This winter cleaning checklist is meant to be worked through once, in late autumn, before the house is closed up for the cold months. After that, a few weekly basics keep it in shape until spring. Damp, heating and draughts are covered separately in our guide to preparing your home for winter; this post is only about the cleaning.
Do one room at a time, top to bottom, so dust from high shelves lands on floors you have not done yet. If you would rather not do the weekly part yourself, regular domestic cleaning can take it over, on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
Whole house
Start with the jobs that run through every room:
- High dusting: curtain rails, pelmets, the tops of wardrobes and kitchen units, light fittings and lampshades.
- Skirting boards and internal doors: wipe the boards, the door frames, the top edges of doors and around handles.
- Radiators: dust between the fins and wipe the panels while they are cold.
- Behind and under furniture: move sofas, beds and chests of drawers to vacuum what has gathered beneath them since spring.
- Windows: wash the inside of the glass and wipe the frames to let in as much of the short daylight as possible.
Kitchen
The kitchen works hardest in winter, with more cooking and more people at home.
- Empty the fridge and freezer, throw out anything past its date, and wash the shelves, drawers and door seals before you restock.
- Wipe cupboard fronts and handles, paying attention to the doors nearest the hob.
- Clean the hob and soak or wash the extractor filter.
- Clear out one cupboard at a time and wipe the shelves inside.
- Wash the bins, inside and out, and the area of floor they stand on.
Bathroom
- Descale taps, the shower head and the shower screen.
- Clean the extractor fan cover; a dusty fan clears less steam.
- Check the sealant around the bath, basin and shower tray for mould spots and clean them off. If they keep coming back, the cause is usually damp, which the preparation guide deals with.
- Wash the bath mat and shower curtain, or replace them if they are past saving.
Living room and bedrooms
- Vacuum sofas and armchairs, including under the cushions, and wash any removable covers that need it.
- Take curtains down to wash, or vacuum them where they hang.
- Swap summer bedding for winter weight, and wash the summer duvet before it goes away.
- Go through wardrobes: pack away summer clothes and bring the coats and jumpers forward.
- Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly, edges included. If they need more than that, professional carpet cleaning lifts what vacuuming leaves behind.
Hallway
The hallway takes the brunt of the weather from November to March.
- Clear out coats, bags and shoes that are not used in winter, so the ones that are have room to dry.
- Wash or shake out the doormat, or replace it if it no longer holds the dirt.
- Wipe the front door, the letterbox and the light switches.
- Wash the floor, and plan to do it again after every run of wet days.
Easy to forget
These jobs rarely make it onto a weekly list, so tick them off while the checklist is out:
- the washing machine drawer and the rubber seal around the door;
- the dishwasher filter;
- the top of the cooker hood and the wall cupboards;
- the backs of the TV and other electronics, and the cables behind them;
- the inside of lampshades and the bulbs;
- the light switches and door handles in every room.
Keeping it up over winter
Once the list is done, these weekly jobs stop the house slipping back:
- Vacuum the hallway and any rooms with an outside door.
- Wipe kitchen worktops, the hob and cupboard handles.
- Clean the bathroom, including the screen and taps.
- Change bedding and towels.
- Dust radiators and the window sills.
If you are moving out of a rented home over the winter, the cleaning involved is a different job, with its own checklist; see end of tenancy cleaning. And if the house has got beyond a weekend’s work, a one-off deep clean is a sensible starting point before regular visits take over.
Help with the list
If you would rather hand the list over, call 01483 773531 and tell us which rooms you would like done and how often, or get in touch through our contact page.