Fall Cleaning, Yes It’s A Thing

It’s Fall, reds and gold dance in the cool Autumn breeze, pumpkins are carved lining walkways and drives, the morning air is crisp and leaves drift slowly down to the dew-dipped grass. Yes, it's true fall has arrived.

The holidays are just around the corner and families are beginning to gather together around the warmth of the fireplace. Sheets and blankets are being replaced with Quilts and Down Comforters, and Coats and Jackets are dusted off.

It’s time for Fall Cleaning. The time when we prepare our house and home for the long winter’s rest. So we wanted to show you our top checklist of things to do to get yourselves as prepared as you can, to tie the loose ends before the autumn breezes become the winter winds.

Fall Cleaning is our favourite time of the year, so let’s begin and start outside where the orange and golden leaves are gathering:

(For More Ideas on Indoor/Outdoor Fall Cleaning Check This Out from OrganizedLiving.com)

Clean and store patio furniture, and summer toys.

Check caulking around windows and doors and make sure they are sealed properly.

Inspect external doors and garage doors and make sure they close tightly. Install weather stripping if needed.

Wash exterior windows.

Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.

Check gutters and downspouts. Clear debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cables to prevent ice dams.

Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary?

Brrr… it’s getting a bit chilly. Now that, that’s finished, let’s move inside grab a cup of hot chocolate and get started in there.

Focus on the living room, family room, entryway, guest bath, and the more public rooms of the house.

Clean from top to bottom. Have delicate drapes and window treatments professionally dry-cleaned? Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.

Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.

Wash interior windows.

Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.

Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, and comforters. If your washing machine and dryer are unable to handle large or delicate loads (i.e........ down comforters) consider having them professionally dry cleaned. Jim Morgan’s Fine Dry Cleaning is offering a Fall Cleaning special of 25% off all COATS, JACKETS and COMFORTER cleanings until the end of November.

Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month! Warm October afternoons speed carpet drying. Carpet cleaning firms get busy by the end of October, so schedule now for the best service.

Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking. Clean and organise kitchen cabinets, paying particular attention to baking supplies, pans and equipment.

Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week. Clear counters look cleaner–and provide more room for holiday cooking.

Pull the refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.

Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.

Clean electronic air cleaner elements monthly for the most efficient operation. Wash them in an empty dishwasher (consult the manual for specific product recommendations).

Clean or replace humidifier elements before the heating season begins.

Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.

Check the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds’ nests! Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.

Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don’t wait for the first cold night!

Buy a winter’s supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort. When the right filter is on hand, it’s an easy job!

Drain the sediment from water heaters.

Look at you, you Fall Cleaning Master of Magnificence. Now it’s time to settle in for the season and salute your sassy autumn swagger with a pumpkin-spiced libation.