I don’t know about you, but I’m more of a “fall cleaning” girl than a “spring cleaning” girl. There is something about that fall that is both refreshing and also a time of preparation for the hibernation of winter. I know that I am going to be spending A LOT of time within the four walls of my home for the next 6-8 months, so I want my home to be neat and clean and feel like a place I want to be.
Last year I came up with a deep cleaning checklist that I actually enjoyed going through. I actually worked through the entire list, and I think that is because I made it realistic and achievable for myself. I didn’t pressure myself to do one task each day- some days I did zero tasks, and some days I tackled four or five!
I do not have a big home, and I am not a clean freak at all, so I have some corners that need to be dusted and some cabinets that need to be re-organized. But over all, I try to normally keep things simple and there is something about a household deep clean that really helps me feel simplified and like I have at least one area of my life together.
I was asked to share the deep cleaning list, so here it is! Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t! Part of me hates how this list doesn’t go in order of location in the house, but part of me actually likes it, because if I do all of the kitchen in five days then I am totally burnt out with cleaning and I ignore the rest of the house. It makes it fun to just tackle one task at a time and at the end of 30 or so days, have a very clean and organized (realistic) home.
Fall Deep Cleaning List
- Deep clean the oven and outside of the stove
- Clean out the food-related kitchen cabinets and organize them
- Clean out the pots and pans, silverware and plates- clean and organize them
- Clean out fridge and freezers (chest freezer and inside freezer)
- Clean and organize pantry (my “pantry” is in my garage)
- Deep clean the bathroom, make sure to clean in drawers and cabinets
- Clean all tile, grout and hardwood floors
- Clean all window blinds and windowsills
- Clean the back patio
- Dust and clean the ceiling fans
- Clean the baseboards throughout the house
- Clean under all the beds and furniture
- Clean out the closets and dressers
- Clean the washing machine and dryer- inside and out
- Organize/get rid of all books and magazines (both kid and adult ones)
- Clean out “keepsake” drawer and file it in the correct location
- Clean, disinfect and organize all toys
- Wash curtains
- Clean out linen closet and toiletries closet (these are not IN my bathroom, so I have a separate day)
- Clean out shoe closet and sock drawer (we keep all socks in one spot in our house)
- Clean all glass- windows, doors and mirrors
- Wash rugs and steam clean carpets
- Wash all linens, bedding items and blankets
- Vacuum and clean couches, chairs and furniture
- Dust all pictures, items hanging on walls and light fixtures
- Clean the microwave and kitchen sink
- Clean the backsplash in the kitchen
- Clean out the garage
- Clean all the doors, door handles and door frames
- Hang photos
- Organize photos and computer documents
So there you have it! Feel free to print off, copy and paste the list and work on it in your own home! I am going to be working through it and hopefully finish up around Thanksgiving- that gives me just around a month to work through the items on the list. Feel free to join me!