Autumn Clean Tasks & Tips

When summer turns to autumn, as the temperature drops and the days get shorter we’re reminded why we love our homes so much… nothing beats cosy nights in. Now’s the time to get your home, inside and outside, all spruced up ready for winter. Not sure where to start or what to tackle? We’ve shared some of our top tips that might come in handy.

1. Sort out the garden.

Before turning your attention to what’s happening inside your house, it’d be a good idea to get your outdoor spaces ready for winter. We all love the sight of an autumnal tree; it really is the epitome of this wonderful season. But we all know that the leaves scattered across the patio, deck and lawn need to be cleaned up after they’ve fallen especially in those corners where they tend to gather. To keep your garden looking neat and tidy, we recommend you use an outdoor broom to sweep up the dirt on your patio or deck and a dustpan & brush to collect it all up afterwards.  

What about those gutters and drains which haven’t been looked at since last year? Yes, we know it’s not the most appealing task; digging sludge, moss and leaves out while stood on a ladder, but it’s got to be done. No need to get your hands dirty though, we would recommend putting a pair of household gloves or disposable gloves on (whatever works best for you) so it’s a whole lot less unpleasant. Don’t let a bit of gutter sludge stop you ;)

2. Dust down the radiators.

Although it may be tough to admit after the sunny days, those radiators will need to be switched on sooner or later. ;) Radiators have quite a large surface area, meaning more room for dust and dirt to settle especially down the backs and in all the grooves. We would recommend using a damp microfibre to give the front the facelift it needs. Remember, just because the front facing now looks nice and clean it doesn’t mean the job’s done, the top and back of the radiators will also need some attention. With an all-purpose cloth wrapped around a ruler or a thin stick you will be able to get in all the hard to reach areas to lift all that dust and dirt. You’ll then be pleased to put on the heating even if it means the cold days have arrived.

3. Defrost the freezer.

It’s something you don’t get the chance to do very often and it’s just so easy to put off. If ice in your freezer is building up too much and you’ve noticed there is food in there which you completely forgot about, it’s probably time to defrost it. Turn it off, take everything out and sort through it choosing what stays and what goes, and then pack this into a cool box preferably with ice packs whilst you crack on with defrosting the freezer itself. We’d recommend waiting about 15 minutes for the ice to soften, bowls of hot water on the shelves inside can speed up the process. Sponge cloths are super absorbent and great to pop on the floor in front of the freezer to catch any drips or bits of loose ice and Thick Moppets are perfect for soaking up the water whilst the ice is melting. Give everything a wipe down with a microfibre cloth before plugging it back in and refilling. Your freezer will be just as ready for the cold months as you are.

4. Clean up the kitchen.

If there’s one thing we think is synonymous with autumn and winter, it is hearty comfort food made in kitchens up and down the country. Does your kitchen need a bit of a clean up after the summer? You’re not alone. Start with your sink and get it all shiny. We find Soap Pads are a fantastic tool to remove grime from stainless steel sinks plus any of that nasty build up around the plugholes, they are tough and filled with soap to cut through the dirt. Rinse it well and buff it up with our Microfibre Kitchen Kit to get it look shiny and new!

At the heart of every kitchen should be a clean oven. It’s really important to keep your oven in good condition and the longer you leave it between cleans, the harder it will be to get it looking good again. Arm yourself with a pack of Tough Scourers and a Brilliant Scourer and your favourite oven cleaner (we quite like using a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda). We’re not going to lie; to tackle this you might need some real willpower and elbow grease depending on how stubborn the dirt is! It’s worth investing the time to do it thoroughly as you’ll be left with an oven you’re proud of and that satisfying feeling you get after a job’s well done. Win, win situation we think. <3 

The kitchen is important and so is the rest of the house where you will be spending a large portion of your time over the next few months, especially the living room. We recommend you get yourself a bottle of your favourite cleaning solution, a roll of all-purpose cloths and a microfibre cloth and keep on top of any dirt and dust. Key things to check are door handles, skirting boards, flat surfaces, shelves, drawer fronts, light switches and in behind all those little nooks and crannies. You’d be surprised just how much of a difference it makes to do this for a few hours.

5. Master messy pets.

If you have a furry friend (around a quarter of the UK’s population have either a cat or a dog ;) ) you’re probably going to have to do a lot more cleaning during the colder seasons. With lower temperatures and rain, cats might be a bit less eager to be prowling around from fence to fence and dogs will spend less time in the garden and might come back from their evening walk with muddy paws or worse. This means, you guessed it, they’ll be indoors with you a lot more, and that’s lovely, but you’ll soon find you have pet hair and paw prints everywhere. We think it’s not always worth getting the vacuum out when you want to get rid of a bit of fur. Our Catch & Clean dustpan and broom is marvellous for sweeping pet hair off carpets or hard floors. If it’s on your clothes, bed or sofa, just use a lint roller to lift it off. As for the muddy floors on rainy days, a spray mop is fantastic for quick clean ups and spot cleaning, you’ll have it all sparkling again in just a few moments!

Autumn is a time of great change and a great opportunity to create a clean and orderly environment around you, whether it is cleanliness returned, decluttering or even doing a bit of redecorating. We hope you’ve found some of our tips helpful. If you try any out or if you’ve done anything different to get ready for Autumn that we haven’t mentioned here, we’d love to hear all about it. Share with us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. :)