I think 'fall cleaning' is even more important at my house than spring cleaning! Having the kids home every day, all summer, means my regular cleaning schedule gets altered since they sleep in...or are in the way...or want to be driven somewhere. That, along with trips away, visitors, and a laissez faire attitude means the dust bunnies grow, clutter accumulates, and a few cobwebs start hanging from the ceiling!
This year I am a bit ahead of schedule (since I usually wait until that first day of school) and have already got 3 rooms done. I start things off by dusting the walls - floor to ceiling - with a floor duster. It's great because it has such a long handle and the fluffy fibers glide across the walls. I can just toss the cover into the wash with my cleaning cloths to freshen it up. My DH says the walls aren't dusty but if you look at them sideways, at the right angle, you can totally see the dust! It really makes a difference and makes the paint look so much nicer!
After the walls are dusted I clean all the other surfaces with the appropriate product (polish the furniture, spray the mirrors & glass, etc.) as well as de-clutter each room. That means putting stuff back where it belongs, throwing out or donating extra items, organizing closets/drawers/shelves, etc. It feels so good to purge!
Then everything is vaccumed (including trim with the brush attachment), wiped down (grubby doors), floors washed...and obviously bathrooms get a thorough cleaning and the wood kitchen cabinets get washed. The pantry and food items get sorted and re-organized, the glass in the chandeliers get Windexed (have to get the ladder for that job!), and by that time I'm pretty tired!
Once the inside is done (and it will take a while...this year I'm tackling one room at a time - with the catch-all playroom as a dreaded two or 3 day job!) I will wash all the windows in and out, sweep the porch, and this year I want to vaccum the walls & ceiling of the garage - which is uber spidery!!
Fall cleaning is a really big job but it feels so good when it's done! This year will be particularly hard since my DH broke his foot and will not be able to help with any of it...not even hauling all the purged items to the curb or charity shop. I also have had to take over all dog walking duty, grocery shopping, and other chores. There are so many things I want to do...ahhhhh!!!!
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