Fall Cleaning Tips

Fall-cleaningFall cleaning…the last big blast of cleaning before we are all forced to close our homes up tight against the coming winter cold. Fall cleaning is the autumn equivalent to spring cleaning, and there are several ways to approach this important task. You can follow the 30 day cleaning calendar featured in our spring cleaning guide, which will walk you through a month’s worth of daily chores, effectively cleaning your home from top to bottom in just one month, or you can rally the troops and delegate duties to get the whole thing done in a day or two. No matter which approach you use, there are some basics to follow to get things done right and have your home ship shape before all the overnight holiday guests arrive. Here’s a quick checklist to help you get started.

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  • Prepare! Have the proper cleaning products, tools, and work attire ready to go beforehand. By being prepared with enough cleaning products, buckets, rags, gloves, paper towels, brooms, mops, and whatever else you plan to use to get the job done you will eliminate the need to stop halfway through the project to restock your supplies.
  • Have lists. Putting things on paper assures nothing gets missed, and there’s a certain satisfaction in crossing things off a “to do” list. Making lists helps ensure tasks are divided equally among everyone involved, and that no one is assigned something beyond their capabilities. Check out our organizer books to help you create well-planned lists.
  • Make it fun. Crank up the tunes and rock out while you clean. Music is a great motivator and can help make cleaning fun. Your little ones should learn from you that having a clean house doesn’t have to be a boring chore, so go ahead and dance a little as you vacuum that rug, wash the windows and mop the floor!
  • Assign age appropriate tasks. Children love to help when they can, so be sure to assign tasks to them that they can accomplish easily. Not only will they get a sense of accomplishment from completing their jobs successfully, you will have less to do and they will be building good habits that will carry over into their adult lives when they have homes and children of their own. Even the littlest household members can hand tools to older ones, carry things to the trash, and pick things up off the floor so someone else can clean it.
  • Reward your helpers. Plan ahead for a special reward like pizza and ice cream, a night at the movies, or a fun family night. You could even get a kid-friendly game or toy that the whole family will enjoy together. The reward should help build a sense of unity, since everyone worked together as a team, you should celebrate as a team by doing something everyone can enjoy.