The Non-Toxic Fall Cleaning Guide
Plan to tackle these Fall cleaning tasks over a weekend, or spread it out over two weekends if you need to. Take your time, and don’t stress it. And focus on the most important tasks (for you) first.
1. Clean up before you close up
Before closing up your home for the cold winter months, you want to clear out all the dust, dirt, pollen, and muck that’s been accumulating throughout the summer. The last thing you want to do is get stuck inside with all of that for the next few months – especially if you have allergies!
Check and clean your air filters
Wipe down the blinds, wash the curtains, and clean the ceiling fans, floors, and carpets.
Wash the walls, windows, doors, baseboards, etc.
Get behind and under all the furniture like couches, beds, bookshelves, etc.
2. De-clutter and tidy up
I don’t know about you, but regularly purging our home of unwanted and unused items just makes us feel better! Sell what you can on Craigslist or have a garage sale, donate to a shelter or thrift store, and don’t be afraid to send some stuff straight to the dumpster if you need to.
Whatever you choose, getting this done at least twice a year just makes the job that much easier.
3. Get rid of unwanted guests
Our homes tend to get invaded during the summer and become safe havens for critters like bugs, spiders, flies, etc. Fall cleaning is the perfect time to get into all the crevices around your home and get rid of those guys before hunkering down for the winter.
Vacuum and wipe down all the corners and creases at the ground and ceiling level
Wash the window sills
Don’t forget the closets!
4. Prepare the outside
All those pool days, cookouts, and garden work really take a toll on our homes, so now is the perfect time to clean up, touch up, and get things stored away for the winter.
Wash the windows, and check the gutters for any debris
Clean and put away outdoor furniture, kid’s toys, bbq grill; drain and store your garden hose, wash the trash cans, etc.
Clean and inspect the exterior doorways. Get rid of any critters, spiderwebs, etc. Check the caulking and weather stripping, and replace if necessary
5. Cozy up the inside
Pull out the blankets and sweaters, diffuse some Fall-inspired essential oils, and get your home nice and ready for warm, cozy nights by the fire.
Wash the bedding and pillows
Flip the mattresses
Clean the upholstery
Fall cleaning can be just as important as Spring cleaning. Get your non-toxic home ready for the colder months – and the best part? You don’t have to deal with that noisy vacuum to get the job done.
