No one wants the summer to end, but alas, it must. While you are heading off to the last of those things here is what you can start to work on. With winter coming, it makes sense to tuck the family into a freshly-cleaned home via fall cleaning.

Outside Cleaning:

• Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, children’s summer toys.
• Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
• Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
• Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.

In Door Cleaning:

• Focus on public rooms: living room, family room, entryway, guest bath.
• Clean from top to bottom. Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.
• Wash interior windows.
• Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
• Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters. Tuck the family into a warm and cozy winter