Whether you dread the winter months with a burning passion or dance in the streets waiting for the snow to arrive, one thing is for sure: We can’t avoid it! For many of us, the colder weather comes unexpectedly, leaving us ill-prepared for dark nights, extreme weather, and the holiday season. This year, why not beat the chill and prepare your home for the winter instead?
To help you out, we’ve compiled a comprehensive winter cleaning checklist to get you through the next few months. Before we know it, spring will be here once again!
Here’s Our Must-Have Winter Cleaning Checklist
1. Store Summer Clothes Properly
Most people would usually rush to take out the winter home decor the second it starts getting cold. But before you start setting up your Christmas tree, take the time to give a proper goodbye to the summer season—and by that, we mean by storing your summer clothes with kindness.
When done correctly, you can save a lot of time and money when summer comes back around. No clothes wasted and no irreversible damage. Sounds good, right?
Check out the list below for a few of our best storage tips:
Sort your summer clothes into different categories for easy access in the future, such as: t-shirts, shorts, dresses, bathing suits, and sandals. You can even have a “donate” pile to get rid of unnecessary garments.
Check your clothes for any stains before storing them. Make sure that everything has been cleaned thoroughly to reduce the chances of your clothes attracting unwanted bugs.
Organize your clothes according to their category. Use high-quality hangers, storage bags, and plastic containers in order to minimize breakage.
2. Clean Winter Boots and Shoes
If you’re digging out your old-faithful boots and shoes from last year’s winter season, chances are they could use some TLC. Why not do a quick cleaning session to get them looking their best? Don’t forget there are many different ways you can clean your winter shoes depending on their material.
Here’s how to remove dirt from your leather shoes:
Create a mixture of water, vinegar, and tea tree oil.
Put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the shoes.
Afterward, use a clean washcloth to remove the solution and leave it to air-dry.
For suede and faux-suede shoes, follow these steps:
Wipe or brush off any dirt, mud, or soil with a brush.
Spray a solution filled with water and white vinegar.
Use a brush or a clean washcloth to remove any remaining residue.
3. Wash Winter Coats and Sweaters
Similar to shoes, your winter coats also need to be washed differently depending on what they’re made of. If your favorite outerwear is a wool coat, consider taking it to a reputable dry cleaning service.
If you’d rather machine-wash them at home, take a look at the following cleaning tips:
Brush away any dirt and pre-treat any stains.
Choose the gentle cycle and cold temperature options on your washer.
Put your coat in a laundry mesh bag before you start the machine.
Air-dry once done.
Got a down coat? Here’s how you can clean it properly in time for the winter season:
Pre-treat any stains before loading them into the washer.
Add detergent that is specially formulated for down coats.
After washing, machine-dry the coats on low heat.
Before it fully becomes dry, remove it from the machine and let it air-dry.
If you want to learn more about washing your winter coats, check out this handy blog for more information.
4. Clean Washer and Dryer
If it’s been a while since you deep-cleaned your washer and dryer, then the new season as an opportunity to give it a refresh.
Follow these quick tips for cleaning your washing machine:
Clean out the detergent drawer with a damp cloth.
Remove any residue or build-up from the filter.
Sanitize the inside of the machine by using bleach.
Wipe off any dust, dirt, and detergent spills from the exterior of the machine.
Need a more detailed guide on how to wash your machine effectively? This blog may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Follow these steps to get your dryer looking good as new:
Clean out the dryer vent by removing any pieces of lint.
Wipe the machine interior with a washcloth a soapy water.
Sanitize the outer part of your dryer.
When you’re ready to use the dryer again, make sure there isn’t any soapy residue left.
5. Bring Out the Cold Season Scents
I’m sure we can all agree the holiday season isn’t complete without our favorite Christmas and fall scents, so why not finish off your winter cleaning list with a home odor boost?
These are just some of the most popular winter fragrances you could try out:
Pumpkin spice
Apple cinnamon
Winter Pine
Sandalwood
Brown sugar vanilla
Peppermint
TOP TIP: Try adding a few drops of your chosen essential oil into the washer drum to spruce up your laundry. You can also purchase Christmas-themed laundry detergents to instantly put you in the holiday mood!
6. Prepare for Holiday Party Stains
We always want to believe THIS will be the year we’ll have absolutely zero party stains. But be honest with yourself—holiday stains are unavoidable no matter what kind of party you’re hosting!
Before you go into full-on party-planning mode, make sure you have the right materials so you can easily and quickly treat stains as and when they appear:
White vinegar (for chocolate, wine, punch, and coffee stains)
Dull knife or any item with a flat edge (for removing excess candle wax and chocolate bits)
Club soda or hydrogen peroxide (for red wine, caramel, and candy stains)
Washcloth or microfiber cloth
Fabric stain remover
Laundry detergent
TOP TIP: Remember: The longer you let a stain sit on your garment, the harder it will be to get it out. Having these materials ready to go will definitely save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Need some extra support with your winter laundry? Believe it or not, you can get professional help in your local neighborhood from people who know exactly what they’re doing—even if you don’t! Googling “laundry near me” always does the trick and can save you so much time in the long run.
If you’re lucky enough to live in Denver, Thornton, Federal Heights, Westminster, or Broomfield, we’d love to see you at WaveMAX Thornton. To give you the most convenient laundry solution, we offer both self-service, pick-up, and drop-off options, so come on down and see how we can help you.
