4 cleaning tasks to add to your fall to-do list

Now that Labor Day is done, we can start using the ‘fall’ word. After all, apple orchards are opening, trees are starting to turn beautiful autumn colors, and kids are heading back to school. Fall also brings a fall maintenance checklist for homeowners, who are trying to get their homes ready for winter with HVAC maintenance, pressure washing the exterior or your home, winterizing your lawn mower—you know the standard fall maintenance list.

If you’re one of those homeowners, consider going the extra mile by adding these to-do’s to your fall maintenance list so you and your home are set for all that winter is going to throw at it—and its residents.

Carpet cleaning

There are three reasons to schedule a carpet cleaning during autumn; if you have allergies or other respiratory issues, make that schedule a carpet cleaning as soon as possible. A professional deep carpet clean can rid your carpet of allergens and dirt, which can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms (especially during winter when we’re all trapped inside).

Another reason to add carpet cleaning to your list is to keep your carpets looking new—and to ready your home for all the snow and mud that’s going to get tracked in over the winter months. If you schedule your carpet cleaning during fall, you can still open your windows during the carpet cleaning (while the weather’s still okay!).

Fireplace & stove inspection and clean up

Before you start cuddling up to that warm fire on a cold and windy day, have your fireplace or stove chimney inspected and cleaned—for both a gas and wood-burning fireplace and stove. A professional can inspect the chimney for build-up, check the firebox to make sure it is safe, examine all lines and structure, and give your fireplace, stove, and chimney a full clean. A pro can make sure that your chimney is clean and safe for all your winter fires.

Duct cleaning

We’ve seen studies that estimate Americans spend as much as 90% of their time indoors—especially during winter. If you have allergies, you know that indoor allergy symptoms are often caused and exacerbated by the most common indoor allergens: dust mites, pet dander, mold. All of those allergens re-circulate though our air ducts every time you turn on your furnace. To avoid sneezing, wheezing, and all those other annoying indoor allergy symptoms, add a professional duct cleaning to your fall maintenance list. One call (or email) to a professional duct cleaning company can clean your ducts of all those allergens, making your time indoors this winter allergen-free (or at least, less allergen).

Smoke & carbon monoxide detector inspection

This addition to your fall maintenance checklist is one that you can perform yourself—and it’s easy to do. Clean the area around your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and test the detectors to make sure they still work. As long as you’re testing your detectors, do a full run-through of your emergency escape plan with your family to make sure they know the drill. Finally, swap out batteries in every detector to make sure they work during the winter if you need them (hopefully not!).