September 6, 2013
FREE Fall Cleaning Checklist
Want to know the number one question I receive from readers? I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat….The most popular question that’s asked daily and frequently? Interestingly enough it isn’t ‘is your house really clean’, or ‘what do you really look like’, it’s:
How do you rotate chores?
This is understandable, I give out a cleaning checklist for the month on the blog and talk about cleaning routines and cleaning all.the.time. So…starting now (today), we’re/I’m going to be talking about seasonal and rotating chores a little more often on the blog. What does that mean? Probably more free checklists and a little chit chat about how I fit big and seemingly impossible cleaning tasks into a busy life (I really do and it’s not that big of a deal).
So I thought you might like a little fall cleaning checklist to start the season out right – and hey, it isn’t even fall yet, you’ll be way ahead of the game!
Grab the FREE Fall Cleaning Checklist here in my shop or if you’d prefer here in Googledocs.
So now that you can see the checklist, let me explain it a little bit. I’ve broken it out into 3 main categories because not everyone will want or need to complete every item on this list and that’s okay.
Basics
These items are cleaning tasks that I rotate through 4 times a year or seasonally. Hence the fall cleaning checklist. Some of these items (dust, vacuum) are on my weekly cleaning checklist, so I do those on that day of the week, but I do a more thorough job. For instance, instead of just vacuuming the family room I move the furniture and vacuum under the couch. I dust all surfaces, but I also dust the corners and corners at the ceiling. If this is the only portion of the checklist that you complete, you have still done a great job. These 9 basics will make a big difference in your home!
Deep Cleaning Extras + Bonus Points
If you’ve never done a deep or thorough cleaning and you have extra time on your hands, you’ll want to check these items off your list. If you just washed your windows last month, you probably won’t need to wash them (you can still put a check mark on your list), check your home and see if any of these tasks should be completed.
Traditional Fall Cleaning Tasks to Add If You’d Like
Fall and spring cleaning goes back generations, these tasks are ones that are generally associated with fall cleaning. If you’d like to complete them and it makes sense for you it will be time well spent. If you don’t have time and have never completed them, no need to feel bad – they are just suggestions. For what it’s worth, I won’t be cleaning any gutters this fall (nor have I ever cleaned them).
So, are you going to do a little fall cleaning this year? Excited to have a little more in-depth cleaning routine discussion here on Clean Mama? I am. Be on the look out for more discussion on implementing a rotating cleaning schedule in the coming month.
This is great in a cleaning planner – see how I made mine here!
If you like these printables, you’ll love my shop – Clean Mama Printables!
Marie Says
Love this! Thanks so much! I’m nesting (almost 36 weeks pregnant), and a checklist makes the cleaning more fun. And it’s such a pretty printable. As always. 🙂
Danielle Says
I hate to be the one to say it, but you misspelled a word… “Wqsh all floors”
Easy to do (I do it all the time when those pesky letters are right next to each other!), but didn’t want everyone printing out your printable w/ it 🙂
Becky Says
Post authorit’s corrected!
Barb Says
I absolutely love this !! Great post and lovely printable! This is going to be so helpful and just what I need ! Thank you !
Kelly Dougard Says
Lovely list! So helpful when you are a busy woman trying to hold down a career and keep a clean family home.
Michelle@AdventureswithAubrey Says
Awesomesauce!
Danielle Ferretti Says
Hi ! Love your blog – but I have an honest question…. I am a full time working mom of a 4 yo awesome little girl, and a musician husband with an irregular nightime/weekend schedule. Translating : I leave my house at 7:30am and most of the days do not come back till 7:00-7:30pm. My husband is never home at nights or most weekends, so I need to cook dinner, feed, bathe, etc my little one. I only have the hours after I put her to bed (around 9pm) to even start thinking of cleaning/organizing/etc. The weekends are filled with birthday parties/dance class/music lessons….. How/when do I find the time to get any cleaning done ? I end up cleaning areas of my house per weekend, but feel that not everything is always clean…. We have a 2 story, 5/5 house. Downstairs are all white tiles (!!) and upstairs all carpet. A dog and a cat…. (only the cat goes upstairs, dog stays downstairs all the time).
How to I come up with a cleaning schedule when I don’t seem to have enough hours (or even energy!) in the day… I am not being fastidious, I am honestly asking for your help and advise on how to try to organize myself….. ? I feel that everything is spiraling out of control…. Anything suggestions would be greatly appreciated ! Thanks so much in advance !
Becky Says
Post authorHi Danielle!
Yes, you definitely have a full schedule! I would suggest breaking it down a bit and maybe doing 10 minutes before you leave for work and 10 minutes when/if you get a chance when you get home. On bathrooms day you could clean the bathroom when your 4 year old is taking a bath (in the same bathroom). You could dust with your 4 year old in the evening – maybe turn on music and make it a little fun? Decide on a set amount of time that you can devote to cleaning and set a timer – is it 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes? Just get done what you can in that amount of time and don’t worry about the rest. You need downtime too to be a happy mama!
xo, Becky
Danielle Ferretti Says
Thanks so much Becky ! This is pretty much what I already do… but I always feel like it’s just not enough, and I should have a better plan… I love reading the blogs where people have days scheduled to clean each room… I am always beating myself down for not being able to keep up with that ! LOL I end up doing the most that I can on Sat/Sun – and then am just miserable the rest of the week feeling like I never rested… phooey ! People keep telling me it gets better as Zoe grows up since she can pitch in some more, and I am just waiting for that to happen ! 🙂 The tip with cleaning the bathroom while she is bathing is GREAT ! She actually takes a bath in our downstairs bathroom (we have a full bath there), so it’s the bathroom that we use the most in the house (and guests too !) – so this is a great idea ! Thanks for sharing !! xoxox
cclarkacres Says
OH POOH ! I thought I was all finished…I forgot the porch! So …time to get it switched over to fall. I love doing the porch since I get a whole new room every season! [Not a new room but a whole different decor and I can use the new diy things I made this spring]
Angela @ Honey, I Shrunk the Mom Says
Just wanted to say thank you. 🙂
Becky Says
Post authorAw, thanks Angela!
xo, Becky
Lynn Says
Hi! I have been trying to download this fall cleaning checklist for a few weeks now, but each time it downloads goofy. All of the headings are skewed. I didn’t have a problem with your other checklists.
Becky Says
Post authorYou need Adobe Reader to access these printables. Make sure that you have the most updated version – FREE – here:
get.adobe.com/reader/
If the printables still look weird, make sure you don’t have them in ‘preview’. There’s something with MAC OSX that defaults to preview instead of Adobe Reader.
xo, Becky
Tracie Says
Thank you so much for this post and the one you did last week reviewing your cleaning schedule. I just found your site a couple months ago and love it but was a bit overwhelmed with how to get going on the cleaning lists and schedules. The extra explanations have been so helpful! I’ve always been overwhelmed trying to sort these details into a doable schedule on my own – love how you’ve done it! I have so much hope for accomplishing the house cleaning this week and all those “extras” I never seem to get too.
Becky Says
Post authorThank you Tracie!
Stephanie Klein Says
Question for you – I know this post is nearly a year and a half old, and I’m not entirely sure if you’ll see this or not, but I am curious why this specific cleaning list turns into a lower case version (the title down the side – “Fall Cleaning Checklist” and the headings above each section (“Basics”, “Deep Cleaning…”, etc.) when you click on the link to download? I’ve downloaded and printed the other three versions (spring, summer, and winter) with no issues, but this one is formatted differently than the others (and than the one showed on this page?), and I can’t figure out why that is. It’s driving my OCD insane, and I’m just wondering if it’s something I’m doing incorrectly, or if it’s just formatted differently for some reason. Thanks!
Becky Says
Post authorMake sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader – I made that checklist with a new version of Reader, so that is probably why it’s defaulting for you. Check out my FAQ page for more details:
http://www.cleanmama.net/clean-mama-printables-faqs
Jordan Says
This is the only season of the 4 that doesn’t let you get it in the shop, add it to cart, and get it through email. It won’t let me print it correctly unless I do it through my email. Could you add that option, please?
Becky Says
Post authorHi Jordan!
I updated the post to include both downloads – hope this helps!
Cindy Says
Earlier this year you did a spring clean challenge where the home was cleaned in the month of April. I am wondering if you will be doing this for the fall cleaning to prepare for winter and if so when that will be starting. Hoping!!
Becky Says
Post authorHi Cindy!
I’m definitely doing a challenge or two this fall 🙂
xo, Becky
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