Finally, Fall has arrived. Which means that it is time for a fall cleaning. This is my favorite time of year, I welcome the cooler temps., shorter days, and the beginning of the Holiday season. But the change in season also means that it is time to get the house ready for the Holidays. I like to do a fall decluttering and deep clean of the house so that I can be prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas and the visitors that come around.
So, in preparation for the upcoming holidays here is my decluttering and cleaning that I like to do this time of year.
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Fall Cleaning for theHolidays
This type of cleaning I usually do in the fall and the spring. I have it written on the calendar so that I know when I need to start. By keeping a cleaning schedule and checking things off as I go I know that I have done each task.
Tip: Do one room at a time so that it’s not overwhelming.
Kitchen
I check for stuff that is out of date or that has gone overlooked in the fridge and freezer. I also clean the shelves and sides of the fridge in case there is anything that might have been spilled.
From there I move to the cupboards and go through the contents to see if there is anything there that is old, or out of date. This gives me a chance to do an inventory of things that we might need for cooking and baking in the season.
If things are not out of date but that I know no one will eat I put it aside to donate to the local food banks or shelters in the area.
If I have a lot of loose items that don’t seem to have a home anywhere I like to go to Dollar Tree and find some cool containers to put them it. This is a super cheap way to get everything organized if you don’t have a ton of money laying around.
Livingroom
In this room, I like to start at the top and work my way down. I start with dusting the ceilings and work my way down the walls dusting and washing as I go. Finally, I finish by deep cleaning the carpets.
Since the dogs’ toy bin is in there I also check to see what may need to be replaced due to damage and find any old chews that may have been forgotten about.
I also start to put away all of my spring and summer decorations so that I can get ready to start my holiday decorating. I like to do this early so that I have plenty of time to take stock of what needs to be replaced.
Other Fall Posts: 5 Favorite Family Halloween Movies From the 1990s and Fun Family Halloween Activities
Kids Rooms
The kids’ room is probably the one that I spend the most time cleaning since I declutter the room as I go.
The walls, baseboards, and carpets I clean just like I do with the other rooms. I also get everything out from under the beds and go through their old toys to see what is broken. Anything that they have not played with for three months goes into a donation pile if it’s not broken.
From there I go through their clothes to see what they have grown out of, anything that is useable goes into the donation pile as well. This is also the best time to switch to their fall and winter clothes and put away the summer stuff.
Another thing I do is throw all their stuffed animals in the wash to freshen them up. They don’t play with them, just use them as decorations on the beds so I don’t do this very often.
My Bedroom
I clean this like the others and also go through my clothes and shoes. This way I can see what I might need for winter as far as clothes and shoes go. Another thing that I do is clean off the nightstands and bookshelves, I try to cycle out the books so they are read on a regular basis.
Final Thoughts On Fall Cleaning
There you have it. My little list of what to clean and declutter in the Fall to get ready for the Holidays. Going through and doing deep cleaning in the fall makes it so much easier to get the house ready for the winter and the holiday season.
If there are any tips you have, let me know in the comments!