Five Things You Should Do This Fall

Fall is a great time of year to get your house in tip-top shape. And, that's no joke. Your house generally gets a thorough cleaning in the spring, but you should also give it some attention at the start of the fall season. Here's where you can get started:

1. INSPECT YOUR PANTRY

First, take all the cans and boxes off the shelves, vacuum up any leftover dust or crumbs (a lot can accumulate in only a few months! ), and then reassemble the shelves. After that, go through each item and put it back where it belongs, discarding everything that is out-of-date or expired.

Think about what you'll be eating this fall, too. Go through your pantry and get rid of anything you don't really plan on using this fall. Think about what you use regularly during the summer months — maybe there's an ingredient or two that's not so great for hot weather, but perfect for wintertime? If so, ditch it now while you're still able to swap out the ingredients with something better suited to cold weather! Better yet, if you have unopened and non-expired food products you know you won't use, consider donating them to the local food pantry!

2. EXAMINE AND MAINTAIN YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS

This is a great time of year to check out any other safety devices in your home. You are aware that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors need new batteries (doing it on the days you change the clocks for Daylight Saving Time is an easy way to remember). However, you should also clean your units because accumulated dust can make them operate poorly. Clean the area inside and around the detector's apertures using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. Replace them if any are older than ten years.

In addition to performing basic maintenance, you should check for any signs of tampering: tampered sensors, missing wires, and broken or unsecured mounting brackets. If you find something irregular or suspicious, contact a professional immediately so that they can determine whether or not your home is in danger.

3. CLEAN WINDOW COVERINGS

During the spring and summer months, you can enjoy the fresh air with the windows open and let the heat out. However, during this time of year, it’s important to keep your home clean.

All the fresh air from enjoying the breeze with windows open likely created dust buildup on the blinds and curtains. It would still be better to do something than nothing.

4. LAUNDER OPULENTLY

Launder all washable bed skirts, curtains, blankets, throws, mattress covers, and slipcovers. Vacuum the mattresses well after turning them (and even before if you want). If your sheets are in need of an additional refresh with a quick spin in the dryer, now would be a good time to do so too!

5. During early October, make a professional carpet cleaning appointment.

Cleaning your carpets is a great way to keep them looking clean and fresh all year long. Carpets get very dirty in the fall and winter, especially in the high-traffic areas of your home. During this time of year, make sure you're getting your carpets cleaned regularly so they don't end up looking unkempt and dirty.

Early October is a great time to clean carpets. Many carpet cleaning companies are booked up through the end of the year, so we've learned to plan ahead and get an early start on our fall cleaning.

During this early fall season, make a professional carpet cleaning appointment. Drying carpets can take up to two months, so it's best to do this as soon as possible. Let your carpet cleaner know that you want your carpets cleaned before mid-October so they can schedule their labor and materials accordingly.

CONCLUSION

With all that being said, we leave you with these five tips and tricks to help you freshen up your home before fall sets in. And while they're by no means exhaustive, they're a good place to start. So, take some time over the next few weeks, and give your home a much-needed (and long overdue) cleaning. Have questions or need recommendations for any services around your home here in the Des Moines and Central Iowa areas? Feel free to reach out and we'd be happy to connect you with some of our tried and true vendor partners to help you with all your home cleaning and home repair needs!