It’s hard to believe that fall is almost here, especially since the warmer weather is lingering longer than we’re used to. However, knowing autumn is on its way, now is a great time to spruce up your space before decking the halls with your favorite fall-inspired decor. Similar to spring cleaning, a quick run-through of your house before the next season helps keep your space in order and ready for the next series of events, like annual holiday parties and Super Bowl Sunday. So get ready, get set and let’s clean.
Clean Your Vacation Rental Home This Fall Season
STEP ONE: FOCUS ON HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS
While your attic might seem neglected and ready for a cleaning, that specific area of the house often goes unseen by guests. Because fall is such a communal season with parties and get-togethers nearly every weekend, it’s best to focus your cleaning energy on areas of the house that will be the center of your soirees. These spaces include entryways, hallways, living areas, the dining room and the kitchen— maybe even an outdoor patio if you live in a particularly warm area. Once you map out these areas, the hard part is over and you can get down to dust-busting.
STEP TWO: CUT DOWN ON CLUTTER
Cutting down clutter is one of the best ways to almost instantly make your space seem fresher and ready for new decor. As we mentioned before, start in a high traffic area, like the entryway, and go through any storage spaces and drop-zones that have housed any form of clutter over the summer. Look at each nook and cranny with a detective’s eye. Decide if you truly need that extra vase there, or if it can be stowed away to make room for your favorite holiday garland come December. Go through each room using this approach. Once you’re done, run through each room with a vacuum, whether you have carpets or area rugs. The space will feel like new and you’ll be ready to redecorate.
STEP THREE: DEEP CLEAN
Here is where the fun truly begins. We suggest starting in a space that will likely be the center of your holiday festivities: the kitchen. Since you’ve already decluttered, you can probably see which corners of the kitchen have been neglected since your last bout of cleaning. Grab your duster, mop and cleaning products and tackle the space, working from one end of the room to the other.
Pay special attention to appliances that will be used over and over again for holiday dinners and family gatherings. Start with deep-cleaning the oven and wiping down the inside of the microwave, then work your way outward. Finish by wiping down the walls and light fixtures. Do this for each room in your house.
Pro tip: Teamwork makes the dream work. Recruit other members of the household to help speed up the process.
STEP FOUR: GO BEYOND A BASIC CLEAN
We’re sure that after step three, the last thing you want to do is keep scrubbing. However, once you’ve tackled the majority of the clutter and dust-busting, you’re nearly done. This last step is simply a reminder to check spaces and corners that we don’t often pay attention to or assume never get dirty. Some things or places you could be overlooking include:
- Light fixtures. Ceiling-mounted lights and table lamps acquire dust over time. If they’re not used frequently, that dust may go unnoticed. A quick wipe down should do the trick.
- Grout. This is especially important if you have any light-colored grout. Scrubbing with your favorite kitchen cleaner will have your grout sparkling clean in no time.
- Hidden bathroom spaces. Chances are that your guests will need to use your restroom once or twice during your annual football kickoff party. With this in mind, clean like you have a particularly nosey guest: check inside drawers, dust window sills and deep-clean the tub.
Have you attempted fall cleaning yet? What are some of your ways to cut dust and grime and prepare for the holiday season?
Maintaining the shine and luster in your home is part of your overall interior design strategy. California interior designer Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Sacramento, Ca., provides her own tips on staying fresh for The Home Depot. To research products referenced by Kerrie, including vacuums, you can visit homedepot.com.