As the weather cools down and the holidays inch closer, most of us start thinking about cozy decor and festive plans, pushing chores to one side.
But before you know it, guests will be on their way, and those forgotten corners and dusty spaces will suddenly feel impossible to ignore.
These are the seven essential October cleaning jobs everyone forgets to do, and why you need to jump on them now before it’s too late.
Fall Cleaning Jobs Everyone Forgets to Do Before the Holidays
1. Dusting Overhead
Dust before you decorate.
The worst dusting mistake making your home dirtier is not dusting at all. When doors and windows are open all summer, dust, pollen, and debris sweep in and collect in every nook and cranny.
The worst spots? Areas overhead – the shelves and fans that are out of sight and often out of mind.
Alicia Sokolowski, non-toxic cleaning expert and founder of AspenClean, says, ‘It’s easy to forget about the spaces that are out of sight. However, it is essential to pay special attention to these areas in the Fall, as they will accumulate dust and impact the air quality in your home. Be sure to dust and wipe down places such as light fixtures, ceiling fans, tops of cabinets, and air vents.’
Leaving this task too late can exacerbate allergies, and as holiday stress piles on and decorations crop up around your home, it becomes tricky to easily fit into your schedule.
We love the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, available from Walmart. With its deep groves and damp texture, it picks up dust rather than disturb it or spread it around. Don’t want to work on a stepladder? Use an extending handle electrostatic duster, such as the Swiffer duster also from Walmart.
2. HVAC Filters
Reducing dust in the air can help you sleep better in the cough and cold season.
We may not have used our heating systems over the summer, but that doesn’t mean that they are clean from disuse.
Alicia says, ‘As we begin to use heating systems again after a long break, this is the ideal time to replace air filters, ensuring the air circulating in your home is fresh and clean.’
Leaving it too late can force your heating systems to work harder while making your home dirtier.
Switching them out is easy to do yourself, following the manual that came with your system, and will instantly improve air quality indoors in the months when we aren’t opening our windows as often.
3. The Gutters
Leaves can block water flow, resulting in roof leaks.
Cleaning gutters is not as easy as dusting surfaces, but it is arguably more important for the health of your home. Leaving it too late into the season and not only does worsening weather make it more dangerous, but increases the risk of water damage to your home.
Cullen Rodgers, product innovation manager at Gutterglove Inc., says, ‘One of the most common fall cleaning jobs homeowners overlook is clearing gutters before the first frost.
‘Leaves, twigs, and debris can prevent your gutters from working properly, and clogged gutters can result in a multitude of issues that can cause damage to the home, especially in harsh winter months when snow and ice can accumulate and drainage is essential during the thaw cycle.’
A gutter cleaning tool, from Walmart, can help you complete this task from the ground, making it quicker and safer.
4. Seasonal Storage
Clean items before they go into storage.
Swapping over your seasonal items, be it decor or clothing, can be tedious, but you shouldn’t rush the process and forget to clean before stowing things away for months. There are several seasonal items you should always clean before storing.
Michael Rubino, mold and air quality expert, environmental wellness advocate, and founder of HomeCleanse, shares, ‘Instead of just throwing items in a closet, make sure that they’re properly cleaned and stored in a way to avoid moisture buildup and mold growth. Using botanical cleaners, a HEPA vacuum cleaner, and a microfiber cloth [from Walmart], ensure that they’re cleaned thoroughly and allowed to dry completely.
‘Store them in sealed, waterproof containers, from The Container Store, and do not store in cardboard.'
A few examples of items to target include dehumidifiers, pool supplies, patio cushions, summer decor, sports equipment, beach gear, and window AC units.
5. The Fireplace
Clean the fireplace before use, and then periodically through the season.
Cleaning a fireplace is a quick task that should never be put off in fall. Doing so could drastically increase home fire risks while exacerbating allergies.
Joy Mangano, co-founder and CEO at CleanBoss, says, ‘One of the most overlooked fall jobs is vacuuming out fireplaces and cleaning air vents before the heat kicks on. Ash, dust, and allergens can circulate all winter long if you skip it.
‘Instead of using harsh degreasers, try a non-toxic fall cleaning approach and clean with vinegar to clean fireplace glass, and finish high-touch surfaces (like fireplace tools or vent covers) with a non-toxic disinfectant spray.’
The Attitude All-Purpose Cleaner, from Walmart, is a good option.
6. Window Tracks
Window tracks can hide mold.
Preventing mold and mildew in your home in fall and winter is an uphill battle, so it’s important to eliminate any sources as early in the season as possible.
For Tim Conn, president and co-founder at Image One, this means cleaning window tracks – a spot people often forget when cleaning windows. ‘They collect dust, pollen, and mold throughout the summer,’ he warns.
To tackle them, use a microfiber cloth to wipe away grime, dampening it with 30% white vinegar from Walmart to kill mold spores. For the small nooks and crannies, a crevice cleaning brush, also from Walmart, can help to flick out debris.
7. Entryway Mats
Clean entryway mats prevent mud tracking along floors in fall.
Cleaning an entryway is an essential part of preparing your home for fall. The one spot people forget, however? Cleaning a doormat.
Tim explains that forgetting this simple spot in early fall is a bad habit, making your floors dirtier throughout the season, with clogged fibers not doing as good a job at removing mud and debris from winter footwear before you enter your home. Plus, it makes upkeep easier.
Most doormats benefit from being shaken outdoors before being vacuumed. To elevate your home and keep your floors cleaner, consider switching to a machine-washable doormat from Ruggable. These come with interchangeable top mats, which can be switched seasonally and washed with the rest of your laundry for ease.
Fall Cleaning Essentials
Distilled white vinegar is a fantastic non-toxic cleaning tool for any home. When used correctly, it can help to kill mold and bacteria, as well as tackle odors and lighten stains, all without harsh chemicals.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has certified Attitude products as non-toxic, meaning they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial compounds.
The Damp Duster is great for allergy sufferers as it removes all dust, pollen, pet hair, and more, affordable, reusable, and conveniently sized, and, better yet, is easy to clean – simply wash the sponge with water to remove dust and grime.
The Scrub Daddy sponge softens under hard water and toughens under cold water, allowing you to adjust the level of abrasive you need depending on the task at hand.
Sponge cloths are plant-based, meaning they are free from plastics and decompose in compost heaps in around 10 months, making them a eco-friendly, hygienic alternative to traditional sponges and paper towels.
Designed to maximize under-cabinet storage, this large storage caddy comes with a removable inner caddy that can be removed and carried around for smaller tasks.
Meet The Experts
With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean provides all-natural, chemical-free cleaning services that have revolutionized the cleaning industry and changed the way people clean their homes.
Michael Rubino is a mold and air quality expert, Author of The Mold Medic, an Expert’s Guide on Mold Removal, and founder of HomeCleanse, a revolutionary company with the vision to end the worldwide health epidemic caused by poor air quality and toxic indoor environments. Michael is a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association.
Cullen, is the Product Innovation Manager at Gutterglove®. With over 20 years experience, he now oversees innovative products for the building industry.
Joy Mangano is a product inventor, female entrepreneur, and one of the most influential voices in TV shopping history. Trusted by millions of people worldwide, Joy has been reinventing clean for over 30 years with game-changing products designed to make life better.
Tim started cleaning at just 14 years old, when he set up a janitorial company for a family-owned commercial office building, giving him over 35 years of experience in the janitorial industry.
A dirty home is just one of the many things making your home less inviting to guests. Be sure to declutter and sure up your seating before they arrive to be a successful host.
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