Fall is officially here! It’s time to start thinking about putting your summer items away and getting your home ready for the winter months ahead. It’s also the perfect time to do a Fall cleaning at your home.

Although there are many things we do for regular home cleaning throughout the year, Fall provides us with the opportunity to clean specific items that don’t always get the attention they deserve. According to Angie, there are four specific items that should be cleaned in your home in the Fall. This includes cleaning your carpet, windows, curtains, and ducts.

Carpet

It’s easy to vacuum your carpet one to two times per week and to spot treat stains when necessary. However, hiring a professional to clean your carpet at least once a year is important, because regular vacuuming only removes surface-level dirt. Over time, carpet can hold onto dust, allergens, oils, stains, and other debris deep within the fibers.

Having your carpet cleaned professionally once a year yields three benefits. First it improves your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ). Dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particles can become trapped in carpet fibers and get stirred back into the air when people walk across the carpet. A professional carpet cleaner can remove these items, improving your home’s IAQ and eliminating odors.

The second benefit of deep cleaning your carpet is that it removes deeply embedded dirt. When you hire a carpet cleaning professional, they have the right equipment to extract soil and debris that ordinary household vacuums can’t reach. Professional carpet cleaners also have access to specialized products and equipment, designed to treat different types of stains without unnecessarily damaging the carpet.

The third benefit of deep cleaning your carpet is that it extends the life of the carpet. Dirt particles are abrasive. When they remain in the carpet, they can wear down fibers and contribute to a matted, worn appearance. Regular professional carpet cleaning can help preserve its appearance and condition for longer.

If you live in Lancaster County, Angie recommends hiring The Rug Beater to have your residential carpets professionally cleaned.

Windows

Most homeowners are so focused on cleaning the primary surfaces inside their homes they forget about windows. Cleaning your home’s windows at least once a year improves their appearance and removes dust, pollen, dirt, hard-water deposits, fingerprints, and other buildup that can be difficult to remove with routine household cleaning. Taking the time to clean your windows in the fall provides several benefits.

The first benefit of cleaning your windows annually is that it will let in more natural light. Clean glass allows more sunlight into your home, making rooms feel brighter and more inviting. This is important since there is less daylight in the winter months.

The second benefit of deep cleaning your windows annually is that it will extend your home’s window life. By cleaning your windows at least once a year, it gives you an opportunity to identify problems, such as deteriorating seals, damaged screens, cracked glass, or deteriorating frames before they become larger issues.

The third benefit of an annual window cleaning is that it will help protect your screens. When you clean your windows in the fall, you should remove the screens. That’s because screens collect a significant amount of dust and pollen that can transfer debris to the glass and surrounding areas. By removing the screens, you are also preserving the life of the screens, if you store them in a garage, shed, or basement over the winter months.

Think of annual window cleaning as preventative maintenance for your home. This chore helps protect your investment while keeping your home looking its best. Cleaning your windows once a year is a good baseline, unless your home is near a busy road, surrounded by trees, or exposed to significant pollen, dust, or weather.

Curtains

The third cleaning tip Angie recommends in the Fall is curtain cleaning. If you have blinds on your windows, you can get away with dusting them once a week. However, curtains are often overlooked. Cleaning your curtains once a year is beneficial because this material acts as a filter, collecting dust, pollen, pet hair, odors, and other airborne particles.

The first benefit of cleaning your curtains annually is that it improves IAQ. Regular cleaning helps reduce the amount of accumulated debris in fabrics throughout the home. This includes dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particles that may otherwise be released back into the room when the curtains move. Annual curtain cleaning also removes odors, such as  cooking smells, smoke, pet odors, and everyday household odors. Cleaning helps remove these odors rather than simply covering them up.

The second benefit of cleaning your curtains once a year is that it keeps them looking like new. Dust and dirt can make fabrics look dull, dingy, or discolored. Professional cleaning can restore a cleaner, fresher appearance.  Performing this task at least once a year also provides homeowners with the opportunity to inspect their curtains, which can reveal fading, stains, mildew, damaged seams, or other problems before they become more difficult to address.

The third benefit of cleaning your curtains as part of your fall cleaning program is that it will help to protect your investment, because it protects the fabric. Dirt and oils can work their way into fabric fibers over time. Removing that buildup can help prevent premature wear and extend the life of your curtains.

For most homes, cleaning curtains once a year is a good maintenance schedule. Homes with pets, smokers, children, allergies, or high levels of dust and pollen may benefit from more frequent cleaning.

Ducts

For homeowners that have allergies, excessive dust, or pets, they may benefit from having their ductwork inspected and cleaned at least once a year. Professional duct cleaning is beneficial for several reasons.

The most beneficial reason to have your ducts cleaned is because it removes accumulated dust and debris. Over time, these things can collect inside supply and return ducts, particularly if the HVAC system has been operating for years without cleaning.

A second benefit of duct cleaning is that it addresses any visible mold or contamination concerns. If there is confirmed microbial growth inside the ductwork, a professional assessment will be crucial for getting your home back on track.

The third reason you should have your ducts inspected at least once a year is because it improves overall HVAC cleanliness. Cleaning ductwork can be one component of maintaining a clean heating and cooling system, along with changing filters and keeping coils and other components clean. Duct cleaning also removes pet hair and dander.

Another benefit of this inspection is that it can help to identify HVAC problems. A professional inspection may uncover damaged ducts, excessive debris, moisture problems, or other conditions that warrant attention.

Now that you know the four crucial items you should focus on during your annual fall cleaning, your home will be clean and tidy for the winter months ahead. For more residential cleaning tips, visit https://angiescustomcleaning.com/.