General,How to Clean

Autumn Cleaning Checklist

As the leaves begin to fall, dust off your spring cleaning list and modify it to prepare your house for the winter. Or book a professional house cleaning and enjoy the beautiful autumn days.

This list originally appeared on realsimple.com.

Inside the House

Wash every window.

Use glass cleaner, or mix a little dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle filled with water. Wipe with a microfiber cloth. If; you pick a cloudy day, you will be better able to see any streaks.

Vacuum canvas, cotton, and treated fabric blinds.

Use a low setting with a brush attachment. Vinyl shades can be wiped down with a dampened microfiber cloth.

Moderately dirty window treatments

Start by dusting or vacuuming the valance and frame, then vacuum from top to bottom using the upholstery attachment for drapes, and the brush attachment for blinds. Or submerge blinds or shades in a few inches of cool water and two teaspoons of dishwashing liquid (check labels first to make sure this is safe). Take out the metal weights first; they can rust.

If your window coverings are very dirty, check labels for cleaning instructions.

Some cotton, polyester, rayon, and wool drapes can be machine washed on delicate. Always send lace, linen, satin, and silk drapes and shades to a professional cleaner.

Clean the walls.

Dust, wash, rinse, and dry painted or wood-paneled walls.

Clean ceiling-mounted light fixtures.
Vacuum and spot-clean upholstered furniture and cushions.

Deep-clean if necessary.

Wipe down kitchen cupboards.

Empty them, wash them down, replace liners, de-clutter, and reorganize.

Dust off the refrigerator condenser coil.

Use your vacuum’s brush attachment and gently vacuum it.

Do the carpets.

Have carpets professionally cleaned if needed.

Evaluate wooden floors.

Have scratched or dull wood floors professionally scuff-sanded and re-coated, or completely refinished.

Spruce up your computer.

Dust the CPU, clean and wipe down the keyboard, and dust off the monitor with a microfiber cloth. Vacuum the fan grill using a brush attachment.

Straighten the closets.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Or install them, if you haven’t yet.

Replace the furnace filter.

If you haven’t changed your furnace filter within the past three months, do so now.

Sweep the chimneys.

Have the wood-burning fireplace and stove flues and chimneys professionally inspected and swept.

Declutter and clean out the attic.

Outside the House

Check weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows.

Repair or replace as needed.

Check and clean the gutters.

Do the downspouts, too.

Clean the patio furniture.

Then store away.

Drain and store garden hoses.
Check the exterior paint.

Touch up as needed.

Drain the pool, if applicable.

Close it up for the year.

Additional Resources

About Castle Keepers House Cleaning

Castle Keepers House Cleaning has been at the forefront of innovation and leadership among house cleaning professionals for years. Our company pioneered environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning methods in residential cleaning. Castle Keepers House Cleaning is independently owned, not a franchise, with branches in Atlanta, GA, Charleston, SC, Greenville, SC, Portland, OR, and Dayton, OH. To find out more about us, click here. Check out our friends at Maid Sailors for cleaning in other major cities.