Fall Cleaning Checklist for Busy Moms [Free Printable PDF]

Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Rebecca Lake

Fall is a perfect time to tackle some of the cleaning, organizing, and decluttering tasks you might have put off over the summer. A fall cleaning checklist can make tidying up your home easier and less stressful.

But where do you get started? Today, I’m sharing a complete room-by-room guide of things to declutter and clean for a more livable home.

Sound good? Then let the fall cleaning begin!

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Ultimate Fall Cleaning Checklist

A good cleaning checklist for fall should cover every area of your home, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what you want to focus on. The fall checklist for cleaning I’m sharing here covers all of the most important spots to hit (and a few you might have forgotten about.)

If you read through the cleaning list and feel like it’s just too overwhelming to tackle all at once, try breaking it down instead. Pick one room to work through, one day at a time.

That can help you stick to your fall cleaning plan without getting bogged down.

fall cleaning checklist for busy moms — Ultimate Fall Cleaning List

Fall cleaning checklist for the kitchen

Dust your refrigerator coils. (This helps your fridge run more efficiently!)
Dust the tops of your kitchen cabinets and the baseboards.
Clean the clutter from under your sink and replace it with a handy organizer.
Deep clean the inside of your dishwasher.
Degunk around your faucet and clean up your kitchen grout.
Deep clean the garbage disposal.
Organize your kitchen pantry. (Try these cute baskets to add some fall harvest touches!)
Deep clean your microwave inside and out.
Wash and disinfect your garbage cans and recycling cans.
Deep clean your oven and vent hood.
Clean up your fridge and get rid of clutter with these space savers!
Clean out the freezer and defrost it if needed.
Toss out expired food, including out-of-date spices.
Wipe down kitchen cabinets inside and out.

Fall cleaning checklist for the bathroom

Wash your shower curtain and liner (or replace it if necessary.)
Declutter any expired cosmetics or toiletries, including prescriptions or medications.
Dust molding, baseboards, and light fixtures.
Check around the sink, shower, and toilet for any leaks.
Wash out your trash can if you keep one in the bathroom.
Deep clean your shower head to remove any calcium or rust buildup.
Scrub your shower tiles and the grout, and shower doors if you have them.
Replace your toothbrushes (which you should be doing every three months anyway!)
Wash your bath mats or replace them if they’ve gotten too grungy to salvage.
Clean out under your cabinets and use baskets to organize vanity drawers.
Delint your hairdryer and clean out hair from your brushes.
Round up loose toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap in a handy holder.
Deep clean around your toilet (especially if you have little boys!)

Fall cleaning checklist for the bedroom

Wash all bedding, including sheets, blankets, and comforters.
Swap out pillows that have lost their shape for new ones.
Dust your blinds.
Wash the curtains.
Invest in a sturdy hamper if you’re tired of dirty clothes being left on the floor.
Store warm weather clothing away for next season.
Flip your mattress or invest in a gel topper for a more comfortable sleep.
Declutter nightstands and dresser tops.
Switch out summer bedding for warmer blankets.
Dust ceiling molding and baseboards.
Declutter everything from under the bed and sweep or vacuum.
Thoroughly dust ceiling fan blades and fixtures.
Set the direction of your ceiling fan to turn clockwise to pull up cool air and push down warm air in winter.

Fall cleaning checklist for kids’ rooms

Declutter kids’ toys and consider starting a toy rotation.
Launder bedding and switch it out for warmer blankets.
Clean out from underneath the bed, which is a perfect hiding spot for junk!
Use a cute bookshelf to stash books, magazines, and DVDs.
Sort through your kids’ fall wardrobe and pull out anything they’ve outgrown. (If you need some quick cash, look for places to sell kids clothes near you!)
Spot-clean rugs and carpets.
Dust baseboards, walls, and blinds.
Wash the curtains.
Wipe down all furniture, decor items, and wall hangings or pictures.

Fall cleaning checklist for the living room

Toss, donate, or recycle old magazines and newspapers.
Round up stray toys with baskets or bins.
Clear the clutter out of drawers in side tables, end tables, coffee tables, etc.
Dust walls, furniture, and baseboards.
Vacuum carpets or rugs and spot clean as needed.
Spot clean upholstery and use your vacuum attachments to clean up the cracks.
Vacuum or sweep under the furniture.
Switch out old lightbulbs for energy-efficient ones.
Dust your plants (real or fake!)
Dust the blinds and ceiling fans.
Switch the rotation of your ceiling fan blades to clockwise if you haven’t yet.
Wipe down TV screens and computer screens.
Clean out your fireplace if you have one, or consider hiring someone to do a professional cleaning.
Wipe down the remote controls.
Wash blankets and throw pillows.

Fall cleaning checklist for outside the home

Clear out the gutters or hire a professional to clean them if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
Sweep or blow walkways clear of leaves and debris.
Clean all the windows.
Consider pressure washing the outside of your home if it looks grimey.
Trim back overhanging branches or hedges that have grown over the summer.
Put away summer furniture or kids’ toys.
Clean and disinfect garbage cans and recycling cans.
Check outdoor lighting fixtures and replace bulbs as needed.
Clean your chimney (or hire someone to do this for you.)
Rake up leaves and pine straw.
Power wash your walkways, porch, or driveway.
Cut the grass one last time.
Clean your grill and store it away if you don’t use it in winter.
Declutter your garage or any storage sheds you have on the property.

General fall cleaning list to-dos

Check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Test your carbon monoxide detectors if you have them.
Check fire extinguishers and refill or replace them as needed.
Wipe down walls.
Wipe down light switch plates in every room.
Replace your air filters and consider getting your HVAC system professionally serviced.
Wipe down doors and doorknobs.
Turn your ceiling fans so air circulates upward i fyou haven’t done that yet.
Check for air leaks around windows and doors and replace the weather stripping if necessary.
Launder or replace pets’ bedding.
Open the windows to air out your home.
Clean and declutter your car.

Fall Cleaning Checklist PDF

Need a simple way to keep track of your fall cleaning list?

This free downloadable fall cleaning schedule printable is just what you need!

Just click the image below to download your freebie. No email required!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we clean in fall?

That’s a great question! There are some good reasons why following a fall cleaning schedule is important.

For one thing, your house might be a junked-up mess if your kids have been home all summer. So a fall clean-up is a great time to clear out the clutter.

And for another, fall cleaning can help get your home clean and ready for the winter cold and flu season. A clean home could help you cut down on germs and stay healthy!

So how do you clean in the fall and get your home ready for autumn?

The answer is different for everyone but typically, it means doing things like:

Deep cleaning
Decluttering and getting rid of things you no longer want or need
Breaking out the fall decor and doing some seasonal decorating
Making sure that your home is safe and everything’s working properly

Fall is a great time to do these kinds of things if you want to keep your home well-maintained.

You might do regular spring cleaning but cleaning up in fall means your home will be cozy and comfortable once you’re stuck inside during the cooler months!

When should you start fall cleaning?

The best time to start fall cleaning is when you’re able to fit it into your schedule and you’re ready to start getting ready for cooler weather.

For example, you might decide to start your fall cleaning checklist:

Once your kids go back to school
On the first day of fall
Whenever the weather starts to turn from warm to cool where you live
When you start your fall bucket list

I like to start getting ready for fall around the end of August/first of September.

Even though I live at the beach, I much prefer the cooler weather to the hot. So getting my house clean, organized, and decorated for fall is always something I look forward to.

Fall starts in late September but you don’t have to wait until then to start cleaning and organizing. And if you’re closer to Halloween than September when you get started, don’t panic.

It doesn’t matter so much when you get started unless you live someplace where it snows in November. Then you’ll want to be the early bird.

Whenever you choose to start tackling your fall cleaning schedule, try to do it at the same time each year. This can make it easier to get into the fall cleaning habit.

What to do if you’re overwhelmed by fall cleaning?

This checklist is designed to give you some ideas on how to get your house clean and ready for fall.

But what do you do if you’re completely overwhelmed by the mess?

If the clutter in your home is more than you can deal with, then you may need more than just a simple checklist to get it together.

That’s where The Organized Home comes in. This genius course is a must-have for busy moms who want to get their home organized and keep it that way! And doesn’t that sound good?

The Organized Home could be just what you need if you:

Are tired of feeling overwhelmed by the mess in your home
Need help creating routines and systems to stay organized
Want to have calmer, stress-free days as a stay-at-home mom or working mom

It’s been a lifesaver for busy moms like me who want to get it all done but need a little help.

Tired of the Struggle?

The Organized Home can help! This course covers everything you need to know to get your house in order and stop stressing over the mess!

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Final Thoughts: Start Your Fall Cleaning Plan!

These tips are meant to guide you in getting your home clean and organized as summer winds down. This handy checklist is designed to help you enjoy the fall season with less stress. And don’t forget to share this post if you know another busy mom who might find it helpful!