Originally Published on November 10, 2021. Last Updated on August 31, 2022.

While spring gets most of the attention when it comes to deep cleaning, fall is also a time to pull on the rubber gloves and tidy up your home. This is especially true if you’re planning to decorate your home and/or entertain over for the holidays. So get your home ready for sweater weather relaxation by following our fall deep cleaning checklist.

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Kitchen

Let’s start with the heart of your home — the kitchen. It’s where family comes together to enjoy tasty meals and tantalizing conversation. There’s nothing more satisfying than a spotless kitchen to set the tone for your holiday season. Treat your kitchen to a deep cleaning by knocking out these tasks:

1. Wipe down cabinet doors and handles.
2. Clean and organize your pantry. Throw away anything that has expired, and while you’re in there, make list of the cooking and baking ingredients you may need for the holiday season. 
3. Clean the oven and vent hood.
4. Clean the refrigerator and freezer. Toss out any expired items. Clean and dust your refrigerator coils, if applicable.
5. Sweep and mop the floor.
6. Clean and sanitize all countertops and tabletops.

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Bathroom

There’s a good chance cleaning the bathroom is your least favorite chore. After all, it can get pretty gross in there… and we’ll leave it at that. But no matter how arduous a task it may be, the bathroom is open to everyone, so you want it to look, smell, and BE clean. Here’s what you need to do to make your bathroom guest-ready:

1. Wash and change shower curtains and liners. Use a baking soda-and-vinegar mixture to wash the shower liners.
2. Wash bath mats.
3. Treat any mold or mildew you see — check the shower stall, on the walls, around the toilet, etc.
4. Clean and sanitize bathroom cabinets, floors, and countertops.
5. Discard any expired products.
6. Clean and sanitize all fixtures, including door knobs, faucets, and switch plates.
7. Stock items in the bathroom for guests such as hand soap, toilet paper, clean towels, etc.
8. Include flameless fall-scented candles.

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Bedroom

If you have guests staying over for the holidays, you want to make the guest bedroom as warm and inviting as possible. While you’re at it, you may want to give your own bedroom a deep cleaning. Here are some cleanup tips to make any bedroom sparkle:

1. Vacuum your mattress. Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove any dust particles in your mattress.
2. Rotate your mattress.
3. Dust light fixtures, walls, and all surfaces.
4. Clean carpets and rugs.
5. Wash heavier winter bedding.

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Living Room

Long-lasting memories are made in the living room. Whether you’re watching Thanksgiving football, playing board games with your kids, or chatting over cocktails, you want to keep your conversation area tidy and organized for those special moments. Take a look at what you need to do to make that happen:

1. Dust or vacuum your air vents, light fixtures, and walls.
2. Vacuum upholstered furniture, including under the cushions.
3. Vacuum under and behind your sofa.
4. Polish your wood furniture and floors, if applicable.
5. Wipe down your electronics, including TVs, remote controls, and keyboards.
6. Dust baseboards, bookshelves, and tops of furniture.

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Outdoor Area

Whether you have a patio, deck, or porch, there’s nothing like spending time with your loved ones outdoors during the holiday season. If you live in an area that’s just too cold to kick back and relax in your outdoor space, it’s still a good idea to do a deep cleaning, so you don’t have to do as much when spring comes around. Here are some tasks to help make your space an outdoor oasis.

1. Use a pressure washer to clean your patio, deck, or porch.
2. Clean and wipe down your outdoor furniture.
3. Clean your outdoor cushions and pillows.
4. Clean outdoor rugs.
5. Stock up on propane or firewood for heating.
6. Check exterior paint and touch up as needed.
7. Check and clean the gutters and downspouts.
8. Drain your pool, if applicable.
9. Inspect weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows.
10. Rake fallen leaves and mow the lawn.

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Around the House

Once you have all the specific areas squared away, it’s time to do cleaning and maintenance in spots you might miss when doing a deep cleaning. Take a look at what you should do around the house:

1. Wash interior and exterior windows, window sills, and window grooves.
2. Remove window screens. Clean and make any necessary repairs.
3. Sweep and inspect chimneys and fireplaces.
4. Change smoke detector batteries.
5. Clean or replace HVAC filters.
6. Clean and dust ceiling fans. 
7. Dust the tops of doors and door frames.
8. Wash curtains or take them to the cleaners.
9. Clean doorknobs and light switch plates.
10. Spot clean carpets and rugs.

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Deep cleaning is a lot of work. But once you tackle everything on our ultimate fall cleaning list, you’ll be glad you did. Your home will look better than ever, and your holiday guests will take notice!

What do you think of our fall cleaning guide? Let us know in the comments below. 

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