Keep Clutter and Pests at Bay Before Winter
When cooler breezes start to infiltrate Nashville and it seems everyone is sipping pumpkin spice lattes, the arrival of fall has many people looking to hunker down and get warm. Unfortunately, many pests feel that way as well.
While it may seem like you barely just got done with spring cleaning, you can’t neglect the next most important cleaning: fall cleaning. You may dread this chore, but it’s important not to neglect it so as to ensure your Nashville home is in good condition and it’s safe from pests.
Declutter in Fall
Clutter in your home, garage and around your property is unsafe and unappealing. But in addition to being unsightly, clutter can encourage pests to find shelter and food in your home. Approach fall cleaning as a precursor to the holiday season. You need to make sure your home is clean for guests on Thanksgiving as well as uninviting to critters that shouldn’t be inside your house.
The better cleaning you do now, the less work you will be faced with to prepare for guests. Once you have decluttered and weather-proofed the house, you will need to dust, vacuum and sanitize. Here are some tips for fall cleaning.
Indoors
1. Closets and cabinets: Just like with spring cleaning, you should go through your closets and cabinets in fall. Take a look at your summer clothes and determine what should stay and what should go. If you haven’t worn it in a full year, donate, sell or toss it.
2. Service the furnace and chimney: Before you turn the furnace back on for heat this fall, have it serviced and inspected, which will include cleaning the unit and replacing the furnace filters. If you like to have a lot of fires, have the chimney and flue professionally cleaned.
3. Wash windows, panels and fixtures: After having the windows open all summer, your windows, sills and fixtures likely have a thick layer of dust and grime on them. Remove all that dust in these areas as well as the tops of your fan blades.
Using a window cleaner and bucket of warm, soapy water, wash these surfaces:
- Windows and sills
- Wooden baseboards and hardwood floors (only use a wood floor cleaner)
- Walls, especially in kitchen and bathrooms
- Tile floors
At the same time, wash your window treatments, rugs, carpets and upholstered furniture.
Fall Pest Prevention
Fall is a popular time of year for pests, whereby insects, rodents and other critters start looking for a hideout for the winter months. Heed these tips to discourage them from getting in.
- Seal cracks around windows, doors and baseboards: Seal these areas with caulk, as they are common entry points for pests.
- Check for leaks: Leaks lead to dampness, which will attract termites, so make sure all leaks are repaired this fall.
- Caulk cracks near kitchen and bath fixtures: Because pests need moisture to survive, protect your kitchen and bathrooms.
Throughout fall, be sure to sweep and vacuum regularly. Keep food in sealed containers so pests don’t have a food source.
Manna Cleaning Services Nashville, TN
Manna Cleaning Services offer fall cleaning services in Nashville TN. Let us get your home sparkling clean before the arrival of winter. Just call us today at 615-596-3134 for a free quote.
