Fall Cleaning!

In the House

 

• Clean carpets, doormats, and rugs. Replace sisal or other summer rugs with winter ones.

 

• Clean and store spring and summer clothing; bring out your fall and winter duds. While you’re in the closet, why not get rid of a few things?

 

• Flip and rotate mattresses. Launder all bedding. If you use lightweight bed coverings in the summer, now’s the time to air out those winter comforters too.

 

• Clean out kitchen cupboards and the pantry.

 

• Clean behind your refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

 

• Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

 

• Wash your windows.

 

• Hire someone to inspect your fireplace and chimney and get them ready for winter use.

 

• Clean out the garage. Even if it doesn’t need organizing, you may need to get rid of dirt that accumulated during the summer.

 

 

Outdoors

 

• Clean and store outdoor patio furniture and gardening supplies. (Don’t forget to clean outdoor cushions before storing too so they don’t become mildewy.)

 

• Drain and store garden hoses.

 

• Service the lawn mower. (You might need to hold off on this task for awhile, depending on how much longer you need to mow.)

 

• Install weatherstripping around outside doors.

 

• Inspect hot and cold supply lines that run through exterior walls and exposed pipes. Protect pipes by wrapping them with electric heat tape, fiberglass insulation, or readymade pipe jackets.

 

• Check out the roof—replace missing shingles or recaulk as needed.

 

• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.

Witch's list for Fall

Clean and salt all crystals

• Smuge whole house while doors can still be opened
• Replace all guard tokens at your windows and doors with fresh ones
• Make a wreath of Bay Leaves for your front/back door
• Make a fire, and burn Sage and Rosemary to clean the air
• Take down your dried herbs and store in air tight containers
• Add sage to your vaccume cleaner bag
• Spread dried Maragolds/Mums under sofa and furnature to kill fleas
• Stock up on your fall herbs
• Get out your snuggly blankets, and air out on a crisp windy day