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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.