The Complete Fall Cleaning Checklist for a Tidy Home

Fall cleaning just got easier with a checklist of both bite-size tasks and deep-clean to-dos.

As the seasons change, so should your cleaning routine. You might already conduct an annual spring cleaning, but it’s just as essential to refresh your home once summer comes to a close. Fall typically brings cooler weather and more time spent indoors, which can mean increased foot traffic, dust, and debris. It also signals the approach of the holiday season, which often brings houseguests and extra cooking.

To make seasonal cleaning a breeze, break down each room into a checklist of must-do tasks. Then, integrate cleaning into your daily schedule to make it feel less like a chore, and tackle deep cleaning jobs when you have the time. Follow this fall cleaning checklist for a room-by-room approach to tidying your home for the season.

Kitchen Cleaning To-Dos
The kitchen is often the center of the home, where everyone gathers when they get home from daily activities. Fall weather lends itself to muddy shoe prints that get tracked in. Cooler weather also means less outdoor grilling and more indoor cooking, which can do a number on kitchen surfaces. With more time spent indoors, it’s important to stay on top of fall house cleaning, especially on surfaces that come in contact with food.

Daily to Weekly Tasks
Clear off and wipe down counters
Scrub the kitchen sink
Sweep floors for crumbs daily
Mop floors weekly

Monthly to Quarterly Tasks
Go through fridge and freezer and throw out expired items
Sort through spices and cabinets and donate or discard unused items
Wipe down the stovetop and microwave
Wipe down cabinets
Refresh sponges
Swap out soap with a fall-scented soap
Clean the dishwasher
Disinfect trash can(s)

Bathroom Cleaning Tasks
Your bathroom is an important space to clean, no matter the season. It’s the room where you bathe and prep for the day, so it should be freshened up regularly. Bathrooms are also one of the most likely rooms to develop stains and mildew, so regular in-depth cleans are necessary.

Daily to Weekly Tasks
Clean off counters
Wipe down shower walls while showering
Wipe out the sink
Wipe down mirrors
Put out a new hand towel; use the old one to wipe down the sink
Clean the toilet. A quick daily wipe-down with a toilet brush can prevent stains and mildew.

Monthly to Quarterly Tasks
Wash shower curtains and floor mats
Restock toiletries
Declutter cabinet and under-sink items
Scrub showerhead
Snake drains as needed

 

Living Room Cleaning Tips
Fall is the perfect time to cozy up in the living room around the fireplace. With increased use, however, living areas can quickly collect clutter. Family night in the living room can also mean snacking on the couch, which leads to more spills and stains. Stay on top of fall house cleaning by doing a quick pick-up each evening. When you’re extra motivated and have a little more time on your hands, these monthly to quarterly tasks can be completed in just a couple of hours.

Daily to Weekly Tasks
Pick up clutter
Spot-clean spills
Straighten pillows
Clean screens (Wipe fingerprints off TV screens with a 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and distilled water.)
Sanitize remotes

Monthly to Quarterly Tasks
Wash throw pillows and blankets
Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
Freshen upholstery
Sweep out the fireplace, if applicable
Dust lampshades

Bedroom Cleaning Tasks
Days get shorter, and nights get longer when fall comes around. Make sure your bedroom is straightened and clean for unwinding at night. For those who sleep with the window open throughout the summer, closing up for the season can lead to shocking amounts of dust and pollen collected on bedroom surfaces. Clean up this essential spot for relaxation with a regular bedroom cleaning ritual.

Daily to Weekly Tasks
Make your bed daily
Put away any clothes
Launder sheets weekly
Rotate mattress every two months

Monthly to Quarterly Tasks
Wash curtains or dust blinds
Clean mirrors
Sort through summer clothes and shoes and donate ones you no longer need
Transition summer wardrobe with fall and winter staples
Dust bookshelves, nightstands, and other surfaces
Deep-clean carpets
Dust ceiling fans and flip the fan’s direction to move clockwise

Exterior Cleaning Essentials
Cold weather can do a number on your home, especially if certain areas aren’t prepped correctly for the shift in weather. Fall is the time to retire patio furniture and spruce up your exterior, including a few important maintenance tasks, before winter hits. Here are some important home exterior cleaning tasks to complete this fall.

Clean out gutters
Rake leaves
Power-wash windows and siding
Clean patio furniture and store away
Have your furnace and chimney inspected and cleaned before use
Remember to change your furnace filter monthly
Sweep walkway, steps, porch, etc.
Wipe down windows
Drain outdoor faucets to prevent freezing
Trim trees and plants away from siding
Inspect roof
Remove debris from exhaust ducts

Jessica Bennett and Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens