The Ultimate Room-by-Room Fall Cleaning Checklist for Akron Homeowners

As the seasons change, so should your cleaning schedule! You might already have an annual spring cleaning routine, but fall is a perfect time to refresh your home as summer comes to a close. To make your seasonal refresh easier, follow our room-by-room fall cleaning checklist to tackle every area in your home.

What Tools Do You Need for Fall Cleaning?

It’s a good idea to tidy up your home’s exterior as soon as you can. While Ohio doesn’t usually see snow in October, it’s not out of the question! The items you’ll need may vary based on your home’s size, but here are some essential tools to consider:

• Protective gear like gloves, mask and goggles
• Mop, broom and dustpan
• Vacuum cleaner
• Cleaning cloths
• Your preferred household cleaners
• Rake or leaf blower
• Gardening shears
• A few trash bags

Where to Start Your Fall Cleaning?

Before the weather turns unbearably cold, you should start by preparing your home’s exterior and outdoor spaces for winter. Your front porch is the perfect starting point. Then you’re ready to head inside and tidy up all the rooms in your home. 

Get Your Free Fall Cleaning Checklist

Stay organized and motivated by downloading our free fall cleaning checklist. You can easily track your progress and check off tasks as you complete them!

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Home Exterior Fall Cleaning Tasks

Fall is a great time to inspect your home’s exterior. Check for damaged windows, doors and siding that could impact your home’s energy efficiency. To keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long, replace cracked windows, drafty doors and loose siding to keep the cold air out. This will help your energy bills as well—less chilly drafts getting in means less work for your HVAC system. Here are a few other exterior tasks for the fall:

• Rake the leaves in your yard as needed
• Free your gutters of debris
• Sweep walkways, patios and porches
• Stow away patio furniture
• Drain outdoor faucets to prevent freezing
• Wipe down window exteriors
• Prune back shrubs
• Powerwash siding

Home Interior Fall Cleaning Tasks

Entryway Fall Cleaning Tips

Before bringing friends and family into your home for the holidays, make sure your entryway is clean and inviting. For a bolder refresh, consider replacing your entry door. Keep your entryway looking its best all season long by completing these tasks:

• Put away summer accessories
• Mop your floors
• Add a decorative fall doormat
• Hang up fall jackets, scarfs and hats
• Sweep out leaves as they blow in

Fall Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where everyone gathers after a long day of school or work. With cooler temperatures, you’ll likely shift from outdoor grilling to more indoor cooking, which can take a toll on your kitchen surfaces. It’s crucial to keep food contact areas sanitized. For a touch of seasonal charm, consider switching your hand soap to a fall scent, and incorporate natural decor like pinecones and pumpkins to enhance the cozy vibe.

Daily to Weekly Kitchen Tasks

• Clear and wipe down countertops
• Sweep crumbs after meals
• Mops floors weekly
• Scrub the kitchen sink

Monthly to Quarterly Kitchen Tasks

• Throw out expired items in the fridge, freezer and pantry
• Reorganize your spice cabinet
• Wipe down the microwave, stove top and cabinet fronts
• Deep clean your oven and dishwasher
• Buy new sponges
• Disinfect trash cans

Bathroom Fall Cleaning Tips

No matter the season, it’s important to keep your bathroom clean. The room you bathe and get ready for the day in should be freshened up on a regular basis. Excess moisture leads to stains and mildew build-up, so deep cleans are needed more often than in other areas of your home. 

Daily to Weekly Bathroom Tasks

• Wipe down counters, mirrors and sinks
• Clean shower walls
• Replace hand towels
• Wash bath mats
• Use a toilet brush to prevent stains and mildew  

Monthly to Quarterly Bathroom Tasks

• Restock toiletries
• Declutter under the sink and in the medicine cabinet
• Wipe down cabinet fronts
• Wash shower curtain
• Scrub shower head

Living Room Fall Cleaning Tips

Before getting cozy beside the fireplace on those cool fall nights, you should have your chimney and fireplace inspected by a professional. Then you’re ready to spend time with family and friends gathered around the fire! However, more time spent in the living room means more clutter, crumbs and spills to stay on top of through autumn.

Daily to Weekly Living Room Tasks

• Pick up clutter
• Dust furniture
• Straighten pillows and blankets
• Vacuum floors

Monthly to Quarterly Living Room Tasks

• Wash pillows and blankets
• Sanitize TV remotes
• Sweep out fireplace
• Rotate seasonal decor

Bedroom Fall Cleaning Tips

As the days get shorter, make sure your bedroom is clean and straightened out before unwinding at night. Replace your summer linens with warmer bedding like an extra quilt or a thicker comforter for a sound sleep all night long. And don’t forget to switch the direction of your fan to rotate clockwise to move warmer air around the room!

Daily to Weekly Bedroom Tasks

• Make your bed daily
• Put away clothes
• Wash sheets weekly
• Dust furniture

Monthly to Quarterly Bedroom Tasks

• Switch out your summer clothes for fall and winter
• Sort through and sell or donate clothes and shoes no longer needed
• Rotate mattress
• Wash curtains

Dining Room Fall Cleaning Tips

With family and friends gathering throughout the season, you’ll want to create an inviting and tidy space to share a meal together. Add warm, earth-toned placemats, table runners and napkins to be party-ready. For an extra touch of autumn, pick up some small pumpkins and gourds from your local grocery store for display purposes. They should last about a month.

Daily to Weekly Dining Room Tasks

• Dust furniture
• Straighten chairs
• Vacuum floors
• Stage the table with plates, glasses and napkins

Monthly to Quarterly Dining Room Tasks

• Polish silverware
• Rotate seasonal decorations
• Clean chair cushions
• Vacuum curtains

Get Your Home Fall-Ready with Window World of Akron

As you go through each room of your home, you may notice drafty or broken windows and doors in need of replacement. The experts at Window World of Akron are here to help you get your home ready for the season with beautiful, energy-efficient products for every room. Contact us today for a free estimate to get started!