Winter House Cleaning Checklist
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Making your home sparkle can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. With this checklist, you will be able to get organized and stay on top of your cleaning tasks without fail.
It has been designed for those looking to get their home ready for winter. It includes a number of easy tasks that can be completed in a short time and with minimal equipment.
Clean windows.
From top to bottom, wipe down your windows with a squeegee or newspaper. You can also use a lint-free cloth and water if you don't have either of these items on hand, but the newspaper will be more effective than the cloth at removing dirt from your windows.
Avoid using harsh chemicals on your windows—many of them will leave streaks behind when you're done cleaning. The best way to avoid this is to use vinegar mixed with warm water instead of window cleaner for all of your glass surfaces (including mirrors). It's cheap, it's easy, and it works like magic.
Erase water stains from wooden furniture.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
Apply this solution with a sponge to the stained area. Let it sit for several hours, or overnight if possible.
Wipe away any excess solution with a clean rag and rinse off the furniture completely to remove any vinegar residue.
Replace furnace filters and clean baseboard heaters.
At your next, regularly scheduled maintenance, have the technician at your local home improvement store replace the furnace filters. You can do it yourself, but they’ll need to be replaced every three months, so it's probably worth letting them do it for you.
Baseboard heaters need to be cleaned out too. Baseboard heaters are easy-to-clean appliances that don't get a lot of attention until they're covered in dust and grime from the winter months ahead.
To clean yours: Remove the cover on the bottom of each heater. Use a vacuum cleaner hose with a brush attachment to remove dust and debris from the inside. Vacuum the area around your furnace too, making sure to get into all corners where dust might have settled over the past winter months. This will help ensure that your heating system is running as efficiently as possible.
Clean window screens and drapes.
Wash the window screens. If you have window screens, it's important to clean them regularly. Cleaning the screens before you wash your drapes can save time and effort. To clean the screens: Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove dirt from between the wires.
Wash the drapes. Use a mild detergent and warm water to wash your drapes in a washing machine or by hand. If you have delicate fabric, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe cleaning. Dry clean or press them if needed.
Clean the windows, including the window frames and sills. Use a damp cloth to wipe down windows and frames. If your windows are heavily soiled, use a non-abrasive cleaning product, such as vinegar mixed with warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel. Clean the window sills using mild soap and water or vinegar mixed with warm water.
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Inspect for signs of pests and mold.
Look for signs of infestation, such as dead bugs or rodent droppings. If you see any, call a pest control expert.
Check for signs of water damage by taking off baseboards and looking behind them to see if there's any visible mold growth. If you find mold, hire a professional to clean it up right away—you can't do this safely yourself.
Switch to winter bedding.
Switch to winter bedding. You've spent the summer sleeping with a light duvet and maybe even a thin blanket, but now it's time to switch to thicker bedding that will keep you warm during those chilly nights.
Try switching from a duvet cover (which can be unzipped) to a comforter. A comforter is more like what you would find on a top-tier hotel bed, so it will feel much cozier and warmer than an ordinary blanket.
If you have one already, use it. Put in under your mattress pad for extra insulation against the cold floor beneath you at night—and if not, add one of those immediately as well—and place an extra heavy blanket over both of them.
This way when temperatures drop low enough that they threaten our power supply (or worse!), we'll still be able to go about our lives without worrying about being too uncomfortable during, extra cold nights.
Clean the fireplace.
To clean the fireplace, first, use a vacuum to remove any ash that has settled on the hearth. Next, use a fireplace poker or other long-handled tool to poke out any ashes that have fallen into the fireplace.
Then, wipe down your screen with a dry cloth, and don’t use water or cleaning chemicals on it (this can damage your screen).
Vacuum the refrigerator coils.
Grab a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment and brush attachment, then lift the refrigerator coils out of the unit.
Vacuum each coil thoroughly. You may need to do this in two or three passes, depending on how dirty your refrigerator is.
Clean up any debris that falls out of the coils during vacuuming (don't forget about those hard-to-reach places).
Clean these coils at least once per year—more if you live in an area where there's a lot of dust or if you have pets who spend time inside your home.
Clean range hoods and drains (or do it yourself with baking soda and vinegar).
Deep-cleaning your range hood is not a task for the faint of heart. It's generally easier to hire someone to do this for you, but if you're determined to tackle it yourself, there are some things that can make the job a little easier:
Use baking soda and vinegar instead of harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia. These can damage the fan motor in your range hood, so stick with gentle cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar.
Don't use water anywhere near your exhaust fan. This will cause rusting on metal parts and could damage the fan itself. If there's any grease buildup on your exhaust fan, try using a dry cloth or sponge first before resorting to using water as part of your cleaning regimen—the goal here is just to remove visible debris from the inside without damaging anything else in the process.
A home is easier to keep up than to catch up on
I'm a big believer in the idea that it's easier to keep up than it is to catch up. If you're struggling with cleaning, ask yourself what habits can you start so that you don't have to spend so much time maintaining your home. You'll be surprised how small changes can make a huge difference in keeping your house clean.
I'd also encourage everyone who has been stalling or procrastinating on their spring cleaning tasks because they think they need more time later on: don't wait! Start now and then finish when the weather warms up again.
It's much better than having unfinished business hanging over your head all winter long while hoping for warmer weather (and more hours outside) before tackling those projects around the house.
And even if it gets chilly again by next summer, at least there will be less building up of clutter waiting for you underfoot when you do get around to tackling those projects.
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A clean home is a happy home, but it’s not always easy to make sure your house is tidy. That’s why we came up with this handy checklist designed to help you get organized and make it easy to keep your place looking good.
“Our house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.”
To Wrap It Up
Remember, the best way to stay on top of your home is to make a checklist and stick with it. It’s easy to get busy with life and let the housekeeping slip, but if you schedule time for these simple tasks once or twice a year, you’ll have an easier time staying on top of things.
Here are a few of our favorites.
