A Guide To Fall Cleaning To Prepare Your Home For Winter
Most people know all about spring cleaning, but far fewer know that it is equally important to do a proper fall cleaning routine as well. If you don’t want to be trapped inside a dirty house all winter long, then you need to make sure that you give it a thorough cleaning before the snow falls. When you are getting your house spic-and-span this fall, follow these cleaning tips to get your home ready for winter.
Clean the Beds
If you are like most people, you spend a lot more time in bed during the winter than any other time of year. Make your bed as comfortable as possible this winter by washing all of your bedding, including dust ruffles, comforters, sheets and blankets. You should also take the opportunity to flip over your mattress while you are doing this.
Clean the Floors
While you are spending so much time inside during the long, cold winter, you will subject your floors to a lot of heavy foot traffic. They will also be exposed to slush, snow and salt tracked in from outside. Make sure that they are very clean before this happens. Get your carpets steam cleaned. You should wash and wax any hard flooring you have to protect it.
Get Out the Vacuum
While you have the vacuum out to take care of your carpet cleaning, make sure to use it in all the other areas of the home that can benefit from a good vacuuming. You can use the attachments to clean your drapes, furniture and baseboards. You may want to have a professional cleaner handle your furniture if it is sensitive or if you think it is especially dirty.
Clean Those Windows
You want to clean all of the windows in your house each fall. This will be the last time you have a chance to clean the outside of your windows, which means you need to take advantage of it. To protect your windows from being damaged, you should use microfiber towels to clean them. This is especially important for certain styles of windows that feature UV protection, which can be damaged using traditional glass cleaners
Ductwork
You will be using your furnace a lot this winter. Get the ducts and vents in your HVAC system ready with a thorough cleaning. If you have a lot of dust in your vents, it can be very problematic for family members who have allergies or asthma. You should wipe down all the vents in your home, and you may want to think about a professional cleaning service to thoroughly clean the ductwork. Many heating companies will offer you this service when they come to inspect your furnace for the upcoming winter. You would be wise to take advantage of it.
Dusting
After you have cleaned all of the dust out of your furnace system, you will want to take the time to dust your entire home. Make this a methodical cleaning process. Go room-by-room to make sure that you get everything. Do not skip any surface, and remember to reach those hidden spots like on the top shelves of cabinets and on the top of doors.
You will wait out the winter much more comfortably in a clean home. It may seem like a lot of work, but it is well worth the effort. If you get everyone in the family to pitch in, it won’t take very long to finish your fall cleaning.
