It’s not too late to start. You can still do it! Fall is the perfect time of year for cleaning up your home and getting rid of clutter that has been building up since summer. Also, you’ll be less likely to track in dirt and bacteria. Here are 11 ways you can get started now:
1. Clear out your fridge with baking soda
Nothing smells worse than a dirty fridge, but it’s so satisfying to clean. First, take everything out of your fridge and scrub it down with a mix of equal parts water and white vinegar. Make sure you pay special attention to the shelves and crisper drawers. Then, sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe everything down. We love baking soda because it absorbs odors and leaves things feeling clean–not too dry, not too sticky.
2. Clean the inside of your oven door
Mix equal parts salt and baking soda on a damp sponge or cloth for a simple way to clean the inside of your oven door. Be sure to let it soak for about 10 minutes before scrubbing it down with a dry rag, then finishing up with a clean wet rag. This is an excellent trick if you have a glass stovetop as well.
3. Wash and dry all towels, bedding, and clothing
Before the weather gets too cold, wash and dry all of your towels, bedding, and clothing. Allow them to air dry outside on a clothesline if the weather permits. If you need a refresher on doing it on a normal washer or dryer, this tutorial has all of those details.
4. Mop or sweep floors with a disinfectant cleaner
With kids and pets, you must keep your floors clean. Use a disinfectant cleaner to mop them down. This helps prevent sickness when they’re in contact with surfaces like doorknobs and tabletops, and it also makes everything smell nice. Plus, you’ll be less likely to track in dirt and bacteria.
5. Vacuum carpets thoroughly to get rid of dust mites
Instead of just vacuuming your carpets, you should clean them. And to do so thoroughly, use the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner. Start at the top and then do a bottom-up pass for best results. When you’re done, vacuum normally before moving on to another part of the house.
6. Maintain your yard through basic landscaping activities
Mow, rake, plant flowers or bulbs, and spread wood chips for a healthy yard. Try not to leave the leaves in one big pile for too long because it can cause root growth to slow down. If you want to make it easier, you can invest in a backpack leaf blower with a battery so that you can just pick it up and go whenever you need to.
7. Wipe down the entire kitchen with an antibacterial solution
Whether it’s because you’ve been cooking and baking all day, or the dog got into the garbage again, your kitchen needs to be cleaned. Cleaning up spills right away is an easy way to stay on top of most messes. So scrub down the counters with an antibacterial solution like vinegar and water. To finish up, wipe down the counters with a clean rag.
8. Dust furniture and surfaces that collect dust easily
Dust efficiently by cleaning from “uphill,” meaning start in the furthest room and work your way back to where you started. You can either use a microfiber cloth or a feather duster if you still have any leftover from the spring cleaning frenzy. If you want something simple yet effective, use a mix of equal parts water and vinegar on a damp cloth.
9. Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures with a microfiber cloth
This one is pretty easy. Just dust ceiling fans and light fixtures with a microfiber cloth to get rid of annoying dust bunnies. It’s also a great way to save money if you’re not inclined to hire someone for this complicated task, but you need the job done.
10. Sweep outdoor areas and store everything in proper places
Before winter comes and it becomes too cold to venture outside, make sure you sweep outdoor areas. This way, when you can’t do anything else with your fall cleaning checklist, the only thing left to do is enjoy yourself. Once you’re done sweeping up leaves, don’t forget about storing items like your lawnmower and other bulky items in their appropriate places.
11. Make your home smell nice throughout fall
The final step, of course, is to enjoy the autumnal aromas. While it is unnecessary, you can make your house smell great with scented candles or just by stuffing dryer sheets in old socks and placing them at key points in the house. If you’re feeling creative, you can also make an apple cider vinegar air freshener to leave your home smelling fresh.
Fall is a time for getting organized, and it’s also the perfect excuse to clean up your home. From dusting surfaces to making your house smell fresh, these tasks are easy enough for any beginner and effective enough for seasoned pros. The only thing left now is deciding which of these ideas you want to tackle first.
