormant.  Once the leaves start falling, make sure to regularly rake the leaves to keep your yard clean.  Your yard should be completely cleared of leaves and debris after the last of the leaves fall.

Store Outdoor Furniture and Equipment

During the summer, people like to spend time in their yards grilling and relaxing or entertaining guests on the deck or patio furniture.  It is important to make sure your furniture, grill, and other outdoor equipment is stored properly before the winter.

Before storing your outdoor furniture, you should clean it thoroughly.  Remove debris like sticks and leaves and wipe down furniture frames with cleaning products that are appropriate for the material.  You should also remove and clean cushions according to manufacturer instructions.  If you have space in a shed or garage to store your furniture, this is the ideal option to protect it from winter conditions.  If you do not have this type of storage space, you can get furniture covers that effectively protect the furniture.

Any other outdoor equipment like moveable fire pits and grills should also be cleaned and stored.  Thoroughly clean your grill, including scrubbing the grill grate, dumping out all charcoal, and cleaning the grill itself.  If you do not have shed or garage space to store your grill, you can use a weather resistant cover.

Clean and Organize the Garage

It may be necessary to clean out and organize your garage to make room for outdoor furniture, grills, and other outdoor equipment to be stored during the winter.  You can also help make more room for your vehicles so they can be protected from ice and snow.

Driveway and Sidewalk Repair

Water can easily get into cracks in the sidewalks and driveway and when this water freezes in cold temperatures, it will expand and make the cracks worse.  Check your sidewalks and driveways for cracks and get the cracks fixed before the winter.

Check and Clean Outdoor Lighting

When the fall season arrives, it starts getting darker earlier in the day.  This makes it very important for the outdoor lighting around your home to be working.  Check the outdoor lighting fixtures for damage or blown light bulbs.  You can also help make the lights brighter by cleaning the fixtures.

Indoor Cleaning

Before you close your home for the winter, you should take the time to thoroughly clean and organize the inside of your home.  Creating a cleaner and healthier indoor environment will make your home a much more comfortable place to endure the winter weather.

Decluttering and Organizing

Everyone should declutter and organize their homes from time to time to make better use of the space and create a more comfortable environment.  Here are some ways you can organize and declutter your home this fall:

• Seasonal wardrobe switch: With the colder weather approaching, it is time to put the light summer clothes away and get out the heavier, warmer clothes. Rearrange your closet and dressers so that your warmer clothing is more easily accessible.
• Decluttering common areas: Take the time to declutter common areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, living room, dining room, hallways, and others to ensure that these spaces are clean and clear. If you are not sure what to do with certain items when decluttering, either find somewhere to store them or consider selling or donating items that you no longer use.

Deep Cleaning

Take some time this fall to do some deep cleaning that goes beyond your regular house cleaning routines.  Effective deep cleaning will eliminate the dust, dirt, and pollen that may have accumulated in your home during the summer.

• Dusting and wiping surfaces: Dusting is typically a common part of regular house cleaning, but there are areas that people don’t dust every time they clean. Dust these areas and all other surfaces throughout your home to help create a cleaner, healthier environment before closing your home up for the winter.
• Windows and window treatments: Chances are you haven’t cleaned your windows or window treatments over the summer and there may be a build up of dirt and outdoor debris like leaves and dead bugs. Clean your windows and window treatments.  Cleaner windows will look better and let in more natural light which will help keep your home warmer in the winter.
• Carpet and rugs: Carpeting and rugs capture dirt and debris, and they may be dirtier than normal after enduring the in and out foot traffic of the summer. You should vacuum your area rugs and carpeting thoroughly, and it may be worth calling a professional for carpet cleaning to remove deeply embedded debris and stains.

HVAC System Maintenance

When the cold winter weather arrives, you will be reliant on your HVAC system to comfortably heat your home, taking care of some maintenance on your HVAC system now can help prevent malfunctions that could leave you without heat in the coldest part of winter:

• Change air filters: The trick people use to remember to change their air filters is to change them when the time changes in the spring and fall. When you turn the clocks back this fall, remember to also change the air filters of your HVAC system.
• Schedule professional maintenance: To ensure that your HVAC system is ready for the winter, schedule a professional to come to your home and provide basic maintenance. It may also be a good idea to call a professional for air duct cleaning to remove dirt and debris from the HVAC system for cleaner breathing air.

Fireplace and Chimney Cleaning

Creosote is a flammable, tar-like substance that can build up within your fireplace and chimneys with use.  If you like to use your fireplace for extra warmth in the winter, it is especially important to have a professional clean the chimney and remove the creosote buildup.  Failure to do this increases the risk of chimney fires when using your fireplace which can lead to extensive fire damage.

Bathroom Cleaning

Many homeowners routinely clean their bathrooms but rarely provide a deep clean.  Taking these extra steps will help you clean your bathroom on a deeper level:

• Check tile and grout: Clean the tile and grout surfaces and look for signs of wearing of the finish including dirty or discolored tiles and mildew in the grout lines. You can hire a professional to clean and restore tile and grout surfaces and provide a new protective finish.
• Replace shower curtains and liners: Over time, the moisture in the shower causes mildew and mold to build up on shower curtains and liners. The fall is a good time to replace both.
• Organize cabinets and drawers: Go through the cabinets and drawers and throw away things you no longer need like used toothbrushes and old or expired lotions and over the counter medicines. Rearrange what is left and put summer items like sunscreen somewhere else to make more room in the cabinets.

Bedroom Cleaning

As you complete your home cleaning this fall, take the time to deep clean your bedroom.  Completing the following will make your bedroom a cleaner and more comfortable space for the winter:

• Wash bedding and pillows: Washing your bedding and pillows should already be part of your regular cleaning routine. If you have warmer sheets and pillowcases, now would be the time to switch the sheets.
• Clean and organize closets: You can do more within your bedroom closets than rearrange your wardrobe for warmer clothing. Clear the clutter from your closet and organize it so that you can find things easier.
• Vacuum and dust bedroom: Thoroughly dusting and vacuuming your bedroom will create a healthier environment.
• Check and replace smoke detector batteries: Like with changing your air filters, smoke detector batteries should be changed when the time changes each spring and fall. Change the batteries in the smoke detector in your bedroom and all other smoke detectors in your home.

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Fall Cleaning FAQ

Should I Clean My Windows in the Fall?

During the summer, dirt and grime build up on your windows and there may be pollen and dead bugs between your windows and window screens.  Cleaning your windows in the fall will help you get rid of the dirt, grime, and bugs and cleaner windows allow more natural light inside which helps to make your home feel warmer during the winter.

When Should I Start Fall Cleaning?

It is best to start your fall cleaning late in the summer or early in the fall while the weather is still nice.  This way, you will have plenty of time to complete your cleaning tasks and have your home ready when the winter weather arrives.

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Get Your Home Ready for Winter with Comprehensive Home Cleaning in the Fall

Thoroughly cleaning your home inside and out this fall will help you create a healthier and more comfortable environment which will make it easier to spend more time indoors during the winter.  By starting the fall cleaning early in the season, you will have time to ensure that your home is prepared to handle the colder months.  Do not skip out on these cleaning activities this fall, start running through this checklist as soon as possible.

If you encounter issues while cleaning your home such as water damage or mold growth, do not hesitate to call a restoration professional for help.  Neglecting water damage and mold will only lead to more severe damage that puts your home and your health in jeopardy.  Water damage restoration professionals can handle any level of water damage repair, including from leaks and floods.  Calling a mold remediation professional right away will ensure that the mold growth is contained and removed so your home can be restored.