Why Deep Cleaning Your Home This Fall Might Make It Messier During Winter

Spring cleaning — a deep home clean just after winter — has long been a popular tradition. More recently, doing a similar intensive fall cleaning has also become trendy. In many ways, it makes sense: As the days get both shorter and cooler, you start spending more time indoors, and it's totally understandable to want your home to feel cleaner and more comfortable as soon as possible. So why not roll up your sleeves and get it done in one big cleaning session? While that might sound all well and good, you might want to rethink that strategy before diving into a major fall cleaning spree.

That intense effort can quickly leave you feeling burned out both physically and mentally, making you less motivated to tidy up — such a slump could even continue into the months ahead. After all, it's only natural to want to put up your feet after such an effort and coast on your success for a while. You can put off the tough, often dirty work of cleaning again later, right? But rather than falling into that cycle, there's a smarter way to stay on top of things without wearing yourself out. 

Instead of doing a big fall clean, the better idea is to tackle small, intentional cleaning sessions throughout the season. With small cleaning spurts and knowing how to create an effective cleaning schedule, you can keep your home cleaner and less cluttered and ensure a more organized space into the new year. You'll find that regularly employing a few simple cleaning hacks to keep your home tidy will benefit your home far more than any deep clean.

By breaking your chores into manageable chunks — and sticking with them consistently — you can enjoy the look of a freshly deep-cleaned home without all the exhausting effort. A good way to begin is by tackling whatever needs the most TLC first — such as where the autumn leaves rush in and pile up whenever you open the front door. Then, to help maintain your momentum, download a cleaning app like Tody to schedule your to-do tasks and mark them off when completed.

Another way to get the most out of your cleaning efforts is to tackle the tasks that make the biggest impact first. Decluttering is one of those chores. Grab a box or basket, and pick up items from the area with the most clutter. You can either put them away or, if you don't need them anymore, donate them to someone who could use them. If you don't have enough time to put all the things you've picked up back in their rightful spots, leave them in the container to handle later. Vacuuming is also a big time saver. Run the vacuum over hard floors or carpets to remove dust, and use its attachments over surfaces like your coffee table or kitchen counter to pick up crumbs.

Finally, if you know how to best clean your kitchen, it can make a big difference. Try to clean up at least a little bit after every mealtime: Wash the dishes (or put them in the dishwasher), wipe the counters, and scrub the sink. If you have more time, clean other items, such as the stove or the floor. With the right strategies, you can simplify your fall cleaning so there's ample time to relax and enjoy the fall colors before winter arrives.