It may be hard to believe, but summer is almost over, which means many people will start to prepare their homes for the cooler weather and shorter days. Some may decide to use a cleaning service to get their home sparkles from top to bottom, but there are many things that you can do yourself, or get your family to help you with, to help keep your home looking spectacular.
Here, we provide a detailed fall cleaning checklist, with tips that are easy and affordable, ensuring that no corner is left unturned before October arrives.
Pantry Audit
All boxes and cans should be taken off of the shelves in your pantry. You can use your vacuum to eliminate crumbs or dust that have been lingering over the last few months. You’ll be surprised at the amount of dust and other particles that have accumulated over the spring and summer, but your trusty vacuum should be able to take care of business with ease.
Next, carefully check each can and box to ensure that they are in good condition, as well as to check if they’re beyond their sell-by date. Any such items should be thrown out or recycled if applicable before moving on to part two.
Smoke Detector Inspection
Your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors should have new batteries to ensure that they work as intended. A good way to remember to put in new batteries is to swap them when it is time to adjust your clocks for daylight savings time.
Swapping out your old batteries for a new set will not suffice, as your carbon monoxide and smoke detector units also need to be cleaned. Due to dust build-up over the months, it can hinder their performance, and given the fact that they are life-saving devices, you will want to ensure that they are working to their full potential.
You can easily clean your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors by using the soft brush attachment that came with your vacuum. Simply use the brush to clean in and around the opening of each unit, which will usually only take a few minutes to complete. Remember to replace your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors if you have owned them for over a decade.
Flip Mattresses
Flip your mattresses right after you turn your clocks back for the fall. If you are unable to flip your mattresses because they have pillow tops, rotate them about 180 degrees so that you won’t have to worry about body impression foam causing slumping in certain areas. Odours can also be eliminated with some baking soda, and you should vacuum each mattress after you have sprinkled baking soda over them.
Shampoo Your Carpeting
The holidays are just around the corner, so you may want to get ahead of the game by scrubbing your carpet with some shampoo and elbow grease. While there are some do-it-yourself options that you can try, most experts recommend you call in the pros to perform at least one professional carpet cleaning per year. Or, you can rent a carpet cleaner and clean your carpets yourself, if you prefer.
Take Care of Upholstered Surfaces
Many people believe that their sofas and couches are clean, only to find that a dust cloud quickly envelops them as they plop on their couch to watch some TV. Vacuum all of your chairs and sofas, ensure that you also vacuum every cushion on both sides. You should thoroughly vacuum the platform below each cushion, as well as the arms, sides, and backs of each cushion.
Wash Windows
Clean your windows using a glass cleaner or mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid with some water into a spray bottle to spray your windows. Then use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe them down. Our favourite tip is to clean your windows on a cloudy day, as it will be easier to see streaks on your windows.
Clean Your Walls and Light Fixtures
If your walls are wood-panelled or dry painted, then you should dust, wash, and rinse them periodically to ensure that they are immaculate. You should also remember to clean your light fixtures, particularly those that are ceiling mounted. They tend to be forgotten for months, if not years, and can easily accumulate large amounts of dust and other particulates.
Inspect Wooden Floors
Wood, while beautiful, will eventually begin to show its age. If you’ve noticed that your wooden floors have begun to appear dull, or if there are scratches on them, then you may want to call in the pros to have them completely refinished. If only a touch-up is needed, then ask them to just scuff-sand and recoat them instead.
Don’t Forget Your Computer
Your keyboard is a hotbed for all sorts of dangerous microorganisms, so you should clean and wipe down your keyboard and also remove any dust on the CPU, which can cause overheating, slow down, and possible system failure with time. The monitor or screen should also be dusted off with a soft microfiber cloth so that you can enjoy its pristine HD resolution for years to come.
For more tips on cleaning your home in the fall, call Sunrise Cleaning at 905-567-1199 or contact us here.