Fall is coming fast and that means it’s time for a great big, intense, thorough cleaning of your home. Since we all spend more time inside during the winter months, it really helps to have you and your family’s space clean as a whistle before the last leaf drops off the tree in the yard and before the first snowflake falls.

Doing a top to bottom, complete fall cleaning can seem daunting and overwhelming without proper organization. If you are looking for a fall cleaning checklist to ensure that you hit every nook and cranny, you have come to the right place. Below, we will take you room by room and help you develop a personalized list of autumn cleaning plans to tackle your own residence with efficiency and ease. 

So grab your mop and bucket, a sponge, and some other cleaning supplies and read on. You can look forward to enjoying this winter in a completely spotless home. 

Getting Started

Before you even begin, you should spend some time getting prepared for this project. Look over our list below and adapt it to your own needs. Every home is different, so every cleaner will have different needs.

You’ll save a lot of time if you put together a house cleaning kit. Creating a kit will keep you from running all over the house looking for the specific cleaning supplies you need for each job. You can put a variety of cleaning items in a box or other container and bring it with you as you move around your home. 

Diving In

The way you tackle this project is up to you. Some people like to set aside a weekend and spend several hours each day accomplishing cleaning tasks on their fall cleaning checklist. Others prefer to break the list down and work in one area each day over a week or over several weeks.

The best way to do it really depends on your preferences and personality. As long as you keep moving and cleaning, in the end you will have completed your overall fall home cleaning.

Motivation Station 

It can be difficult to get motivated when the time comes to start cleaning, but once you get going it will soon start to feel easier along the way. To help make these chores go more smoothly, consider playing some of your favorite music or listening to podcasts while you work. Some people find setting a timer in twenty or thirty-minute increments with five or ten-minute breaks built in to keep the motivation rolling all day long.

The Ultimate Fall Cleaning Checklist: Room by Room

Again, keep in mind that every home is different. The list below tries to cover every part of every room in an average home, but you may need to add some of your own tasks to ensure that all areas of your specific home are covered. Still, this is a pretty comprehensive checklist, so it will at least help you to get started.

Kitchen 

  • Clean the inside and outside of the fridge.
  • Thoroughly clean the oven and stovetop.
  • Scrub in and around your sink.
  • Wipe down the cabinets; organize stored items.
  • Clean and disinfect the microwave.
  • Move appliances and scrub and wipe down countertops.
  • Dust the hood over the stove.
  • Tidy and organize the pantry. Wipe down shelves as needed.
  • Wash your garbage cans.
  • Vacuum or sweep, scrub and shine the floors.
  • Change the smoke alarm battery.

Bathroom

  • Scrub your sink and countertops.
  • Deep clean the shower and tub.
  • Clean the inside and outside of the toilet.
  • Sweep and scrub the floors. Wash your area rugs.
  • Wash the trash can. 
  • Recycle empty containers; dispose of expired medications.
  • Wipe down cabinets. Clean all of the mirrors.
  • Wash or replace your shower curtain and shower curtain liner.
  • Scrub all the grout in the shower and elsewhere.

Living Room

  • Vacuum and shampoo all carpets and rugs, and at least vacuum your furniture.
  • Wipe down all the surfaces including end tables, your tv stand, bookshelves, and so on. 
  • Toss any washable throw pillows or blankets in the laundry.
  • Collect clutter and return all of it to where it belongs.

Bedrooms

  • Launder your bedspread or comforter, decorative pillows, and the mattress cover.
  • A fall cleaning is a great time to rotate or flip your mattress.
  • Declutter and wipe down all surfaces.
  • Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Everywhere Inside

  • Wash all windows inside and out. Take out screens and put in storm windows.
  • Wipe down all baseboards, outlets, and light switches.
  • Use a pillowcase to pull dust off the blades of your ceiling fans.
  • Dust all your lamps, lampshades, and light fixtures.
  • Clean all the doorknobs, doors, and door frames.
  • Vacuum and dust all corners and under all furniture.

Garage and Outdoors

  • Organize your garage and give it a good sweep. 
  • Winterize and close your pool.
  • Sweep and hose down your deck.
  • Clean your gutters and repair them as needed.
  • Put away lawn furniture, outdoor toys and games, and hoses.
  • Give your barbeque grill a good cleaning and cover it for winter.
  • Clean out your car and give it a good wash and wax, too.

Clean Like You’ve Never Cleaned Before

This fall cleaning checklist is fairly comprehensive and should help you to cover all your bases when it comes to doing a thorough cleaning throughout your home. Once everything is spick and span, you can settle into the cozy feeling of autumn full force. You’ll be glad you took the time to make your home as beautiful as it should be. 

If you’d like some assistance in completing your big fall cleaning project, we are here to help. We serve homeowners and renters in Gwinnett and Barrow Counties and we would love to lend you a hand as well. Give us a call today and we can discuss our services and rates with you. We can’t wait to hear from you!