Do not let the bed bugs bite. Remember when your mother told you this and it was funny? Not anymore. Bed bugs are becoming increasingly familiar around cities that have never deal with them. In Midwest climate cities such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, or Peoria, Illinois, experts suggest taking care of tasks such as turning over mattresses and washing bedding, including comforters and blankets. Homeowners will find more cobwebs in homes in the fall also, because the spiders are coming in to get out of the cold. A good house cleaning will deter these winter visitors from setting up camp.
Also, get your carpets professionally cleaned – think of all the summer dirt, sand and grass clippings that have been walked in on the kids' tennies this summer. Professional housecleaning services suggest cleaning windows, inside and out, including in between the sills. Many new windows have UV filters and are not provided to be cleaned with glass cleaners. Instead, use some microfiber towels, which will be gentler on the glass. Other deep-cleaning ideas for the fall, but in preparation for winter, include cleaning your house from top to bottom, focusing on public rooms such as the living room, family room, entryway and guest bath. Get out the vacuum. Vacuum the drapes, window treatments, baseboards and in the corners. Move furniture, vacuum beneath and behind it. Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed.
Vacuum away the dust bunnies from the summer months as well as pet dander and hair. Having the house closed up for the winter months can cause the furnace to recycle unwanted nuisances. Before the chilly weather of fall begins, make sure your furnace is tuned up for the winter and change the filter. Homeowners with a fireplace should check the flue and have the fireplace cleaned if it is wood burning. This is not only a house cleaning tip, but for safety sake as well. Fall is also a good time to have your air ducts cleaned. One of the largest must-do tasks of the season is to clean your home's gutters. If you do not clean out your gutters, you run the risk of water building up in them during cold weather. When combined with falling leaves, this can cause ice damming, which can ruin a roof and wreak havoc on gutters.
In the Midwest, where rogue ice storms do occur, if the gutters have not been cleaned out in the fall, old man winter can rip them off a house very quickly. It's also a good idea to install gutter protectors that keep debris, like falling leaves, out of the gutters, he said. Another important cleaning tip that doubles as a safety tip is to clean the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds' nests. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use. Plugged dryer vents have started several house fires and caused carbon monoxide build-up in homes. Be sure to use a hot water heater blanket and insulate pipes. Check attic insulation and replace cracked windows.
The benefits of a thorough house cleaning prior to winter weather will reduce your efforts next spring and improve the overall health of your family. Not only that but if you perform many of these tips, it could save your life. It is important to use your time to prepare for winter house cleaning and benefit from energy saving maintenance ideas such as installing ceiling fans, which push warm air down, saving on heating bills. Hire a professional house cleaning service to get the tasks done before old man winter comes to visit for a long winter's nap.