Whenever seasons exchange, housekeepers should meet their working time, as there are so many things need to be done. If your are not a good time manager, then you will be trapped into such a big cleaning project.
Come to make a checklist, espcially for fall and winter, it will free you from that hash task!
Checklist for Winter
Gutters
Chimneys
Fireplaces, wood stoves and pipes
Furnace filters and ducts (cleaning air ducts is best left to the professionals and is necessary once a year)
Drain lawnmowers, replace spark plugs, etc.
Check car tires, belts, plugs, radiator fluids etc. Make sure your chains are in good condition and your ice scraper handy.
Use an augur, drain cleaner or call a plumber to clear your drains before they clog. Winter is a terrible time for overflow problems. It's colder and takes longer for water to dry if a drain overflows giving mold and mildew time to cause structural problems.
ash or dry clean stored blankets, bedding, coats and sweaters before you need them.
spose of any and all old paint, varnishes etc. Be sure the cans you do keep are stored away from sources of heat along with any flammable material.
Check your home for any cracks that might need sealing. Clean windows and framing making sure the drain holes are unplugged.
Trim bushes back away from the house so they don't hold in the moisture. This helps reduce mold and mildew growth next spring and gives your foundation that breathing space it needs.
Replace smoke detector batteries.
Have your fire extinguisher checked to make sure it is working. Do you have the right fire extinguisher? There is a difference. Do you have one conveniently located in each part of your home and not tucked away at the back of a closet?
Clean outdoor grills. Properly store propane gas.
Toss out old candles. Replace them with soy or smokeless candles that burn with very little if any smoke. Look for ones that burn with natural, not lead, wicks. Your lungs and arms will love you for it; arms because of the elbow grease it takes removing soot stains from walls. Breathing that smoke and lead can be a killer – literally.
Look for natural cleaning products to clean your home. The toxic buildup of chemical fumes cause a multitude of health problems. This worsens during the winter when windows and doors remain shut. Homes are built to be somewhat air tight. They don't let cold air in or fumes out. If you are suffering from headaches, asthma or other health problems it could be caused from the chemicals you use.
Winter is especially hard on leather, vinyl and wood furniture. The heat from fireplaces and furnaces dries and cracks them. Clean and condition all your furniture.
Checklist for Fall
Get your home prepped for cooler times:
Just ducty: Clean heat ducts and registers. Replace air filters.
An outside job: Hire someone to clean the gutters and downspouts.
Moving inside: Clean patio furniture and store it for the winter.
Firestarter: Order firewood. Stack it off the ground on pallets or concrete blocks to increase air flow so that it dries appropriately. Stack it away from the house to prevent pest infestation.
And just in case things get out of hand: Check your fire extinguisher.
Chim chim cheree! Line up a chimney sweep now before they're all booked up until April.
Bed time (again!): Clean all bed linens, including comforters, duvets, bed skirts, pillows, etc. Yep, canopies, too!
On the count of three: Turn that mattress!
Down the drain: Clean drains and traps.
Green things: Equip kids with an electrostatic cloth and give them the task of cleaning your houseplants. The leaves wipe clean like magic. It's actually a gratifying job — and a great start to a fresher-looking home!
