Fall Cleaning Hacks and To Do List – Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays!

Get your home ready for the busy holiday season with these fall cleaning hacks and to do list.

We always talk about spring cleaning, well what about fall cleaning?  I love fall, but let’s face it, this time of year can be hectic!  With the holidays quickly approaching we want a nice clean home for visitors, leaves are falling which adds to our outdoor chores, and it’s time to switch out the family’s summer clothes for warm winter clothes.  Here’s a quick to do list to help get your home fall ready.

So get out that pen and start checking off your to-do list. First though, my top cleaning hacks that should help you get through the holidays.

Fall Cleaning Hacks

1. Red wine stain on your wooden table?  Never fear! Fix it in less than 5 minutes…Use a hairdryer to remove liquid rings from wooden surfaces and refresh them with olive oil!

2. Spill on the only new rug in the house?  Luckily, you can remove the stain by this simple trick: rub fresh baking soda into the rug with a wet cloth and the stain will be gone in the morning.

3. Nail polish on the carpet? Don’t panic! You can rub out the stain by using a microfiber and rubbing alcohol.

4. Crayon on the wall? Using a clean toothbrush, scrub the wall with non-gel white toothpaste (containing baking soda) and rub away the mural.

5. Broken glass on the floor? The vacuum just never gets it all — but bread does! Grab some slices and gently press down. It’s best to hand pick the big pieces and then use this trick to pick up the rest. Remember to wrap them in newspaper before you put it in the recycling to make sure no one gets cut.

6. Baking dish impossible to clean?After you’ve prepped your favorite casserole, the corners of your glass baking dish can be somewhat difficult to clean — you’ve spent way too much time at the sink fighting with the sticky corners of these dishes. One of the best kitchen tricks is to rub a ball of aluminum foil mixed with dish soap on these glass dishes to make them sparkle again!

Inside Fall Cleaning To Do List

___1. Banish that summer dust buildup! Use your Fall Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface spray  to remove dust from your ceilings, walls, baseboards and woodwork. You don’t want your guests sneezing 24/7, do you?

___2. Remove your winter clothes from storage. Pack up your light summer clothes and linens and replace them with cool-season items. I love Caldrea’s linen spray that I get from Grove Collaborative — it helps keep things fresh smelling!  Bonus: Get rid of clothes that haven’t seen the light of day in years.

___3. Get to that Fall baking! Take stock of your pantry — what spices are you missing for the season (cinnamon, nutmeg cloves)? To get your best baking results, replace spices older than sixth months and/or that don’t smell fragrant.

___4. Nest up the oven: If the smell of oven cleaner makes your eyes water, then imagine what it does to the food cooked in it! It’s time to move away from the toxins and make a super easy all natural oven cleaner…

Mix Arm & Hammer’s baking soda and water and coat the oven surfaces with the paste and let it stand overnight. While wearing gloves, use a spatula to remove the paste and wipe clean with a wet sponge.

___5. Guests are en-route (and early too, why are they always early?) so make sure the guest rooms are clean, cozy and inviting. Set out some flowers, mums are a nice choice, and light a candle to make your guests feel welcome. Make sure you have spare toothbrushes and soap ready too, in case they forget!

___6. Finally, I make sure to sweep the chimneys for those cold nights when a fire is a must. I have the wood set up in the clean chimney pre-guest arrival, so I don’t have to waste time setting it up when everyone arrives. I love having a bright and full fire — adds to the magic of fall, doesn’t it?

Outside Fall Cleaning To Do List

___1. Enlist the kids to help rake the growing amount of falling leaves. This is a great family chore and activity (not to mention the perfect opportunity for cute pictures!).  While you’re out there…plant some beautiful Spring bulbs in well-drained soil as they’ll need 12-16 weeks of temperatures that are 45 degrees or colder. It will be a lovely welcome for warmer weather!

___2. Bring your outdoor furniture in for the season. Store your wicker, iron and other yard furniture in a protected enclosure to prevent weather damage.

___3. Cover your firewood to minimize moisture. Only the top two feet need to be covered, as air should circulate to keep the pile dry.