Why Cleanup for Fall?
The phrase “spring cleaning” gets used more often than “fall cleaning,” but fall is the perfect time for not only sweaters, seasonal drinks and those autumn leaves, but also for preparing your home for cooler weather.
We spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder, so preparing your home for autumn can save you discomfort and costly repairs. Dive into our fall cleaning guide, complete with tips for breezing through your fall yard cleanup.
How to Prepare Your Home for Fall
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- Clean Out Closets and Switch the Seasons
- Do a Pantry Audit and Fill it with Fall Foods
- Check Batteries on Smoke Detectors and Test
- Flip the Mattress Over
- Refresh the Air Filters and Cleanout Air Ducts
- Service Your HVAC System
- Conduct an Energy Audit for Efficiency
- Clean Your Fireplace and Chimney
- Brighten Up Your Home to Beat the Winter Blues
- Tackling Garden and Yard Clean Up
- Consider Hiring Fall Cleanup Services
Household Cleaning Tips For Fall
Fall cleaning is just as crucial as cleaning in the spring. Following these fall cleaning tips for your home will help you get ready for the coming months, including getting a jump start on getting your home ready for the holidays.
1. Clean Out the Closet: Switch Seasons and Declutter
The beginning of fall is the perfect time to start putting away clothes that are more summer items and bring out your fall and winter pieces.
First, go through your drawers and closet to find all the wardrobe items that you won’t wear during the coming season and set those aside.
Second, organize your winter sweaters, dresses, tops, bottoms and other clothes.
Last, it’s a good idea to go through and do an inventory to see if there’s anything from your summer pile that you never wore and get rid of it before it makes it into your closet for yet another season.
👚 Pro tip: Keep a handful of your summer items with your fall/winter clothing. There may be a few warm days before the cold weather fully takes hold that you’ll want to use them for layering. For more closet decluttering tips that help you get it done right the first time, check out this blog.
2. Do a Pantry Audit and Fill It with Fall Foods
Not only do you change up what you wear during the fall time, but you also typically change up what you eat and drink. The beginning of fall is a great time to do a pantry cleanout.
You’ll want to go through everything and check for expiration dates and damage. Anything that’s not still good should be tossed.
As you’re going through everything, start a “fall stock-up checklist” of everything that you need to replace. Don’t forget to add your favorite flavors of the season like soup, hot chocolate, chili fixings, and pumpkin spice everything to your shopping list.
3. Change Smoke Detectors Batteries and Test
The changing seasons are also an excellent time for you to do maintenance around the home. Unfortunately, your smoke detectors can often get overlooked when you’re doing everything else to get ready for the falling leaves and cooler temperatures.
It’s recommended that you have smoke detectors on every level of your home, and you should also think about having carbon monoxide detectors as well. There are some smoke detectors that are also carbon monoxide detectors so save a buck by seeing if yours are dual detectors.
Put fresh batteries into your smoke detector and give it a test to ensure that they are ready to work. Some smoke detectors have batteries that don’t need to be replaced, and when the built-in battery dies, it’s time to replace the whole smoke detector.
Even if you can’t change the batteries, take this opportunity to test the unit by pressing the test button.
4. Flip the Mattress
Paying some extra attention to your mattress is a wonderful idea. Not only will your back thank you for it, but your upper respiratory system will as well.
You probably change your sheets often, but how often do you vacuum the surface of your mattress? The fall is the perfect time to give it a little extra TLC since your windows will be staying closed during much of the colder weather.
Since you can’t throw your mattress into the washing machine and probably wouldn’t want to even if you could, you can clean it using an attachment on your vacuum.
If you use a waterproof mattress protector that works to keep dust, dust mites, and other materials out of your mattress, use the beginning of the seasons as a reminder it’s time to take it off and wash it.
Then, you’ll want to flip your mattress. Some mattresses can’t be reversed due to the way they were constructed.
However, if you’ve noticed that your mattress is no longer providing the support you need, and you wake up feeling like you aged several years overnight, it’s probably time to skip flipping the mattress and just get a new one. You can even save yourself the work by calling a professional to quickly remove your unwanted mattress for proper solutions like recycling.
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5. Change Air Filters and Cleanout Air Ducts
Since it’s almost time to turn on your furnace if you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to get your air filters changed and get your ducts cleaned. Your indoor air quality will be improved, and your home will be cleaner when all of that dust gets removed.
Changing your air filter and cleaning your ducts may mean that you want to look into having an HVAC service handle for you, especially since they have specialized tools to manage the job, particularly when it comes to getting your ducts cleaned.
6. Service Your HVAC System
In addition to maintenance services, they will do more than just clean your ducts and change the filter. They also check over your furnace, lubricate any parts that need it, replace anything that has been worn down over time, and advise you if there are any potential problems with your system that need to be addressed.
Why HVAC maintenance matters
It can be better to handle that before the weather turns for the worse than have it break down when you need it the most. Some signs your HVAC system is going out soon are:
- It’s over 10+ years old
- Blowing warm or lukewarm air
- High humidity inside your home
- Loud, rattling or unusual noises
- AC vents are barely pushing out cool air
If your HVAC has given out, LoadUp offers hassle-free HVAC disposal services to help you get rid of it safely.
7. Conduct an Energy Audit for Efficiency
An energy-efficient home not only lowers utility bills but also contributes significantly to environmental sustainability by reducing overall energy consumption. Beyond cost savings, the benefits include a more comfortable living environment, enhanced indoor air quality, and a reduced carbon footprint. Some simple DIY energy audit tips include:
- Seal Leaks: Weatherstrip doors and windows to keep drafts out.
- Insulate: Ensure proper insulation for heat retention.
- Upgrade Bulbs: Switch to energy-efficient LED or CFL lighting.
- Program Thermostat: Set lower temperatures when away or asleep.
- Unplug Devices: Avoid phantom energy usage – unplug chargers and appliances.
- Seal Ducts: Prevent air loss by checking and sealing ducts.
- Install a Smart Power Strip: Use one to turn off multiple devices easily.
- Upgrade Appliances: Upgrade to efficient Energy Star-rated models.
- Check Wall Insulation: Ensure walls are well-insulated for temperature control.
- Install a Water Heater Timer: Schedule water heater usage for efficiency.
When you decide to replace old appliances to energy efficient ones, let LoadUp responsibly dispose of the old ones.
8. Clean Your Fireplace and Chimney
Ensure safe and cozy gatherings by giving your fireplace a thorough cleaning. Schedule an annual inspection to identify and address any issues such as creosote buildup or blockages, ensuring safe and efficient fireplace operation.
Regularly remove ashes and debris from the firebox, and inspect for any cracks or damage. Clean the interior with a wire brush and vacuum to maintain a tidy and functional fireplace.
Ensure the damper opens and closes smoothly. A well-functioning damper controls airflow, optimizing combustion and preventing drafts when the fireplace is not in use. Regularly lubricate hinges and address any issues promptly.
🔥Old wood burning stove hogging space? LoadUp’s got your back! Once it’s free from the chimney, we’ll haul it away, saving you from the heavy lifting. Learn more ❯
9. Brighten Up Your Home to Beat the Winter Blues
As the days grow shorter, the importance of lighting becomes paramount in creating a cozy and uplifting atmosphere during fall and winter. Cleaning your windows allows the limited daylight to flood in, maximizing natural light and combating the gloominess of the season.
When upgrading light fixtures, ensure a sustainable disposal by relying on LoadUp’s services. We’ll haul away your old fixtures, making your space brighter and the environment happier.
10. Tackling Garden and Yard Clean Up
One area that you might neglect is your yard and garden as the weather turns to fall and things begin to die off. It’s an excellent time to walk around your home to determine what you need to get your landscaping and garden ready for the cold months.
Pulling up dead perennials that won’t be coming back, pruning, trimming, and other yard maintenance will help to make your landscape look better during this time.
It’s also an excellent time to go through your landscaping tools. Anything that’s broken that no longer does a great job should be thrown out. Anything that’s gotten dull over the season should be sharpened and prepared for next year.
You’ll also want to ensure that you properly store your items after they’ve been sharpened to prevent them from rusting when they are not in use.
Don’t worry about how you’ll get rid of any of your gardening tools or organic matter that you’re pulling from your bed. You don’t have to cram it all into your garbage can or hope that it’s good to go. Instead, you can call on LoadUp to remove both the unwanted junk, garbage, and organic matter that needs to go.
Garden tools and items you might assess during your fall yard clean up
Consider Hiring Fall Cleanup Services
Streamline your fall cleanup with professional services. Don’t let the post-summer clutter and keeping up with cleaning up autumn debris stress you out. Explore fall cleanup services for a seamless, hassle-free experience.
Book Junk and Debris Removal Online
Even if you don’t want someone to clean for you (because who can declutter your unwanted junk better than you) but it can be helpful to count on junk removal and disposal service.
Don’t stress out about filling up your garbage cans, figuring out when your city’s bulk pickup is along with the rules, and then have to lug everything out to the curb to hope it all gets picked up. That’s where LoadUp can help.
Fast and friendly professionals give you a chance at making your fall cleanup hassle-free from start to finish. You never have to guess how much LoadUp’s fall cleanup prices are when you book online as we provide you with an upfront and transparent quote about how much your debris disposal will cost and you don’t have to worry about wasting time getting an estimate.
Schedule your pickup when it works best for you, and our crews will LoadUp from anywhere in your home or property. So if you’re done sorting and really want to kick back and enjoy the season, then trust LaodUp’s quick fall cleanup solutions to get yourself to the finish line faster.
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