
Hello! It’s been a long time since our previous article, and we wanted to come back with something we’re sure you will find useful: a Fall Cleaning Checklist!
It’s fall season right now! This year went by so fast, and what better way to celebrate than to clean our home?
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons. At this point, you have probably started using your fireplace again, preparing warm drinks, and changing your decoration.
But everything has its ups and downs. Leaves start to gather in your backyard, your windows get dirty faster, and your filters and drains might get clogged before the season ends.
Depending on where you live, the winds can start to carry more dust mites, lint, and allergens from plants, which will go right through your window. For example, Dallas has low air quality, and it gets worse during fall because the temperature drops and there is less sunlight each day. We all know good airflow and sunlight are the worst enemies of mold and mildew, so keep that in mind.
Here’s how you can go through each area and get your home looking beautiful during fall!
Step 1: The Kitchen
Fall is a great time to declutter and clean your cupboards inside out. Many people buy canned goods and other items during Christmas, and this is the perfect time to check if you have any items expiring soon.
If you have the time, take everything out and clean your empty shelves thoroughly. This task is ideal for seasonal or occasional cleaning. For laminate shelves, you can use hot, soapy water.
Scrub with a non-scratch sponge, then wipe with a damp cloth and wipe again with a dry cloth. Remember to let shelves open and have them receive plenty of sunlight and airflow.
For wire shelves, you can use hot, soapy water and a large soft-bristled brush, along with a soft toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas.
For wooden shelves or other delicate areas, make sure you use very little water. A good mix for wooden surfaces would be a two-part white vinegar, two-part mineral oil, and one-part lemon juice. Wood needs to be moisturized and sanitized often, which is exactly what you will accomplish with this mix.
You should also take this chance to clean your appliances, too.
Check our “How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances” guide if you want all the secrets!
Next, you have to clean countertops, islands, and individual items. Leave countertops for the end because all the grease and dust will fall naturally to flat surfaces. An electric air duster and a steam cleaner will be great for removing grease and dust.
Besides, it won’t harm to add a little décor! As you know, fall is all about using warm colors, and nature-related items.

Fall Cleaning Tips for Outdoors
You are probably going to have a lot of work in your front yard and backyard during the fall. As we mentioned earlier, you’re going to see leaves and dust more often in your home and even more so outdoors.
For example, your garden tools are probably going to be used and dirty more often. In the first place, you should clean your gardening tools after every use, to remove soil and dirt.
Ideally, you would use a water hose and let them sit in the sun for around 30 minutes or until they are completely dry before storing them back. You might need to use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub any stubborn stains.
Another important area is your deck. This is the perfect time for you to deep clean it, remove any mold or mildew growth and apply a protective coat before winter.
It’s best to do this on a sunny day, as you would want the deck to dry fast after you’ve finished washing. As for the strategy, a pressure washer would be ideal here. Cleaning with water (wet vacuums, steam cleaners, pressure washers) is effective but you are using the most harmless chemical available!
Besides the pressure washer, you will need oxygen-based bleach (OxiClean) and an oil-based wood stain. They are better than water-based stains because they will soak into the wood instead of just sitting on top of it.
Mix one cup of OxiClean and two gallons of water. Apply to the deck surface, using a sweeping brush. Let sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with your pressure washer. Make sure you don’t step too close to the deck to avoid leaving water streaks.
Wait 24 hours and then apply your wood stain with a roller brush. Again, make sure it is a sunny day or, most importantly, that it’s not going to rain for the next 24 hours.

Next on Your Fall Cleaning Checklist: Your Bedroom
As we mentioned earlier, dust mites and allergens increase during fall. If you have noticed that your sleep quality has decreased or that your allergies have gone through the roof, it’s probably because your furniture needs some cleaning!
Anything with fibers is prone to absorb dust, dirt, and dead skin. We are in contact with those surfaces constantly (beds, sofas, armchairs), so it’s best to keep them clean and sanitized.
Start by vacuuming your mattress at least once a week (although twice a week should be the norm), and your entire bed once or twice a month. There is so much dust that falls naturally to the sides of your bedframes, but luckily you just need to wipe it out.
Usually, a clean cloth damped with white vinegar works for most surfaces.
You need to deodorize your mattress from time to time, too. Sweat and dead skin carry a lot of bacteria, and it’s going to leave an unpleasant odor soon. Baking soda is a great choice as it is easy to apply and remove, and it is a mostly harmless chemical agent.
Once every two months would be a reasonable frequency. For keeping track of this easier, you can make it each 6 weeks, which means that you can do it every time a new season starts and then 6 weeks after that.
Living Room
Your living room is the heart of your home, and it makes sense to focus on this area during fall, especially if you are having guests soon.
First, make sure you declutter your living room. If you feel your room is cluttered or looks overwhelming but you can’t point out the reason, it might be because you have too many décor items, or they do not complement each other and are too particular.
If you want to switch things up, it might be better to choose what you are going to put in your living room and then clean or vacuum items.
Then, deep clean your floors and walls, paying special attention to corners. Around this time, cobwebs need to be removed.
Your sofas and other seating need to be cleaned too, for similar reasons as your bed.
As you know, vacuuming is really important to clean porous surfaces. With a wet and dry vacuum, you will be able to absorb a lot of dirt, sweat, and bacteria from your furniture, especially if you haven’t cleaned it this way. If you use one of these vacuums, make sure that you have a sunny day ahead so that your furniture can dry quickly.

Fall Cleaning Tips for Your Bathroom
Next on your fall cleaning list: the bathrooms. We all know they are one of the most dreaded areas for cleaning. As we mentioned earlier, during fall the temperature drops and humidity can increase. Bathrooms are humid because of all the plumbing, and they are also quite cold, and they receive little to no sunlight.
But there’s no need to worry! As long as you clean and disinfect surfaces to keep mold and mildew under control, everything will be fine.
For starters, you need to deep clean your surfaces and your components. A one-part water and one-part white vinegar mix is usually effective for general cleaning and killing mold as well. Use a few drops of soap to remove grease as well.
For your shower, leave a mix of baking soda and liquid hand soap, until you form a paste. Leave for 10 minutes and scrub with a large broom.
If your grout is looking grayish, brown, or black, it might need serious scrubbing. Try applying a mix of bleach and water, leaving on the surface for 10 minutes, and then scrubbing with a hard-bristled brush, or a drill brush attachment.
You might need to re-caulk surfaces to stop moisture and water from getting between grout or holes in your bathroom. On a similar thought, you can take this time to buy a new mat that absorbs water more efficiently and that dries faster. And if you find one that is also fall-themed, even better!
You already know that a clean smelling house is a game changer. Here’s a pro tip: add one or two candles with fall-inspired fragrances, especially if you have guests coming over. You can light candles 30 minutes before they arrive and turn them off right before they arrive, or just leave them burning if you want to. This will help with odors and ensure your bathroom smells clean and fresh.
Don’t forget to check our full Bathroom Cleaning guide if you need one or two extra tips!

Last But Not Least: Your Office or Workspace
Whether you work from home or not, it’s always nice to have a clean, organized space to use your computer, read a book or keep up with your agenda.
And fall is a good time to give it a fresh vibe to your office! You can start by decluttering old books, receipts, and other items you no longer need in your office. Try to keep flat surfaces as empty as possible to work comfortably. If you are struggling with keeping your workspace clean and organized, only buy any containers or organizers after you have decluttered.
Now it’s time for cleaning. Start by vacuuming surfaces. A workspace tends to absorb a lot of dust, especially in the corners and hidden areas. If you have a handheld vacuum cleaner the process will be much easier.
Because this is a bit of a deep cleaning, you can take the time to add a bit of grease or mineral oil to your drawers and cabinets. You will notice the difference right away!
You will also need to wipe all surfaces inside out. The type of cleaning product will depend upon the material. You can follow the same process as your kitchen for laminate, wire or wooden surfaces.
Don’t forget to wash your windows! In your workspace, you need as much sunlight as you can, and a dusty window won’t be enough. A one-part vinegar, one-part water, with a few drops of essential oil, will be more than enough. Remember to follow an S pattern when washing your windows or other glass surfaces.
Last but not least, check your light fixtures, wipe any lamps and replace bulbs. Many people overlook this step, and you are going to need them to work at their best.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our fall cleaning tips. This season is ideal for deep cleaning before winter and Christmas time arrive. Dedicate some time and love to your house and it will look clean and fresh for your guests and your family!
No matter the case, remember you always can count on Dallas Maids if you need a professional cleaning service in Dallas, North Dallas, or Frisco.
We will we back soon with more cleaning tips!