Simple and Helpful Fall Cleaning Tips
Check out this list of fall cleaning tips! Includes homemade cleaner recipes, plus a free printable checklist to help you get things DONE!
Fall Cleaning Tips
It’s that time of year again, time to get working on some good fall cleaning! Full home cleaning can be overwhelming if you aren’t sure where to start. I mean, you know that the house needs to be cleaned and cleaned out but what is the best “plan of attack”? Well, we just finished with fall cleaning here. My house feels wonderfully clean and I even had a rummage sale with all of the stuff I cleaned out! (Am I the only one that can’t “start” winter until my house is clean? Or is that the ocd in me just coming out?)
–This is a great time of year to clean your clothes out too! Steps Towards Building a Minimalist Wardrobe
Here are some of my best fall cleaning tips that help us keep our sanity during this time of year!
Fall Housekeeping Tips
1. Remember that fall cleaning (and household cleaning in general) can save you money! While you clean out, don’t forget to make piles for throwing away and donating. Throwing away clutter will help make your life more organized and streamlined which saves you money in the long run. Donating or selling items can bring you a little extra income or an income tax deduction. And make sure you grab some organizational totes to store what you are keeping! When I am cleaning I also try and label things that I’m putting away. It doesn’t do me much good to pack up boxes of things I want to keep and then not know what is in them.
2. Don’t try to do it all at once! Start in one room and work your way through the house. Also, don’t think you need to have it all done in a single day! Plan a good week for your cleaning. If you are really ambitious you can even create some kind of daily cleaning schedule to help you get through the week. Here are some ideas and free printable weekly planner templates. I like to do this deep cleaning at least 4 times of year, once per season instead of just fall and spring. This means I have less to work on each time to do m so it feels less overwhelming.
3. If you aren’t going to have the time and you can afford it, think about hiring a maid service or a housecleaner for a few hours. You might not think this tip is very good but if it’s more profitable for you to spend your time working or doing something else then, by all means, spend a little to save your time and sanity. Besides, a house cleaner may not be as expensive as you think. Many freelance home cleaners are very affordable. Just make sure they come with references.
4. Don’t stress too much. Remember you will have to do it all again come spring cleaning time! (Or more often if you choose to deep clean 4 times a year instead of 2 like we do.)
To help you along your fall cleaning journey, I’ve created a handy printable checklist of things that should be done inside your home this fall. Just enter your email below to grab your free checklist printable.
Of course, don’t forget that you can save even more money (and keep the chemicals out of your home!) by making your own cleaners! And did you know that you can clean your bathroom with just a grapefruit? So simple!
Here are some more homemade and frugal ideas you might enjoy:
9 DIY Recipes For Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work
Homemade Carpet Cleaner
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
How to Scent Candles with Spices for Fall
Simple Tips for Saving Money in the Fall
Share your best fall cleaning tips in the comments section below!
This post on Fall Cleaning Tips was originally published on Little House Living in October 2012. It has been updated as of October 2019.
WOW! didn’t we just finish spring cleaning???
Definitely feels like it!
do you have any advice on how to clean the air in your home? Aside from using an air purifier which we want but cant afford right now and commercial air fresheners because of the chemicals.
You can try these: https://www.littlehouseliving.com/essential-oil-gel-fresheners.html, I really like candles too:)
You can also try different House Plants to help clean & purify the Air in the Home.
unless you have cats…..mine chew on every thing and LOVE to play in the dirt – they don’t use it for a litter box, they just LOVE to dig in it and throw it everywhere!!
Thank you for the printable! Just like Jennifer said it feels like I just finished spring cleaning…ahh! Thanks for the great printable, I may laminate it. On another note I nominated you for the Liebster Award…see my post at http://realmomma.com/i-was-nominated-for-the-liebster-award!
Thanks for the great article. I love fall and the cleaning that goes along with it, makes me excited for the holiday’s!! I’ve also put together a few little fall cleaning tips for my clients http://www.simplythebestcleaning.biz/house-cleaning/fall-house-cleaning-tips/ Aloha and happy holidays 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
If it’s your OCD making you want to “fall clean” I have the same problem. Over the past two weeks I have been systematically going through our home room-by-room and discovering items we no longer need / use. As shocking as it may seem, I have removed 14 kitchen sized garbage bags [mostly baby stuff I still had from my toddler] from this project and am looking forward to a decent tax write-off.
I’m a little late but working on this list as we speak 🙂 So spring cleaning would be all the same stuff? Anything to add? Thanks!
I would say spring cleaning would be the same but I would probably add things like making sure I have all my seed trays functioning and ready and other gardening things:)
We just finished spring cleaning and it was tiring but the smell of my room today makes me forget that.
I usually use vinegar, a little oil, lemon to clean the house
They are very safe and cheap
I printed out your list. Thank you.
Thanks for the printable. It’s quite handy. And your suggestions on fall cleaning are great too. I’m just staring my fall cleaning session at home and needed some fresh ideas on that, so thank you for sharing.