Deep Clean Your House This Fall
Moving into a new house is a weird experience. It doesn't quite feel like home yet, and part of the reason might be because you don't feel like the house is up to your standards in terms of cleanliness. Here's our fall cleaning checklist to help you get your house feeling like home.
The Kitchen
Just figuring out what room to start in can be a huge challenge. Our recommendation? Start in the kitchen. That way you have clean surfaces to cook on every day, plus there's something to be said for a little oasis where you can you sit down, have your coffee, and eat your breakfast without feeling like you're living in someone else's home.
The disposal
Fun fact: not everyone knows how to use garbage disposal properly. Some bad habits include putting food in the disposal without running it, putting items in the disposal that aren't meant to go in there, and never cleaning the disposal. All of this can lead to some serious gunk and a pretty bad smell.
The good news is you can buy cleaning products that will get your disposal working (and smelling) like new. If you're looking for a more natural approach, try pouring some baking soda and vinegar in the disposal. Once it stops bubbling, rinse it out and then take a lemon rind and run it through the disposal to give the blades a final clean and fresh scent. Once you're done, give your sink a good scrub down with baking soda or your favorite kitchen cleaner.
The refrigerator
It doesn't matter who you are, your fridge is going to get a little gross from time to time. Spills happen, food gets stuck behind drawers, and smells can linger. Take every tray, shelf, and drawer out of your fridge and wash them in warm soapy water. Once those are out, clean everything that you couldn't remove and check behind any remaining drawers for food that got stuck along the way.
While you're on the fridge, don't forget to vacuum the coils and vents at the bottom. Not only will you be getting rid of dust and grime in your house, but you're also making your fridge run more efficiently.
The stove
Most of the stove is pretty straight forward. Just scrub with some stove top cleaner and set the self-clean function on your oven. If you don't have a self-clean, you'll have to grab some oven cleaner and get in there with some elbow grease.
While you're on the oven, make sure you remove the filter on your vent hood. Years of venting grease can make this item pretty gross, but if you soak it in warm, soapy water, you should be able to scrub it pretty clean.
The dishwasher
There's a little drain in bottom of your dishwasher that can easily fill up with chunks of old food. Take it out and soak it in warm, soapy water before scrubbing and rinsing. After that's done, put a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher safe bowl and run the wash cycle. This will help sanitize and remove any grime.
Finish it off by filling a small bowl with baking soda and running the wash cycle one more time. This will help remove any stuck-on grime or stains--once that's done, you're good to go!
The Bathroom
Bathrooms can get pretty gross, for obvious reasons. The good news is that they're designed to be easily wiped down and cleaned. Here's where we suggest you start.
Showers
When it comes to getting your showers clean there's not really an easy solution. The only thing to do is get a good shower cleaner, like CLR, and a good scrub brush and get to work.
Once the tile and tub are clean, it's time to clean the showerhead. An old head can be slimy and molding, and that grossness is raining down on you every morning while you're trying to get clean. Luckily the fix is pretty easy. Grab a plastic bag, a rubber band, and some white vinegar. Fill the bag with the vinegar and secure it over the head with the rubber band. Soaking overnight will help sanitize and remove any grim. Once you're done, take some baking soda and scrub with a toothbrush.
Sinks
Thankfully, the sinks are a pretty easy fix. Go ahead and clean the sink bowl the way you would normally. Don't forget to really get under the sink plug and in the faucet head, since mold and slime and build up there.
Toilet
Just like the sink, the toilet should be cleaned as you normally would. Just don't forget to disinfect the seat and the lid!
Grout
Nothing looks worse than dirty grout on white tile. Take a good grout cleaner or some bleach and spread it on the grout. Let it sit for about an hour and then start scrubbing with a toothbrush or scrub brush. Be sure to have an old rag or paper towel on hand to wipe up the mess.
The Laundry Room
If the washer and dryer came with your house, you'll want to make sure you clean them both before you use them. Some of the newer washers have a self-cleaning cycle. But if you have an older machine, toss a cup of white vinegar in the tub and run the cycle with hot water. Once that is done, take a toothbrush and scrub the rubber seal.
Your dryer should be fairly clean on the inside, but go ahead and wipe down the inside drum for good measure. Once that's done, clean the lint trap and then vacuum the area where you would normally place the trap to remove any leftover lint.
The Carpets
A good vacuum and a steam clean will do wonders for your carpets. But, honestly, this is a job better left to a professional since their equipment is much more powerful than what you likely have at your home.
Deep Clean the Rest of the House
The rule is, if you haven't cleaned it already, the dust it or wipe it down. Here are some key places.
- Windows
- Blinds
- Doors
- Baseboards
- Ceiling fans
- Light fixtures
- Drawers and cabinets
- Chandeliers
- Walls
Whew, that was a lot of work! Go pour yourself a nice cup of tea and sit back and enjoy your sparkly new home!