Focus fall cleaning on air quality and high-traffic areas: replace the furnace filter, dust vents and ceiling fans, wash bedding and curtains, deep clean the kitchen before holiday cooking, and set up entryways for wet, muddy St. Louis winters.
St. Louis falls are short. One week it is still 80 degrees and the next you are scraping the windshield. Getting the house ready in October and early November means less dust when the heat comes on and a home that is ready for Thanksgiving and holiday guests.
1. Heating and air quality
- Replace the furnace filter before you turn the heat on for the first time.
- Vacuum and wipe down floor vents and return grilles.
- Dust ceiling fan blades, then switch fans to clockwise to push warm air down.
- Dust baseboards and radiator or baseboard heaters, which collect a lot of dust in older St. Louis homes.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.
2. Kitchen before holiday cooking
- Clean inside the oven before you are cooking a turkey in it.
- Clear out the fridge and freezer to make room for holiday food.
- Degrease the range hood and filter.
- Wipe cabinet fronts and handles, which pick up grease all year.
- Run a cleaning cycle on the dishwasher and clean the filter.
Hosting this year? Book a deep clean before the holidays and spend your time on the guests, not the grout.
Book a holiday deep clean3. Bedrooms and guest rooms
- Swap summer bedding for flannel sheets and heavier blankets, and wash everything first.
- Wash or vacuum curtains and wipe blinds.
- Flip or rotate mattresses and vacuum them.
- Clear and dust the guest room so it is ready on short notice.
4. Entryways and mudrooms
- Put down a washable mat inside and a scraper mat outside each door.
- Set up a boot tray and a spot for wet coats.
- Deep clean entry floors and wipe door frames before salt and slush season.
5. Windows and natural light
- Clean the inside of windows and sills to get the most out of shorter days.
- Vacuum window tracks, which collect summer dust and bugs.
- Remove and store window screens if you can.
6. Basement and storage
- Sweep and dust the basement, where many St. Louis homes keep the furnace and laundry.
- Check for damp spots and run a dehumidifier if needed.
- Rotate seasonal storage and donate what you did not use this year.
What to hand off to a professional
The jobs most people put off are the detail tasks: baseboards, vents, fans, grout and the inside of the oven. That is exactly what a deep clean covers. Many St. Louis families book one deep clean in the fall, then move to a bi-weekly or monthly schedule through the holidays so the house stays guest-ready without the stress.