Fall Cleaning Checklist

Fall is in the air, and everyone seems to be shifting into more structured routines after a long, laid-back summer. Before the busy holiday season starts, it's the perfect time to spruce up your home and clean some of the items that probably get overlooked. This fall cleaning checklist will help you buzz right through those chores quickly so your home will be refreshed for the fall and upcoming holiday season!

Mix 1 teaspoon of dish liquid with 1 1/4 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use.

Windowsills take a beating since they are exposed to the outdoor elements. Give them a good cleaning so you won't be surprised when you open your windows to enjoy the crisp fall air. Spray down your windowsills with cleaning spray and use a scrub brush to loosen up any dirt and grime. Use a clean cloth to wipe away any debris.

Doorknobs get touched by lots of hands and don't often get cleaned. Give them a good wipe-down using cleaning spray and a cloth to remove any smudges and germs. Make sure to clean all the way around the edges where dirty hands touch them the most.

While dusting our tabletops and knickknacks is a normal household chore, most of us don't think about dusting the items that hang on our walls. Give them a quick dusting a couple times a year to keep them nice and clean. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth or dusting mitt to wipe down picture frames, wall hangings, and artwork. Chances are quite a bit of dust has built up on them, and you haven't noticed.

Your ice maker and water dispenser probably get used quite a bit in the summer when you're filling water bottles. Mildew and dirt can build up on the nozzle and surrounding areas over time. Give them a good cleaning every couple of months to make sure your ice and water stay nice. Spray your ice maker and water dispenser with cleaning spray. Use a clean cloth to wipe away any built-up mildew, grime, and fingerprints.

Light switches get touched a lot and need to be wiped down every once in a while to remove fingerprints and germs. Spray a cloth with cleaning spray and gently wipe down your light switches to remove germs, smudges, and fingerprints.

Your doormats and rugs take quite a beating over time and can get dirty easily. Give them a good shaking and throw them in the washer to be cleaned as long as they are washable. Machine dry them or let them air-dry outside.

Curtains can get pretty dusty, but it's not something you would typically notice. As long as they are washer-safe, take them down and toss them in the washing machine at least once a year to keep them clean and fresh. If your curtains aren't removable, use a vacuum cleaning wand to vacuum off any dust.

Window blinds get really dusty, and when you open and close them, the dust can get in the air. Use a microfiber blind-cleaning tool to easily slide across and in between your blinds to remove dust.

Because you are washing clothes often, the inside of your washing machine is probably pretty clean, but the door and any rubber parts could probably use a good cleaning a couple of times a year to remove any buildup. Spray the inner door and any rubber pieces liberally with cleaning spray and use a cloth to wipe away any residue. While you're at it, wipe down the outside of your washing machine too.

While most people are pretty good about cleaning out the removable lint trap between loads of laundry, you probably don't clean the area underneath your lint trap often. Lint can get stuck under there and can eventually become a fire hazard. Use the extended wand of your vacuum cleaner to remove any lint, hair, or debris that may have made it past your lint trap.

Your houseplants' leaves (whether they are real or artificial) can accumulate dust, making them look dingy and gross. Use a damp microfiber cloth to carefully wipe down the leaves of your plants every few months to extend their life and keep them looking natural.

Trash cans may have liners in them that keep them mostly clean, but they get dirty anyway. It's a good idea to clean them every few months to remove anything that may have spilled or accumulated on them and in the bottom due to leaks. Spray the inside, outside, and lid of your trash cans liberally with cleaning spray and wipe them down with a clean cloth.

Because air travels through your air intake vent and a filter, they can get dusty and dirty pretty quickly. Use your vacuum's extended wand to vacuum away any dust and debris that has accumulated on your vent.

Your baseboards are bound to get dirty just like your floors, but you probably don't think about cleaning them often. To quickly clean your baseboards, use a dusting wand to remove any dirt, dust, and debris. If you find that they still look dirty, use a damp mop and floor cleaner to wipe them down.

After running all summer long, your ceiling fans are bound to be dusty. To clean them, start by laying a bed sheet under the area where your ceiling fan is located. Use a microfiber dusting wand to clean the top, side, and bottom of your ceiling fan blades. Once those are clean, shake your dusting wand clean and use it to dust the rest of your fan and light fixtures. Take the bed sheet outside and give it a good shake before washing it in your washing machine.