You start to feel it as the nights get a little cooler and you know you only have a few weeks left at the beach or in the pool. Fall is almost here. That indicates that warm days and pumpkin spice lattes are coming up soon. It's important to take some time for yourself and your home before the holidays start and life gets crazy with back-to-school plans, sports, and other social responsibilities. You should clean these seven places before fall starts. You'll be pleased you did!
Windows and their sills
Robin Murphy, a cleaning expert at Maid Brigade Westchester, says that it's a good idea to clean your windows and window sills well. Murphy says, "Clean windows let in more light, which helps brighten up your home as the days get shorter." "Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning both windows and sills."
Air Vents and Filters
People don't want to walk into a house and feel like they can't breathe or that the air is full with dust. One of the simplest methods to avoid this issue is to keep your HVAC system in good shape. For the best air quality, Murphy says to change the filters every season. She explains, "Cleaning the vents and air filters lets more air flow and makes the air better as you get ready for colder weather."
Entrances and Mudrooms
You only get one shot to make a good first impression. Cleaning up your entryway or mudroom not only helps you stay organized, but it also makes you feel good when you step into your home. Murphy says, "A clean and organized entry area keeps dirt and clutter from spreading throughout the house."
She says that buying baskets and containers is a good way to keep things neat and tidy. "They make it easy to get to things and use up all the space," she says.
Dusty Corners and Crannies
If you spend a lot of time at the beach in the summer, you could get a lot of grime, dust, and even sand. Logan Taylor, who started The Dazzle Cleaning Company, thinks that a deep dusting is really important at this time of year.
He says, "Use your vacuum hose to clean under couch cushions and behind and under furniture that doesn't sit directly on the floor." "This is always a good thing to do, but it's even more important if you have hard floors because the dust will keep moving around your house until you get rid of it." Carpet holds on to it a lot more.
Outdoor Spaces and Outdoor Furniture
You might still be able to use your patio or deck in the fall, but Taylor says you should clean it really well before the first frost. "It's amazing how busy fall gets. You'll want to give them another scrub down in the fall, but it'll be a lot easier if the dirt hasn't been building up for months," he says.
Also, don't forget to wash your patio furniture using a hose or power washer!
Closets in bedrooms
A quick closet reset is one of Taylor's favorite things to do before fall. He says, "Any summer clothes you haven't worn this summer are clothes you probably won't wear again, so give them away so that someone else can wear them."
It's hard to find what you need in a wardrobe that is too full. Get rid of the things you don't wear so you can easily see and find the things you do wear. "And finally, take out any fall and winter clothes you have stored away and put them in their proper place for the next season," Taylor says.
Closets for coats and seasonal storage
Wendy Zanders is a professional organizer who works with neurodivergent people, military families, and elderly. She advises that you should absolutely clean up and arrange your coat closet or seasonal storage before you drink your first pumpkin spice latte.
"If summer stuff is still mixed in with winter stuff, mornings get crazy fast," she explains. "Families have to search through their things to find what they need, which is like a daily treasure hunt. We sort things instead of throwing them away, give away things we don't need, and keep things that aren't needed in the fall and winter so that they are easy to find.
Zanders says that breaking it down into one category at a time and making sure everything still fits and works can make the process a lot easier, even though it may seem hard at first. Finally, make sure that everything is in the right containers and has the right labels.
