The Ultimate Fall Cleaning List Even Emily Gilmore Would Approve

A couple years ago, my family lived in Texas, and I learned something important about myself. If there aren’t four seasons, I don’t want it. Every September and October, all I wanted was a hint of cool air, but I had to settle for pumpkin chocolate chip muffins being my peak seasonal experience. When we moved back north, I couldn’t wait to get back to seasonal living, especially the autumn living. 

Fall is the ultimate feel-good season in my book. The crisp mornings, the crunchy leaves, the cozy knits coming back into everyday rotation. They’re visceral rewards as we prepare for the holidays and winter.

But fall isn’t all just apple picking and pumpkin patches. Those crunchy leaves that that you love to walk through also love your gutters. No matter where you live, there is work to do inside and outside to make sure you’re ready for the months ahead. Because no one wants to worry about whether their chimney is actually good to go when they’re already curling up in the chair with a book and a cup of hot chocolate. 

So here’s a list of all the deep cleaning jobs, both inside and outside your home, that you should make sure to check off your list this fall.

Check Patios, Driveways, and Walkways

We’ve probably all taken a tumble on an uneven sidewalk, and I wish I could blame all my outside topples on uneven paths. . . but a smooth walkway would sure help. Look for small cracks and chips, since even small gaps can turn into major cracks (meaning costlier repairs for you).

If you use stones, pavers, or bricks on your patio, check that none of it feels wobbly, which could be a sign that your base layer is deteriorating. Check sand and mortar to make sure it hasn’t eroded, leaving gaps for slippery moss, mildew, weeds, or ants.

Check Weather Stripping and Caulking

Drain Garden Hoses

Draining and disconnecting your garden hoses in the fall is important for protecting your pipes. If you live somewhere where fall and winter reach freezing temperatures, the water in your pipes can expand, crack the hose, and even split your pipes. Make sure you disconnect the hoses, drain them, and remove all attachments.

And don’t forget about your hose bib! Shut off the valve inside that controls your outdoor spigot, and cover the spigot with some form of insulation. Then it’s time for your hose to get a good break before next spring.

Blow Out Sprinklers

Those days of cooling off running through the sprinklers are over. It’s time to call the contractor. Similar to caring for your hose, you’ll want to blow out your sprinklers before the first hard freeze, generally in October, to save your sprinkler system from frozen water that can cause serious damage. 

Check Windows

Summer heat and storms can do a number on windows, warping their frames and messing with the sealants. Keeping your heating bill low depends on good window maintenance. Check for drafts and air leaks, clear the tracks and weep holes, test locks, and look for foggy double panes that usually mean you’ve had a failed seal. Go ahead and give your screens a good once over too.

Clean Gutters

Do you remember that episode of Gilmore Girls where Jess cleans Lorelai’s gutters? There’s a lot more to the episode, but I remember the first time watching thinking that I wouldn’t really trust Jess to clean out my gutters. Also, should you even be letting any teenage boy pretty much hang out on your roof?

I digress.

The point is, cleaning gutters doesn’t require skilled labor. Just glove up and start scooping out the debris, working near a downspout. You can use a hose to clean out the small bits from the downspout.

Change HVAC Filters

Every year the first time I turn on the heater, I get a little anxiety. “What is that burning smell?” Turns out it’s actually normal, as long as the smell goes away within 15 to 30 minutes. It’s just the initial dust remnants burning up. Electrical, plastic, sulfurous, or chemical smells, on the other hand, are not normal. To avoid dangerous amounts of dust, you really should be changing your filter every one to three months, but the change of season is a good time to check back in.

Clean Air Vents

You wouldn’t scrub your bathroom with a dirty rag. It’s obviously gross, and it would defeat the point, right? Well letting your air vents fill up with dust and debris is similar. If you don’t keep your air vents clean, the more dust will be recirculated around your house and the lower your air quality will be. Plus, your HVAC system, furnace, and air conditioner have to work much harder.

You should call a professional about once a year to help you clean out your air vents, but routine cleaning is simple to do on your own.

Start by turning off your HVAC system so your cleaning materials and sprays aren’t pulled in, causing damage. Remove vent covers, and use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe them down. If there is a ton of dirt, no judgment. Just scrub the covers with warm soapy water and then let them air dry. Give the covers a once over with the vacuum, reattach the vent covers, and turn your HVAC system back on. 

Prep Outdoor Furniture

Inspect the Chimney

It’s advisable to get your chimney professionally inspected at least once a year, regardless of how often it’s used, and there’s no better to time to have it checked than fall, when the itch for warmth and ambiance are high. No one wants to be responsible for giving Santa Claus any issues on Christmas Eve.

While you should consult a professional for comprehensive checks, DIY is totally appropriate for simple checks, like looking for blockages, loose bricks on the exterior of your house, or smelly drafts, which could mean a buildup of creosote.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Most smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will alert you if the battery is getting low or if something isn’t working the way it should. But with added heating coming into your home starting in the fall, assuming your detectors are working is not a good call. Pressing the test button takes just a few seconds!

Arrange Closets

My mom is a pretty serious knitter, and I feel super lucky to have a stack of gorgeous sweaters to pull out every fall and winter. When I’m going through the closets and rotating out our summer things for warmer layers, her sweaters get the prime spot so I can grab them quickly.

Arranging your closet can also include a clean out. Like the seasons, our bodies and tastes can change. While you’re packing up those shorts and T-shirts, donate items that are old or that just aren’t worn enough. Keep that favorite floaty blouse and just pack it up, but take advantage of the rotation and clear out what you don’t want to keep.

And when you’re pulling out those coats and winter boots, check them right away. There’s nothing as frustrating as realizing the sole on your snow boots is responsible for those sodden socks or the coat you’ve had for the last fifteen years is falling apart.

Prepare Light Fixtures

When you need a quick job marked off your to-do list, (hey, a win is a win!) add this one for the day. Give your lamps, pendants, and chandeliers a quick dusting, and check the bulbs. Maybe even consider switching out the bulbs for something softer and warmer to keep things feeling calm and not too stark.

Clean Out Drains

I hate to say it, but this one can be kind of gross. As a woman who has pulled out her fair share of hair from the shower drain, all I can say is I’m sorry, and still clean the drains. Don’t neglect your outside drains either. Test the sump pump and flush out any floor drains.

 

Clean Shower Heads and Faucet Filters

I’ll admit it, I don’t have any memory of ever cleaning my shower heads. I’m sure the pro cleaners or the hair gods are reading this with disgust, but at least I’m honest. It turns out that if you have really hard water, which is rich in calcium and lime, you may want to clean your shower head every few weeks. Soak it in a combination of water and vinegar for a few hours before running hot water through the nozzles, then scrub away any leftover debris.

 

Prepare Bedding

When people talk about top-tier comfort, they often talk about flopping into their own bed with clean sheets and their favorite blanket, or blankets, in my case. A clean, soft, comfy bed really can’t be beat.

Deep Clean Your Oven

The holidays are coming, and your oven will be hard, hard at work for the next few months, baking up gingerbread, roasting the turkey, and cooking up your grandma’s famous casseroles. It’s a workhorse, and it deserves some special care.

Start by turning on the oven’s self cleaner, but remember that this will take several hours and then extra time to cool down. Warm water and dish soap should be enough for cleaning the racks and wiping down the door, but go for something stronger for the inside of the oven. Spread a thick paste of baking soda and water evenly on the insides of the oven and let it soak there for a few hours. Then, spray it with vinegar. The combination will create a foam, so small children may even enjoy helping. Scrub away any tough stains, and you’re done.

Clean Pantry and Kitchen Cabinets

Let’s get it out there: what is it with the spice cabinet? No matter how meticulously clean you are, the black pepper mill just has to dump a little pile on the shelf every now and then. Well it’s time for a wipe down, and not just in the spice cabinet.

 

Wipe Out the Refrigerator

Same job for the fridge, friends. Pull out, toss what you have to, wipe out, and replace.

 

Treat Leather Furniture

Ralph Lauren aesthetic has been trending recently, and for good reason. It’s classy and timeless, so it’ll never really go out of style. In almost every inspiration picture you will see of the style, you’ll find a beautiful leather couch or chair, probably with some tartan on a throw or a pillow. Plus, there’s something about it that feels like it was made for fall and winter.

 

Clean Your Carpets

Need I say more on this? Feel free to do it yourself, or just go pick up the machine next time you’re at Home Depot.

 

Clean Baseboards and Moldings

A good dry dusting followed by a pass over with a lightly damp cloth may do the trick for painted baseboards and moldings. But stained or unfinished wood needs to stay dry to avoid warping and distortion. Use a gentle solution like Murphy’s Oil Soap mixed with warm water, and always make sure to dry your wood afterward.

 

Wash Your Washing Machine

Yes, you really do want to wash the machine that’s washing your clothes. As much as we don’t want to think it, it’s easy for waste to build up. Take the time to wash out your drain filter, soak the agitator if you have one, and spray down door seals with bleach.

 

It’s Worth the Effort

Shining your flashlight up into the chimney to check for nests may not be anyone’s idea of a fun Saturday morning, but knowing your home is ready for the months ahead might be the best fall has to offer. Because after sitting outside watching the football game, there’s nothing cozier than stepping back inside the front door.