Embrace the Autumn Season With This Cleaning Plan
Take these steps to freshen up rooms and get rid of any dust and grime before Christmas
A once-a-year massive spring clean may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’d rather break up the work, here are some ideas for sprucing up your space as we head towards winter. From updating your book collection to cleaning up outdoors, pick and choose from these eight to-dos to create a cleaning plan that works for you.
Deep clean children’s rooms
Get the kids in on the project by assigning jobs that seem sort of fun, such as dusting the floor with dusting mitts on their feet, or spritzing surfaces with a gentle cleaning spray. Move or clean under furniture where the biggest dust bunnies hide, and tidy up toys and clothes.
Find a reviewed interior designer near you and see their past projets.
Get the kids in on the project by assigning jobs that seem sort of fun, such as dusting the floor with dusting mitts on their feet, or spritzing surfaces with a gentle cleaning spray. Move or clean under furniture where the biggest dust bunnies hide, and tidy up toys and clothes.
Find a reviewed interior designer near you and see their past projets.
Edit your book collection
The autumn and winter months are prime time for curling up with a good book. Make some room on your shelves for new titles by weeding out books you didn’t love or know you won’t pick up again. While you’re at it, use a duster to swipe the shelves and spines.
The autumn and winter months are prime time for curling up with a good book. Make some room on your shelves for new titles by weeding out books you didn’t love or know you won’t pick up again. While you’re at it, use a duster to swipe the shelves and spines.
Wipe down kitchen cupboards, walls and appliances
Grease from cooking can build up on kitchen surfaces over time. Using a warm, wrung-out microfibre cloth, wipe down everything top to bottom. To avoid damaging finishes, start with just water on the cloth and add a gentle cleanser if needed.
Grease from cooking can build up on kitchen surfaces over time. Using a warm, wrung-out microfibre cloth, wipe down everything top to bottom. To avoid damaging finishes, start with just water on the cloth and add a gentle cleanser if needed.
Refresh cleaning tools
When was the last time you checked out the state of all of those scrubbing brushes and cleaning tools? Replace any with bedraggled bristles, and fill in any gaps in your cleaning arsenal. Having the right tools really does make the work easier and more pleasant.
You might also enjoy 7 Places You May Have Forgotten to Clean.
When was the last time you checked out the state of all of those scrubbing brushes and cleaning tools? Replace any with bedraggled bristles, and fill in any gaps in your cleaning arsenal. Having the right tools really does make the work easier and more pleasant.
You might also enjoy 7 Places You May Have Forgotten to Clean.
Sort papers
Post and other incoming paperwork can easily pile up. Make yourself a big cup of coffee or tea and sit down to go through it all. Shred documents with personal information on them before recycling and file important records.
Post and other incoming paperwork can easily pile up. Make yourself a big cup of coffee or tea and sit down to go through it all. Shred documents with personal information on them before recycling and file important records.
Clean rugs and floors
Freshen up rugs and floors in high-traffic areas. Launder rugs or get them professionally cleaned. Sweep, vacuum and clean floors and have wood flooring refinished if necessary.
Freshen up rugs and floors in high-traffic areas. Launder rugs or get them professionally cleaned. Sweep, vacuum and clean floors and have wood flooring refinished if necessary.
Tidy up outdoors
A full summer of gardening and outdoor activities can leave the garden littered with half-filled bags of potting soil and scattered sand toys. Use a day on a crisp autumn weekend to get it all tidied up. Clean outdoor toys and gear before storing them for the winter, and find a sheltered area to stow gardening tools and supplies.
Tell us…
What’s on your autumn to-do list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
A full summer of gardening and outdoor activities can leave the garden littered with half-filled bags of potting soil and scattered sand toys. Use a day on a crisp autumn weekend to get it all tidied up. Clean outdoor toys and gear before storing them for the winter, and find a sheltered area to stow gardening tools and supplies.
Tell us…
What’s on your autumn to-do list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Check the care instructions carefully, especially if you’ve never laundered these items before. Shrunken slipcovers and short curtains are not a good look! If you’re not sure, check with the manufacturer or send them to the dry cleaners.