Fall Cleaning Checklists for Families: Get Organized Together

You have undoubtedly heard of spring cleaning. Spring arrives, bringing a fresh sense of hope and renewal, making it the perfect time to clean out the entire house. However, fall is also an excellent time to get organized together as a family. If you are looking for fall cleaning checklists, you've come to the right place.

I have compiled a long list of tasks that you can use for your family to get organized this year. Whether it's decluttering clothes or sanitizing everything, this list includes several overlooked tasks. With the holidays right around the corner, tackling these tasks can make your home feel refreshed and you and your family ready to enjoy the holidays without feeling overwhelmed by clutter.

Forget Spring Cleaning, Let's Tidy Up in the Fall

Fall is such a fun season. From pumpkin spice everything to the cute decorations, there's so much to love. Yet, when one thinks of fall, they don't often think of cleaning. Sure, you can put those big tasks off til the spring. However, if you tidy up in the fall, you may find yourself feeling a renewed sense of accomplishment and calm as you prepare to enter the holiday season.

Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Get Organized

Fall is the perfect time to organize for several reasons. You have to put the summer things away anyway, so you may as well go all in. Secondly, with the holidays right around the corner, it's a good idea to make room for any gifts your family will be accumulating by decluttering.

Additionally, it can give your family a sense of peacefulness just by having a fresh and decluttered home environment. What's not to like?

How to Create Your Own Fall Cleaning Checklists

The best thing about checklists is that they can be created in any way you prefer. To create your own fall cleaning checklist, it's relatively simple.

Consider each room in your home and the tasks that are often neglected the most. Those are the tasks that should be on your checklist. The best way to stay organized is to categorize these tasks by room. Start with your main living area and work your way to the less frequently used rooms.

Then tackle a room a day or break it down to similar tasks. For example, you could complete all the tasks for the living room in one weekend or a single day, depending on the amount of time you have. Another option would be to tackle one task for every room, such as dusting all the ceiling fans at once or washing every baseboard all at once. Whatever way makes sense for you is the best way to do it.

What to Focus on For Fall Cleaning and Organization

Now let's take a look at tasks to add to your fall cleaning checklist this year. Take a look at the lists below. I've included everyday tasks that should be done more than once a year, as well as often-forgotten tasks that you may overlook. (Don't we all have those?) Scan through these tasks and create your own family's fall cleaning checklist to leave you prepared to tackle each room of your house.

General Checklist Items

These are tasks that are general and can be done in every room. Though they may seem daunting at first, if you break these items down into small chunks, before you know it, you will be breezing through.

• Declutter each room
• Clean windows
• Wash baseboards
• Dust window sills
• Clean under furniture
• Declutter and clean toys
• Dust ceiling fans
• Wash rugs
• Shampoo carpet
• Declutter and give away small clothing items
• Vacuum air vents
• Change furnace filters
• Sanitize all the things
• Dust blinds and curtain rods
• Wash walls

Kitchen Checklist

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. Sometimes it's easy to forget all the little things that should be cleaned more often here. This includes cleaning under and behind the stove and emptying the refrigerator.

• Clean the garbage disposal
• Deep clean the oven
• Clean out the refrigerator and freezer
• Scrub and degrease all the cabinets and backsplash
• Dust the tops of kitchen appliances and cabinets
• Wash kitchen chair cushions
• Clean all the appliances
• Clean out and disinfect the trash cans
• Check all the smoke detectors
• Clean under and behind the refrigerator and oven
• Organize the fridge and pantry
• Throw away expired food items

Outdoor Checklist

Sometimes, the outdoor cleanup is forgotten as we move into fall. Yet, you will feel accomplished and ready for the upcoming winter once these items are checked off your to-do list.

• Power wash outdoor carpets
• Put away outdoor furniture
• Clean doormats
• Put away any summer items
• Check window and door screens, replace if necessary
• Clean gutters
• Pressure wash the house and driveways
• Turn off the outdoor faucets
• Rake the leaves

Living Room/Front Entry Checklist

The living room may be one of those rooms that is very easy to clean and maintain. That doesn't mean some of the general cleaning tasks don't get overlooked. Washing the walls, cleaning the ceiling fan, and organizing the coat closet can make your living room feel refreshed and as though it has had a facelift.

• Break out the fall jackets and accessories
• Clean the fireplace for the season
• Vacuum and carpet clean the chairs and couches
• Dust the hardwood furniture
• Change seasonal decorations
• Clean and organize the coat closet
• Organize shoes

Bathroom Checklist

Bathrooms can get gross fast. Chances are, you stay on top of your bathroom cleaning, especially if you have little boys who are still learning to use the toilet properly. Yet, there are still some things that get overlooked. Take a look at some of these tasks and see if you need to add them to your fall cleaning checklist today.

• Declutter bathroom care products
• Give the tub and shower a good scrub
• Wash shower curtains and replace the liners
• Give the toilets a good clean
• Go through makeup
• Clean makeup brushes
• Get rid of old toothbrushes
• Clean the grout

Bedroom Checklist

The bedroom is one of those rooms that requires more decluttering than actual cleaning. Though washing the sheets and curtains can undoubtedly make your bedroom feel fresh and new. Don't forget to tackle those clothes, especially if you have growing kids!

• Put away summer clothing
• Wash all the bedding
• Flip mattresses
• Wash pillow covers
• Clean curtains
• Dust lamp shades
• Clean under beds
• Change blankets and linens

One Last Note

Cleaning and decluttering can be challenging to fit into your already busy schedule. Often, with everything on our plates, we don't want to make the time to do any of it. Yet, when we do, we will walk away feeling refreshed and ready for the upcoming holiday season. There are several effective ways to tackle your upcoming fall cleaning. One of the best ways, though, is to take it one task at a time, so you do not become overwhelmed and burned out before you get started.

Whether you choose to tackle it one room at a time or task by task, these checklists are a great place to start when building your own fall cleaning checklist. Take stock of each room in your house and identify the tasks that are often overlooked. Though it can be time-consuming to face fall cleaning, much like spring cleaning, in the end, you will walk away with a renewed sense of freshness. You will be prepared and ready for the upcoming holiday season, more ready to enjoy each day without being overwhelmed by your household to-do list. I don't know about you, but that's a win in my book.

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