The Easy Fall Cleaning Checklist:
25 Things to Clean Before Winter

Spring cleaning gets all the attention. Fall cleaning is arguably more useful.

You're about to close the windows more often, spend more time indoors, and bring jackets, shoes, holiday cooking, overnight guests, and several months of accumulated summer dirt into closer contact with your house.

This is a great moment to clean the things you've been ignoring since about April. But we're not dismantling the house.

You don't need to clean every drawer, wash every wall, or spend an entire weekend removing dust from places only a home inspector could find.

Fall cleaning should focus on the areas that will matter most during the months ahead.

Here are 25 jobs worth doing before winter.

And no, you don't have to do all 25 today. That would make the word easy somewhat fraudulent.

Before You Clean: Declutter for 15 Minutes

Cleaning around clutter is inefficient. Before getting out the vacuum and cleaning cloths, spend fifteen minutes removing obvious things that don't belong.

Grab a basket and collect:

• Summer gear
• Stray shoes
• Papers
• Empty boxes
• Clothes
• Toys
• Items waiting to go upstairs
• Things waiting to go downstairs
• Anything that has apparently decided the dining table is permanent housing

Don't organize the entire house. Just clear enough space to clean it.

If the clutter itself is the bigger problem, use our Fall Organizing Tips or Decluttering Guide separately.

Today we're cleaning.

1. Dust From the Top Down

Start high. Dust settles downward, so cleaning the floor first and then tackling everything above it is a great way to clean the floor twice.

Depending on your home, check:

• Ceiling fan blades
• Light fixtures
• Tops of bookcases
• High shelves
• Door frames
• Window trim
• Tall furniture

Use an appropriate duster, microfiber cloth, or vacuum attachment. Then work your way down. Gravity has already developed a cleaning system. We may as well cooperate.

2. Clean Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans may have spent the summer working overtime. Now look at the blades. Preferably not while they're moving.

Turn off the fan and let it stop completely. Remove dust from the blades and accessible fixture areas using a method appropriate for your fan.

If your fan reverses direction seasonally, check the manufacturer's instructions before changing the setting.

A fan coated in dust can redistribute that dust when you turn it on. That's not air circulation. That's delivery.

For the places you usually ignore: The OXO Good Grips Long Reach Dusting System makes it easier to tackle ceiling fans, vents, tall furniture, and other awkward dust-catching spots without turning fall cleaning into an acrobatic event.

3. Clean Light Fixtures and Lamps

 Days are getting shorter. You'll soon depend more on indoor lighting, so now is a good time to clean it. Turn off fixtures and let bulbs cool.

Then, following the fixture's care instructions, remove dust from:

• Lamp shades
• Lamp bases
• Accessible fixtures
• Bulbs when appropriate
• Glass covers
• Switch plates

Replace burned-out bulbs. You may discover the room wasn't gloomy. The lamp was wearing a sweater made of dust.

4. Vacuum Upholstered Furniture

Summer has contributed crumbs, dust, hair, pet fur, and whatever is currently living between the sofa cushions.

Remove cushions if the furniture design permits it.

Vacuum:

• Seats
• Cushion surfaces
• Crevices
• Under cushions
• Accessible sides and backs

Use the appropriate upholstery attachment. Check the furniture's care label before using any wet-cleaning product on upholstery.

And yes, look under the cushions. There may be money. There will definitely be crumbs.

5. Vacuum Under the Furniture

You don't need to move a grand piano. Move what you can safely and reasonably move.

Vacuum beneath:

• Sofas
• Chairs
• Beds
• Side tables
• Lightweight furniture

Use vacuum attachments for areas you can't easily reach.

If moving something requires three adults, a lifting belt, and a signed waiver, leave it. We're fall cleaning. We're not relocating.

6. Clean Baseboards

Baseboards are one of those things you barely notice until you clean them. Then you wonder how they became that dirty.

Vacuum or dust them first. Then wipe them as appropriate for the painted or finished surface. Pay particular attention to:

• Entryways
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Hallways
• Behind frequently moved furniture

You don't need to clean every inch with a cotton swab. This is a house. Not evidence processing.

7. Clean Interior Windows and Glass Doors

Summer fingerprints have had a good run. Clean accessible interior window glass and glass doors using a product appropriate for the surface.

Also wipe:

• Window sills
• Tracks you can safely reach
• Frames as appropriate
• Door glass

Don't obsess over a streak visible only when the sun hits the window at 4:37 p.m. from one particular angle.

Some battles are not worth reenlisting for.

8. Vacuum Window Treatments

9. Clean Doors, Handles and Switch Plates

10. Give the Entryway a Thorough Cleaning

11. Clean the Kitchen Cabinets

You don't need to empty every cabinet. We're cleaning the outside.

Wipe fingerprints, grease, and grime from cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and handles using a cleaner appropriate for the finish.

Pay particular attention to cabinets near:

• Stove
• Sink
• Trash
• Frequently used drawers

Grease has an impressive ability to travel. It may not cook. But apparently it gets around.

12. Clean the Range Hood

13. Deep-Clean the Oven—If It Needs It

Look inside. You will know. If the oven needs cleaning, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Use the recommended cleaning method for your particular oven and avoid using products on self-cleaning surfaces unless approved.

You don't need to clean the oven merely because fall has arrived.

But if something from July is still carbonized on the bottom, the upcoming holiday cooking season provides a compelling deadline.

14. Clean the Refrigerator

15. Clean the Dishwasher

A dishwasher also occasionally needs cleaning. Check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended procedure.

Depending on your model, that may include:

• Cleaning a user-accessible filter
• Removing debris
• Wiping seals
• Running a cleaning cycle
• Using an approved dishwasher cleaner

Don't pour random household products into the machine because somebody online described them as “natural.”

Your appliance has a manual. It outranks social media.

16. Clean the Washing Machine

If your washer smells musty or has visible detergent buildup, fall is a good time to deal with it.

Clean:

• Detergent dispenser
• Fabric-softener dispenser
• Front-load gasket, if applicable
• User-accessible filter, if your machine has one
• Drum as directed
• Exterior

Then run the manufacturer's recommended cleaning cycle.

For complete instructions, see How to Clean a Washing Machine—and Get Rid of That Smell.

17. Clean the Dryer Area

Lint doesn't limit itself to the lint screen. Clean the lint screen according to the manufacturer's instructions and vacuum accessible lint and dust around the dryer.

Keep the area surrounding the appliance clear.

Dryer vent systems also require appropriate inspection and maintenance. If the vent is clogged, damaged, inaccessible, or hasn't been serviced as recommended, consider qualified professional service.

A dryer taking unusually long to dry clothes can have several causes, including airflow problems, and shouldn't simply be ignored.

This is maintenance, not decorative cleaning.

18. Deep-Clean the Bathroom

Fall is a good time to go beyond the ordinary wipe-down.

Tackle:

• Shower or tub
• Shower doors
• Faucets
• Sink
• Toilet
• Mirrors
• Floor
• Grout where needed
• Exhaust-fan cover if safely accessible
• Areas where moisture tends to linger

Inspect caulk and grout while you're there. If you see recurring mold or moisture problems, don't just clean the same spot indefinitely.

Investigate the moisture source. Our Bathroom Mold Removal Guide explains what to do next.

19. Wash Bedding

Wash bedding according to care labels. Depending on your household and climate, fall may also be the time to bring out heavier bedding.

Before putting it on the bed, make sure stored bedding is:

• Clean
• Dry
• Fresh
• Still something you actually want to use

Vacuum the accessible mattress surface if the manufacturer recommends it. Rotate the mattress if your particular mattress instructions call for it.

And wash the pillows themselves only if their care labels permit it. Not every pillow wants to visit the washing machine.

20. Vacuum Under the Beds

Yes. Under there. Remove anything that doesn't belong. Vacuum thoroughly.

If you use under-bed storage, wipe or vacuum the containers before putting them back. This is also an excellent moment to discover:

• Missing socks
• One shoe
• Dust
• More dust
• The object you've been blaming somebody else for losing

Return recovered property without comment. Or with comment. I don't run your household.

21. Clean Carpets and Rugs

After summer traffic, carpets and rugs may need more than routine vacuuming. Vacuum thoroughly first. Spot-treat stains using a method appropriate for the carpet or rug.

If you need deep cleaning, follow the manufacturer's instructions or hire a qualified professional for delicate or difficult materials.

Don't oversaturate carpeting. More water does not mean more clean.

For the complete process, see How to Clean Carpet at Home Without Making Things Worse.

22. Mop Hard Floors Properly

Vacuum or sweep before wet cleaning. Then use the cleaning method recommended for your flooring.

Wood, laminate, vinyl, tile, and natural stone don't all want the same product.

Avoid flooding floors with water. And don't assume vinegar belongs on every hard surface. It doesn't. Flooring is expensive. Generic cleaning folklore is free for a reason.

23. Clean Pet Areas

Pets have been participating in summer, too. Wash pet bedding according to its care instructions.

Clean:

• Food and water bowls
• Mats
• Crates
• Litter areas
• Toy baskets
• Frequently used pet spaces

Vacuum pet hair from furniture and floors. Inspect toys and discard damaged ones that could be unsafe.

For more household pet-care ideas, visit our Pets & Home Guide.

24. Clean Outdoor-to-Indoor Transition Areas

You don't need to perform the full fall garden cleanup here. Concentrate on the areas that bring dirt into the house.

Clean:

• Patio or porch near entrances
• Outdoor mats
• Steps
• Door thresholds
• Mudroom areas
• Garage entrance into the house

Sweep away leaves and debris before they become indoor debris. There is no reason to vacuum a leaf from the living room that you could have stopped at the door.

25. Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Finish by cleaning the things you used to clean everything else.

Depending on the tool:

• Empty the vacuum
• Clean or replace filters as directed
• Remove hair from vacuum rollers safely
• Wash reusable cleaning cloths
• Rinse mop heads
• Clean buckets
• Replace worn sponges or brushes
• Wash reusable dusters if permitted
• Put supplies away

Dirty tools don't clean particularly well.

A vacuum filter that hasn't been touched since the previous presidential administration may be trying to tell you something. Check the manual.

Don't Try to Do All 25 Jobs at Once

This is a checklist. Not a summons. Divide the jobs over several days. For example:

Day 1: Living areas

Dust high surfaces, fans, lights, upholstery, baseboards, and windows.

Day 2: Kitchen

Clean cabinets, the range hood, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher.

Day 3: Bedrooms

Bedding, under beds, carpets, and floors.

Day 4: Bathrooms and laundry

Deep-clean bathrooms, washer, dryer area, and pet areas.

Day 5: Floors and entrances

Clean carpets, hard floors, entryways, and outdoor transition areas.

Five shorter sessions are far more appealing than declaring:

“This Saturday we're cleaning the entire house for fall!”

Notice how nobody volunteered.

If You Only Have One Hour

Forget the entire list. Do the five jobs that will make the house feel cleaner the fastest.

15 minutes: Dust and vacuum the main living area.

10 minutes: Clean the entryway.

15 minutes: Clean kitchen surfaces and refrigerator spills.

10 minutes: Deep-clean the most-used bathroom.

10 minutes: Vacuum high-traffic floors and under the easiest furniture.

Stop when the hour is up. You have a cleaner house. You have not sacrificed the day. Both count.

What Not to Clean Just Because It's Fall

Seasonal checklists can make ordinary people behave strangely.

You do not automatically need to:

• Wash every wall
• Empty every kitchen cabinet
• Shampoo every upholstered chair
• Move every appliance
• Clean every closet
• Wash every curtain
• Scrub every inch of grout
• Reorganize the entire garage
• Pressure-wash everything capable of surviving pressure

Clean things because they're dirty, neglected, or useful to prepare for the season. Not because a checklist on the internet developed ambitions. Including this one.

Your Quick Fall Cleaning Checklist

Want the condensed version?

•  Declutter obvious surfaces
•  Dust high areas
•  Clean ceiling fans
•  Clean lamps and fixtures
•  Vacuum upholstery
•  Vacuum under furniture
•  Clean baseboards
•  Clean windows and treatments
•  Wipe handles and switches
•  Deep-clean the entryway
•  Clean cabinet fronts
•  Clean the range hood
•  Clean the oven if needed
•  Clean the refrigerator
•  Clean the dishwasher
•  Clean the washing machine
•  Clean the dryer area
•  Deep-clean bathrooms
•  Wash bedding
•  Vacuum under beds
•  Clean carpets and rugs
•  Mop hard floors
•  Clean pet areas
•  Clean entrances and transition areas
•  Clean your cleaning tools

The Bottom Line

Fall cleaning doesn't need to rival spring cleaning. You're preparing the house for the months when you'll probably spend more time inside.

Clean the dust that's accumulated overhead. Deal with the summer grime underfoot. Give the kitchen some attention before heavier cooking begins.

Freshen bedrooms and bathrooms. Clean the appliances that spend the year cleaning things for you. Then stop.

Your home does not need to be perfectly clean before winter.

It needs to be clean enough that living in it feels easier. That's the standard. And if you get through all 25 jobs?

Excellent. Please resist the urge to celebrate by inspecting the baseboards again.

They're fine.

Keep Going

For the organizational side of the seasonal reset, use 10 Fall Organizing Tips for a Calmer, More Organized Home.

For outdoor fall jobs, see 10 Fall Gardening Tips for a Healthier Garden Next Spring.

For your regular cleaning system, visit the Cleaning Guide.

And if you want a specific monthly plan, continue with the September, October, or November Cleaning Checklist.