It’s the norm to do a major house clean at the start of spring, but what about during fall? 

Autumn has arrived and that means less time in Colorado sunshine and more time cozying up indoors. A weekend deep-clean or professional house cleaning service is a wise choice to keep your household happy, healthy, and safe during the colder months; and you’ll find fall cleaning is just as important, if not more so, than in the spring. From different maintenance necessities to the order of fall cleaning operations, here’s all you need to know about fall cleaning this year. 

Why Fall Cleaning? 

The return of fall has always been the mark of cold days ahead - the changing leaves, temperamental weather, and fewer hours of sunlight are all signposts to the inevitable turn of the season. Because of this change in our outdoor environment, we tend to spend more time inside. 

A cleaner home, therefore, is important for our happiness and mental health. Spending hours of our day in a tidy and fresh environment is of course far more enjoyable than the opposite. But a cleaner home is also important for physical health and for the longevity of our homes too. 

So, fall cleaning is clearly important, but how is it different from Spring cleaning? And can the average person get this essential task done? Many people rely on professional house cleaning services to keep their peace of mind; but regardless if you do the cleaning yourself or get help from experts, there are several critical cleaning tasks for a successful transition into fall and winter. 

Outdoors First

Typical Spring cleaning consists of decluttering and possibly a garage sale in the front yard or driveway. Fall cleaning is much different. In the fall, it’s important to prepare yourself and your property to be inside, not outside. With the onset of cold weather, we recommend cleaning up your outdoor living spaces first before falling victim to the freezing wind and muddy footprints. This includes: 

• cleaning gutters
• winterizing water features (pools, fountains, faucets)
• servicing and storing yard equipment
• washing exterior windows
• pest-proofing the basement, windows, and doors (against bugs such as spiders which will try to move inside your home during winter).

Indoor Safety and Maintenance 

With the outdoor spaces of your home taken care of, it’s time to bring the fall cleaning inside. Initially, fall cleaning should be started in broad strokes falling into two major themes: indoor safety and indoor maintenance. 

Indoor safety and maintenance includes any type of cleaning that will help to improve the overall health or well-being of those within the home. Some of the most important things to check off your list early are smoke detector testing, fireplace cleaning and inspection, and air system cleaning and inspection. 

• Smoke detectors: These vital machines should have their batteries replaced and tested as standard protection against smoke and carbon monoxide. 
• Fireplaces: Regardless if it is wood-burning or gas-powered, your fireplace should be cleaned to improve air quality and protect against accidental fires caused by creosote build-up. 
• Air system: Heating and air systems such as HVACs should be cleaned. Regularly replacing the air filter improves air quality in your home and increases the longevity of your furnace. 

Indoor Cleaning

Once you’ve been able to attend to indoor safety and maintenance, you should turn your focus to the more traditional cleaning necessities. Cleaning tasks that are important all throughout the year (such as wiping down cabinets and countertops, refreshing sponges and soaps, and sweeping floors) should not be ignored. However, fall cleaning has a few aspects that are unique to the season and require special attention. 

Wipe Away Summer Dust 

After a long, hot summer, there’s bound to be an accumulation of dust. fall cleaning takes this into consideration by focusing attention on dust hotspots such as ceiling fans (that have been on all summer) and window screens (that have been chalked full of pollen since May). Take the opportunity to dust baseboards and light fixtures while you’re at it - it certainly will make your air feel and smell fresher. 

Swap Out Seasonal Items

The time has also come to change out summer covers, blankets, clothes, and furniture to their colder season alternatives. Be sure to neatly pack away any clothes and bedding to keep them from accumulating any dust. And, if your winter comforter seems like it could use a wash, it’s probably a good idea to do so. Don’t forget to read our tips on washing your down comforters, sheets, and pillows. 

Sanitation

The start of fall is a smart time to begin looking after sanitation to prevent the spread of flu and other illnesses. The quickest and easiest way to ensure a healthy fall is to clean frequently used items and locations around your home. This means wiping down screens and remotes, spraying handrails and door knobs, and washing sinks. 

It’s critical that you sanitize your home against germs and seasonal illnesses; but sanitizing also requires addressing one of the biggest home polluters: pets. Animal hair can build up and get everywhere over the colder months (significantly decreasing air quality and exacerbating allergies), so read up on our 11 tips for cleaning hair around the house. 

Kitchen Prep

Kitchens undergo nearly as much change as the weather when fall comes around. In particular, it’s a perfect time to transition into having the right type of food for the months ahead. Consider: 

• Emptying and cleaning the pantry. Make a list of holiday baking supplies that you will need, particularly if you have to toss expired essentials that you'll need again come the holidays.
• Stock the pantry with food for cold days. Clean out the refrigerator and freezer.
• Clean the oven and vent hood. 
• Dust and clean the refrigerator coils.
• Inspect and clean small appliances. 

Professional House Cleaning

Fall cleaning is an intensive type of cleaning for the transition from summer to fall. This change into colder months, along with the increased time spent indoors, brings particular cleaning needs - needs that should be met in addition to all the usual, routine cleaning tasks throughout the year. 

From outdoor preparation to indoor safety and cleaning, it all might start to feel overwhelming. However, you don’t have to take on fall cleaning on your own! Contact Clean Bees in Fort Collins to learn how we can improve your life this autumn with our professional house cleaning services.