Photos By: Unsplash

October is here, and we know exactly what that means – Winter Is Coming memes are around the corner! Long walks in the sun, enjoying the warmth, and never ending sunsets are gone, with shorter days ahead. All of this leads to doing house chores you’ve probably been putting off since spring cleaning, and this is your last chance before days get simply too short!

The earlier you start, the easier it will be for you. If you already did some prep work before fall, things will be easier. However, if you decided to chill during those longer summer days, then aside from your regular day-to-day cleaning, here is a 10-day winter prep guide for your home:

Day 1: Clean and Repair Your Shoes

The first thing that you will have to do is take all of your shoes out of your closet and give them a good cleaning. Your spring and summer shoes should get a thorough clean as they get stored for the season – it’s time for wearing your winter boots! So, take them out and get them ready: if there are any that are in need of deeper care than a standard clean, you might want to take them to a shoe repairer.

Day 2: Make a Clothing Inventory

Once you are finished with the shoes, you can move onto the next thing on your checklist – attack your closet! First things first, wash your spring/summer clothing and pack it away for the next year. Next, sort through the clothes and take out the ones you don’t plan to wear again. Donating them would make space for new clothes. Lastly, bring your winter clothing to the easy-to-reach levels.

Day 3: Remove the Junk

From the early stages of your winter prep, you might want to declutter and get rid of junk. It will give you a better visual of the home and what you actually have to clean. Organize your junk drawer (you know you have one), and make sure that everything that’s in there has a purpose. Throw away damaged items, or those that you do not need anymore.

Day 4: Clean the Small Appliances

Dive into your kitchen and deep clean the small appliances – including sides, tops, bottoms, accessories, and plugs. Utensils that you don’t use on a regular basis (such as your can openers,or BBQ gear that will wait for the next season) should also be given a deep clean. Make sure that for units such as the coffee maker, you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Also: check your piping ahead of any sub-zero temperatures.

Day 5: Tend to the Windows

Remove screens or anything covering the windows, and use the vacuum with the appropriate attachment to remove dust. Then, use a good window solution to thoroughly clean the glass both inside and outside – catch the last of the season’s warm days to do this. While you are at it, you may also want to clean the curtain rods and wash the curtains. If you’re planning to upgrade your insulation, custom curtains are a simple way to add tangible warmth to otherwise cold window glass, especially for large verandas. 

Day 6: Clean Out the Plumbing

As mentioned before, your drains probably saw a lot of different waste this past summer, which is why you want to clean them. Use this method for every drain you have in your house: pour some boiling water down your drain, put baking soda over it, and follow up with vinegar. Use a plug to cover the drain for a few minutes, and then pour another round of hot water. If you notice any leaks or damage, you may want to call a plumber.

Day 7: Clean the Oven

Once fall settles, you’ll have another holiday rearing its head in soon enough: Christmas. This means you will have a lot of cooking to do – so, you’ll need a super clean oven for that. You should follow the instructions of the manufacturers, as they might recommend products to use. Once the stove is done with, you may want to clean the cooktop as well as the ventilation hood. These three go together, so you can’t really clean one without the other.

Day 8: Clean the Walls

Clean or wash the walls, depending on the type of paint you have on them. Keep in mind that days are getting shorter, so make good use of what sunlight and warmth you have left! Take off all the dust, cobwebs, and stains that are ruining the aesthetics of your wall. If there are any discolored or chipped spots in your wall, you might want to touch them up. If you need mold removal, you should also make sure you are using appropriate products for that.

Day 9: Clean the Electronics

Go through your house and start cleaning all the electronics. Start with the remote controls – after the hot and humid summer, that’s where all germs and bacteria will be. Clean the tablets and phones. Clean the keyboard and then dust the screen of your computer, as well as your TV. If you have any old VHS tapes or CDs, sort through them and see if you have anything for donation.

Day 10: Clean and Wash the Rugs and Carpets

As you reach the end of the checklist, most likely getting rid of the bulk of the dust, you may want to clean the rugs and carpets. Start with vacuuming the floors to take most of the dust and hair away. Then, add some carpet shampoo in a big bowl of water, and start scrubbing. However, if the rug is very dirty and you do not have the time or means to do the cleaning yourself, then you should hire a cleaning service to get your carpet nice and clean. Bear in mind that this can be very complicated to do in winter, so this might be your last chance before next spring – and we all know what summer months can do to your carpets, especially with kids and/or pets running around!

The Bottom Line

Preparing your home for winter should not be cramped into just one day. Spread the tasks out throughout multiple days and take it one step at a time. Not only will it prevent you from tiring out, but you’ll also be able to go at it in much better detail.

Photos By: Freepik

Spring cleaning has a huge fan base but have you ever considered, deep cleaning your house before winters? Simple items like your upholstery, furnace, HVAC systems and your carpets etc. need special attention during the jolly season of the year. Thus, we are here with some pro tips to help you in this process. Whether you need some tips for effective upholstery cleaning or you want to declutter your nooks and corners, this brief guide will be your guiding light! Let’s begin.

Deep Upholstery Cleaning

People who invest a lot in their upholstery, definitely trust the pros to do the deep cleaning for them. However, you cannot ring in a professional every other week. They are usually hired on a monthly basis and you don’t really need an extensive pro deep clean every week. However, to keep the life of your furniture alive, you have to clean it yourself too.

The best way to keep your upholstery clean is to vacuum it. Furniture friendly vacuums are now easily accessible in the market. You can keep it at low settings and clean your upholstery. Another pro tip is to keep switching the cushion sides. Flip the side over every other week, so that only one side doesn’t experience the wear and tear of use. You can also clean it with a soft, dry brush.

Clean your Furnace to Stay Warm

The most essential equipment that requires deep cleaning during winters, is your furnace. A broken furnace will freeze you during the peak winter months. Thus, it is essential to clean your air filters before winters start. If the air filter is clean, debris wouldn’t block the passage and the furnace will function properly. It is recommended to contact a professional to clean your furnace deeply as they understand the tiny details of it and can manage it best. Also make sure that the area around the exhaust pipes is not blocked.

Carpets

Similar to your upholstery; you have to clean your carpets as well. They soak in a lot of dirt and debris and require deep cleaning the most. Steaming your carpets at the end of each season is the best. However, daily vacuuming will help you further.

Don’t Forget the Dryer Vents

The dryer vents are easily forgotten during any season of cleaning. This is usually done by pros and they understand the corners and nooks where cleaning is needed. As the dryer vents are out of sight, they are easily out of mind too. If lint is collected in the vents, it can make the dryer perform poorly and can also be hazardous. Thus, cleaning it now and then is crucial.

Conclusion

Deep cleaning is the key to a brighter and tidier home. To keep your home feel like a home sweet home, make sure that you pay attention to deep cleaning and also hire professionals to do it for you, every 6 months.