11 Seasonal Change Cleaning Tasks Everyone Should Do At The End Of Summer

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As summer comes to a close and cosy fall weather is right around the corner, there are a few seasonal change cleaning tasks everyone should do to get ready. Each of these easy, mostly DIY tasks doesn't take more than an hour or two, tops, to finish up — with some that can be done in as little as 15 minutes. They'll set your home and yard up for success, so you aren't dealing with pest infestations throughout the winter or stinky clothes in the spring. 

While some of the chores can be done a few times a year, including the end of summer, most are them are specific to this change in season. Armed with the below checklist, you can lock in on what needs to be done around the house just before school starts and the nights get longer, and knock it all out during just one very productive weekend. 

After months in the sun and heavy use, outdoor furniture and cushions often end the summer looking a little worse for wear. Plenty of grime can build up on their surfaces, especially after long exposure to heat and humidity. If left uncleaned, this grime can lead to permanent stains and plenty of stink — and might even result in you having to replace your items well before their time. Cleaning everything now helps prevent damage and makes next spring's setup a lot easier.

To start, machine-washable cushion covers can usually go in a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Air drying them will typically help maintain their shape. For cushions without removable covers, use a bucket of warm, soapy water and a soft brush to scrub away dirt and surface stains. Let them dry fully in the sun to discourage mildew. Once clean, you can then stack and store cushions in a weatherproof bin or storage bench, like the TARKARI 90 Gallon Lockable Resin Deck Box with Wheels. Plastic or metal furniture can be wiped down with a wet cloth and a bit of dish soap, then rinsed clean with a hose. Wooden furniture needs a little more care: Use a special cleaner, like Behr All-In-One Wood and Deck Cleaner, and a soft brush to remove buildup, and follow up with a wood conditioner or oil if needed.

Hopefully, you had a busy summer with lots of grilling. Depending on your region, you might get to keep the patio BBQ party going throughout the fall. But for most in the north, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of cookout season. Before storing your grill, you need to winterize it. "Grease hardens as it ages, becoming almost wax-like, so cleaning the thing now will be easier than in the spring," Grill Expert Tim Heffernan told The New York Times. "It also means you won't begin the next season with a filthy, possibly rancid grill to deal with, because as your grill sits unused, food bits and grease left on the grill will go bad and possibly attract vermin." To avoid this, deep clean your grill at the end of each summer.

Before you roll up your cuffs, here are some crucial mistakes to avoid while cleaning your grill. First, you'll need to use a brush free from metal bristles to avoid the injuries that can occur if they get ingested when left behind. You'll also want to avoid using a harsh scouring pad on any enamelled grates. Something like the Scrub Daddy Grill Brush or the Meker Grill Brush should get the job done. Remove any burners, grease trays, or grates and give them a good wash with a gentle dish soap, or a specialty product like Weber Grill Grate Cleaner. Remove any carbonized grease with your grill brush from the interior of the lid. At the end, you can clean the outside of the grill with a microfiber cleaning cloth and mild soap, rinse the cloth and give the exterior a final wipe. 

If you're leaving your grill outdoors over the winter, protecting it with a grill cover is never a bad idea. If you have a propane grill, and are bringing it indoors at the end of summer, make sure you disconnect the tank and store that outside. Indoor storage is one of the common mistakes you should be avoiding with propane tanks at home.

If you've been running your A/C all summer, the filters are likely full of fine dust and allergens, and it's time to swap them out. AC and HVAC filters should be cleaned every few months (the exact frequency depends on how much the unit is being used and the manufacturer/installer guidelines). But as summer is the time of year when this home system tends to work the hardest, it's definitely the season when you can't forget to complete this cleaning task. For HVAC units, cleaning the vents at the end of summer will ensure the system is ready to run efficiently and pump clean air during the fall and winter. Clean vents mean better airflow and less likelihood of cold spots.

Start turning off the system and locating the main intake vent. If you have a permanent filter, you can start by vacuuming or dusting off the large chunks, then wash it with soap and water to remove the finer dust. Let the filter fully dry before reinstalling it, to avoid mold. If you have a disposable filter, you can throw away your old one and swap it out. Be sure to measure the exact dimensions you need before going to the store so you don't get caught out. You can also nab them online, like the Filterbuy Air Filter MERV 8, which comes in a pack of four to make this seasonal chore easier. After cleaning the intake vent, remember to clean out the air vents in each room, as the high use of the system during summer likely means there is dust and pollen buildup there, too.

By the end of summer, your window screens and the outside of the glass are likely coated in a layer of grime with a sprinkling of dead bugs (and tiny spots of bug poo) to boot. Plus, warm weather can also mean open windows, which is great for airflow but also allows more debris to settle on screens and sills. If you don't clean them now, that buildup can trap allergens and make your windows look dull and streaky. Plus, in most climates, it's far more enjoyable to tackle the job on a balmy late summer's day than a chilly winter one.

Start by removing the screens and gently vacuuming or brushing off loose debris. Most screens should have tabs that you can use to easily pop them out. Then, rinse them with a garden hose, and use a soft brush and a bucket of warm, soapy water to scrub both sides. Let the screens air dry completely before reinstalling them. For windows, you can mix water with a small amount of dish soap or white vinegar, and wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or sponge, or use a specific cleaner, like Windex Outdoor Window and Glass Cleaner. A squeegee helps reduce streaks on larger panes, like the DSV Standard Window Squeegee. On the interior, pay attention to the sills and tracks, which can collect a lot of dirt. For these, use a handheld vacuum or an old toothbrush to loosen grime before wiping clean.

Summer typically comes with extra bugs and dust, and things like mud and even grass clippings tracking all through your house. Your door frames, thresholds, and baseboards see more traffic and grime this season than almost any other, and all that gunk tends to gather in corners where it often goes unnoticed. If you don't deep clean these areas at the end of summer, you risk letting the buildup settle into your home just as cooler weather starts locking everything in. Not only can this make your space feel dingy, but it can also contribute to poor indoor air quality and allergens lingering through the fall.

To clean, if the grime isn't caked on, you can do a first pass with a duster. Try one with a longer handle, like the Swiffer Duster Heavy Duty. Its handle is 3 feet long, so you won't have to bend down or kneel to get to your baseboards. For thresholds, you can just use a regular broom to sweep everything right outside. If the grime really is stuck on, however, you'll likely need something a bit more aggressive. In this case, try a degreaser like Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner. Spray it on, leave for a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth, paper towel, etc. This option requires a bit more elbow grease, but it should loosen caked-on residue films and leave your baseboards and threshold areas gleaming. One word of caution: Whenever using a strong degreasing product, it's always wise to test it out on the surface in an inconspicuous area. In the case of Krud Kutter, avoid aggressive scrubbing with the product, as this could damage painted or varnished surfaces. 

After a summer of high use, it's time to powerwash your outdoor living areas — including your deck, patio, and driveway. You'll need to rid them of grime, oil and food stains, animal waste, etc. While power washing can definitely be a spring task, one perk of doing it at the end of summer instead is that it can help freshen up your home's exterior during the upcoming holiday season. Winter is so cold and dark, and it can make everything around your house look pretty dull, too. A clean, power-washed space can bring a welcome sense of brightness and order, softening the drab, bare look that often comes with winter.

Since it's a seasonal chore, you might not want to buy a power washer to get the job done. If you don't have a friend to borrow one from, a power washer is one of the things you probably never knew you could rent from Lowe's. Most are rented out for a minimum of four hours, but you can pay more if you anticipate needing it longer. Remember, there are always precautions to take when pressure washing your house, such as reading the full manual of the machine and wearing protection like long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and safety glasses. To avoid damage, make sure you are using the appropriate pressure level and nozzle distance for the surface, exercise care when pressure washing wood, and avoid things like windows. 

Over time, mattresses collect a lot of dust and dead skin cells. If you don't pay attention to how often you should clean your mattress, it can begin to smell from this buildup. As you transition from light summer sheets to heavier fall bedding, it's the perfect time to give your mattress some attention. Unless you have the A/C blasting every night, summer is the season when mattresses are typically exposed to more sweat, which makes freshening them up pre-fall a must. Plus, rotating your mattress also helps it wear more evenly, reducing the chances of sagging or lumps that can lead to back pain. While plenty of modern mattresses only have one "right side up," you can still rotate them to alternate the pressure points. Skipping this step season after season can shorten the lifespan of your mattress and make your bed less supportive over time.

Start by stripping off all bedding and giving your mattress a thorough vacuuming. Use the upholstery attachment and especially focus on the seams where debris has a tendency to get stuck. You can also sprinkle a bit of baking soda over its surface and let it sit before vacuuming to help neutralize odors. If your mattress allows for flipping (check your manufacturer's tag), turn it over completely. If it's a one-sided mattress, rotate it 180 degrees instead so the head becomes the foot. Now, it's ready for a whole new season!

A change in weather likely means a change in what you're eating. It's time to swap from fresh salads to hearty soups, instead. To usher in this change and the different ingredients you'll need, take the time to empty your fridge and pantry at the end of the summer. This way, the carrots that have been in the crisper drawer since May can be thrown out, and you can check for expired cans in the pantry.

The ultimate guide to deep cleaning your fridge is simple: You need to start by taking everything out. Check for expired food, dispose of it, and then clean the appliance itself. You can use something gentle like a mild dish soap, or mix roughly one cup of warm water with two tablespoons of baking soda to create an alkaline cleaning mixture. To make things easier on yourself, take out any removable shelves and drawers. By scrubbing them off in the sink, or bathtub if you need more space, you'll have an easier time getting into all the nooks and crannies. For the pantry, vacuuming the empty shelves before wiping them down is a great way to remove any stray crumbs that could attract pests during the winter. Try using a crevice tool to get into tight corners, like the one from the Buysk Vacuum Attachments Accessories set.

After running almost non-stop during the hot summer months, standing fans are likely filled with a lot of dust. Before you pack them away for the year, now is the ideal time to rid them of sticky dust buildup. At the same time, your space heaters have been tucked away and unused for months, so they may have also been quietly collecting some of their own. Cleaning both at the end of summer is a smart, seasonal transition move. Fans can't work efficiently when clogged with buildup, and that gunk gets blown into the air every time you turn them on. Space heaters pose an even bigger risk: Dust in and around the heating element can ignite. This leads to a burning, stinky smell or, in the worst-case scenario, a fire hazard.

To clean your standing fans, unplug them and carefully remove any front grilles or covers that are designed to come off. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down each blade, and a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust from harder-to-reach areas. If you've got a leaf blower on hand, you can take the fan outside and use it to blast out dust from the motor housing and other crevices. For space heaters, make sure they're unplugged, wipe down all exterior surfaces, and vacuum the vents and grills. You can also try compressed air, like the Innovera Compressed Air Duster, to clean the vents and intake areas, but be careful not to dislodge anything. For both fans and heaters alike, always check the manufacturer's care instructions before opening anything up.

Swapping out summer clothes for fall and winter gear is the perfect opportunity to give your closets a proper refresh. If you don't clean your closets, all the summer grime can stay trapped in your space, and you miss a chance to take stock of what you actually wear. Left unchecked, closet buildup can attract pests like silverfish or moths, which love dark, dusty places (and can do real damage to fabrics). Instead, try a few simple tips and tricks that will banish musty closet smells and keep your space cleaner overall.

Start by removing everything from the closet: Clothes, shoes, accessories, and storage containers. This is your chance to go all out on Marie Kondo's KonMari organizing method. Vacuum the closet floor thoroughly, especially along the baseboards and in corners, where dirt likes to hide. If your closet has shelving, wipe it down with a damp cloth. As you put items back, take a few moments to assess what you actually wore this summer. Set aside anything that doesn't fit or hasn't been used, and consider donating those pieces to free up space. When you bring in your fall and winter clothing, store summer items in sealed bins or vacuum bags, like the Hibag Vacuum Storage Bags, to keep them clean and compact. Add cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or humidity absorbers like the Vacplus Moisture Absorbers to help keep the closet fresh and prevent mildew or pests.

Before the first chilly night of fall arrives, it's important to prep your fireplace so it's ready to rock. During the summer, animals like birds or squirrels may have taken shelter in your chimney. Leaves or soot can also build up without you realizing it. Lighting a fire without checking for these hazards can result in accidentally killing an animal, or even a dangerous chimney fire. If you rely on your fireplace for warmth or ambiance during the colder months, an end-of-summer check ensures everything is in working order before you strike that first match.

Start by scheduling a professional chimney sweep if you haven't done so in the past year. Certified technicians can inspect for things that aren't always visible. If you use a gas fireplace, have a technician check the gas line, pilot light, and thermocouple. For wood-burning fireplaces, remove leftover ash and sweep out the firebox with a sturdy broom and clean any blowers. Check the damper to make sure it opens and closes properly, and shine a flashlight up the flue to look for any visible obstructions. You can also install a chimney cap like the Single Flue Bolt-On Chimney Cap if you don't already have one, which helps keep out animals going forward.