Now that it’s officially fall, it’s time to get your Austin clean home ready to go for this season and the upcoming winter months! While It’s Cleaning Time can help you with your recurring housekeeping needs, such as eliminating dust and disinfecting kitchen and bathroom surfaces, there are a few important seasonal tasks that you’ll have to look into yourself, such as these:
Clean and change bedding – Washing quilts and comforters can sometimes be a pain, and they certainly don’t need to be cleaned as often as sheets and blankets, but they do need to be washed occasionally. Fall is the perfect time to take care of that chore, especially if you plan to switch from lighter, more summery bedding to thicker, cozier bedclothes for the colder months.
Test home safety devices – October is National Fire Prevention Month, so it’s naturally a good time to change the batteries in all the smoke detectors in your home and then test the devices to make sure they’re working properly. Do the same for your home’s carbon monoxide detectors. If you have a home security system, it’s a good idea to test it as well this time of year. If you check out all your home safety devices at once, you don’t have to worry about forgetting any of them.
Furnace and boiler inspection – Make sure to get your home’s furnace and/or boiler inspected before the cold weather rolls in and you really need the heat in your home! Clean or change your furnace filter. Then hire a professional to come out and give your systems a good check. Be certain they take a look at your heating ductwork too. Not only does getting your heating system inspected ensure you’ll stay nice and toasty this winter, it will help you save money on energy costs and be better for the environment!
Fireplace, wood stove, and chimney inspection – If your home has a fireplace or wood stove, it’s essential that you examine them and your chimney on a regular basis, even if you only use them occasionally. Make sure your chimney isn’t blocked by birds’ nests or other debris (installing a flue cap can help prevent blockages), and make sure your damper is moving smoothly. Inspect your fireplace and chimney for damage, keeping a special lookout for broken bricks or stones and loose joints. If you can’t get up on the roof, you can check out the outside of the chimney with binoculars. Be certain that your chimney is free of creosote, a highly flammable substance that builds up each time you burn a fire. Any deposits that are 1/8 of an inch or thicker are dangerous. You should always get your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep, and he or she can help with your inspection if you’re unsure of what to look for.
Find and block drafts – What good is a clean ATX home if it’s a cold home? Feel around the edges of your windows and doors to find any spots that are letting in drafts. Carrying a lit candle can help with this – hold the candle near the possible opening, and if the flame flickers, you’ve probably got a draft. If necessary, replace or repair seals and caulking around your windows and doors. There are a number of products you can buy to reduce drafts as well, such as heavy-duty curtains, insulating plastic, and stuffed tubes of fabric that can be placed at the bases of doors.
If you’re worried about the build-up of dust and pet hair in your home during the winter, or you’re wondering how you’ll keep up with household cleaning chores during this busy time of year, don’t hesitate to give It’s Cleaning Time a call! We can change your life for the better!
