It is more common to find people paying attention to spring cleaning than fall cleaning. Fall cleaning is as essential as spring cleaning, and it has to be done right. This is a crucial moment where you have to carry out a deep cleaning of your home due to the changing temperatures combined with closed windows which are perfect conditions for the growth of harmful germs and allergens. To help you clean your home, here are the best fall cleaning tips for a sparkling home:

Don’t ignore your windows

It is quite tempting to leave window cleaning until spring but don’t! When windows are not cleaned for a while, a fall downpour makes them look dirty with scratches. Some experts have suggested that using rainwater to clean windows is better than using tap water as it contains fewer contaminants. So, prevent your windows from looking quite disgusting by washing them in the coming weeks.

Declutter your wardrobes

Chances are there are a lot of unused items in your wardrobe. Fall is the time when you don’t want such things gathering clouds of dust in the closet. Not that you want your items gathering dust at any time of the year, but the growth of bacteria could be worse during fall. Storing items that you no longer need will only make the home messy over time. So, use fall as the perfect time to sort out these items, donate the ones you can to a local charity store and check out the ones that can be recycled.

Clean behind and under the furniture

When was the last time you moved the sofa or closet to clean behind? A lot of people don’t do this even when they vacuum the house weekly. During fall, take the time to clean behind, above and under the furniture. No doubt, when you are done, there will be lots of dust, debris, dirt, and allergens that you have gotten rid of. This is an excellent step towards a sparkling home.

Get rid of cobwebs

Fall is generally the breeding season for spiders. It is essential to get rid of cobwebs from your home as much as you can. There are easy ways to get this done. You can use an extendable duster which will allow you to get to cobwebs in the ceiling. You can also use the hose and extension tube installed in your vacuum cleaner.

Carry out freezer maintenance by defrosting

Your freezer is one of the few appliances that are used daily, and to keep it running to its full potential, it is crucial to make sure you keep track of the freezer’s maintenance. The key to such maintenance is to defrost your fridge if you do not have an automatic defrost model. If you have not done this for a while or have noticed an accumulation of ice, fall is the perfect time to defrost it.

Use a steam cleaner on your bedding, upholstery, and curtains

While changing the bedding weekly will help keep the bed clean, you may be surprised that a lot of dirt accumulates in your mattress at home. Along with dirt, bed bugs are becoming more common in homes, so it is crucial to clean the mattress regularly to remove bed bugs that hide in them. An effective way of cleaning your mattress is by using a vacuum cleaner, but one of our best cleaning tips for fall is to use a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning doesn’t involve the use of chemicals. Instead, it gets rid of a high percentage of bacteria and germs with just the right amount of heat. Steam cleaners produce a lot of heat that kills bed bugs and eggs. They can also be used on upholstered furniture and curtains.

Remove muddy footprints as soon as you can

Fall is a naturally beautiful and colorful month, as trees change color and crisp leaves scatter along the sidewalks, which makes children happy as they pass through and kick them in the air. The downside is that fall is usually a muddy season, and this can wreak havoc on homeowners, as muddy footprints from children and pets damage the floors. To clean muddy footprints from a hard floor, whether laminate, wood or tiles, use a steam mop to remove the dirt as soon as you can. When it comes to removing traces of mud from a rug or carpet, it’s often better to let it dry before working on it. An excellent hack is to use bicarbonate soda. Sprinkle a little over the muddy patch and wait for about half an hour. It will dry off the dirt, and then, you can vacuum as usual.

Clean and test your smoke alarms

Wood burners and real fires have experienced a boom in popularity in recent years, and with temperatures dropping during fall, they will be used to provide heat and comfort on those dark and wet nights. But, before you start using your real wood or firewood, clean the chimney professionally, making sure it is free of any form of debris, including bed nests. In addition to cleaning the vent, you should also test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure that they are still working correctly. Doing this could make a massive difference in an emergency situation when you use the extra time to get you and your loved ones to safety.

Don’t forget your lighting fixtures

Fall could come with darker days or evenings. This is the time to pay attention to your lighting equipment around the home. Your lights and lamps are areas of your home that often become victims of dust. However, it is easy to overlook them when cleaning the house. With your lights increasingly crucial in the Fall months, it is vital to make sure they are clean and free of dirt. It is also a great idea to switch to LED bulbs as they will not only illuminate your home but also help you save money in the long term.

Use doormats to keep dirt out

Doormats in your home are a great way to help prevent unwanted dirt and debris from entering your home. Place them just outside the door and also inside at every entrance. And to make sure you avoid as much dust as possible, it is a good idea to use a heavy-duty scraper mat outside your home. This mat will address the mud, sand and all kinds of dirt from your door; while internally a rug that covers the first steps towards the home will help prevent dirt from moving more into your home. With this, you can be able to keep most of the trash out and make your daily cleaning a lot easier, and ultimately faster.

With these best fall cleaning tips for a sparkling home, you can ensure that your home is thoroughly clean and welcoming before the winter months.