If you live anywhere from Mission to Chilliwack, you know what October brings. The rain settles in, the leaves come down, and suddenly every pair of boots in the house is tracking mud across the floor.
Spring cleaning gets all the attention, but fall cleaning matters just as much here in the Fraser Valley. You are about to spend months with the windows shut and the heat running. A little work now keeps your home fresher, drier and healthier until spring.
Here is the checklist we use to help families get ready for the wet season.
Entryways: Your First Line of Defence
Your entryway takes the hardest hit from October to March. Set it up properly now and the rest of the house stays cleaner.
- Put a heavy-duty mat outside and an absorbent one inside every door
- Add a boot tray so wet shoes have somewhere to drip
- Wipe down baseboards and the bottom of doors where mud splashes
- Clear out summer sandals and make room for coats, umbrellas and rain gear
- Wash or replace mats that have flattened over the summer
A good mat system can trap most of the dirt before it ever reaches your floors.
Kitchen: Reset Before the Holiday Baking Starts
Fall is when the oven gets busy again. Give the kitchen a reset before soup season and holiday baking begin.
- Degrease the range hood and wash or replace its filter
- Clean the inside of the oven and the stovetop drip trays
- Wipe out the fridge and toss expired condiments
- Clean cabinet fronts, especially around handles
- Pull out and clean behind the fridge and stove if you can
- Run the dishwasher empty with a cleaner to clear buildup
Living Areas: Prepare for Months Indoors
With the windows closed, dust and allergens have nowhere to go. That makes fall the right time to get ahead of them.
- Vacuum upholstery and under sofa cushions
- Dust ceiling fans before switching them to winter mode
- Wipe down window sills, tracks and frames, where condensation collects
- Wash or vacuum curtains and blinds
- Clean light fixtures and lamp shades as the days get darker
- Bring out throws and blankets and wash them before use
Bedrooms: Swap Summer for Winter
- Wash duvets, pillows and mattress protectors before switching to heavier bedding
- Vacuum the mattress and flip or rotate it
- Store summer clothes and check winter gear for damage
- Dust under beds and on top of wardrobes
Bathrooms: Keep Moisture in Check
Our damp climate makes bathrooms the most likely place for mould and mildew to show up over the winter.
- Scrub grout and caulking, and note any spots that need resealing
- Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner
- Clean the exhaust fan cover so it actually pulls moisture out
- Wash bath mats and towels on a hot cycle
- Wipe down walls and ceilings where steam collects
Around the House: Small Jobs That Make a Big Difference
- Replace your furnace filter before you turn the heat on full time
- Vacuum heating vents and baseboard heaters
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Check windows and doors for drafts and condensation
- Clear damp spots in closets and storage areas to prevent musty smells
When to Call in the Professionals
This list covers a lot of ground. For most busy families, it is more than one weekend can handle.
That is where a fall deep clean comes in. Our team handles the detailed work, such as baseboards, inside appliances, grout, vents and light fixtures, so you can enjoy the season instead of scrubbing through it. Want to know exactly what we cover? See our room-by-room deep clean guide.
After the deep clean, a recurring cleaning plan keeps your home on track through the wettest months. Biweekly visits are a popular choice for rainy-season mud and pet hair.
Book Your Fall Clean Today
Nichole’s Residential Cleaning serves Mission, Abbotsford, Langley, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack and communities across the Fraser Valley. We are fully insured and WCB covered, and every quote is free.
Text or call Nichole at (778) 918-4212 or request your free quote online. Let us do the cleaning so you can focus on what is more important.