Fresh Season, Fresh Home: Your Fall Cleaning Reset

Fall is officially here—and after a long, hot summer, many of us are ready for the change.

There’s something about that first stretch of cooler weather that makes everything feel a little lighter. We can finally open the windows. Take a walk without melting. Pull out our favorite jeans. Rediscover the sweaters and boots we haven’t seen in months.
Fall feels like a reset. And there is excitement in the air.

Football weekends are back. Favorite shows return. The garden starts winding down. Soup sounds good again. And suddenly, those projects we absolutely were not doing when it was 90 degrees outside—or humid—don’t seem quite so bad.

So why not give the house a little fall reset, too? Not a massive, spend-your-whole-weekend-cleaning kind of reset. Just a few seasonal changes that help you say goodbye to summer and welcome everything you love about fall.

Open the Windows While You Still Can
One of the best parts of cooler weather is finally being able to turn off the air conditioning and let some fresh air in. And once the windows are open, you may notice what summer left behind—fingerprints, dust, pollen and grime. Fall is a great time to clean outside windows and patio doors before colder temperatures arrive. After all, January is probably not when you’re going to feel inspired to wash windows—Or maybe it is if you live in a warm climate.

Give the glass a good cleaning with JAWS Glass Cleaner, open those windows and enjoy the breeze while you can.

Hello Sweater Weather

The great seasonal closet swap has arrived. Out go the shorts, flip-flops and swimsuits. In come the jeans, sweaters, jackets and boots. 

Before packing summer clothes away, wash what needs washing, wipe down shelves and closet surfaces, and set aside anything you didn’t wear this year to donate. Give shoes and boots a little attention before putting them back into rotation, too. There’s something satisfying about opening the closet on that first truly chilly morning and actually being ready for it.

Bring Back the Blankets
Fall doesn’t just change what we wear. It changes how our homes feel. Swap out light summer bedding for warmer comforters. Throws start appearing on the sofa again. Extra blankets come out of storage. Give blankets, throws and pillow covers a wash before settling in for the season. While you’re at it, wipe down nightstands, lamps, headboards and other surfaces that may have collected a little dust over the summer. Then bring on the cozy.

The Band Is Marching; the Cheerleaders Are Cheering...
...and football is back. (Go Lions! … Or your favorite team.) Baseball is heading toward the postseason. Hockey season is getting underway. College stadiums are packed again. And whether you’re watching from the couch, the patio or the neighborhood sports bar, fall brings plenty of reasons to gather around a screen.

Not a sports fan? Maybe your favorite series is waiting for you. Time to settle in for another episode of Ransom Canyon—or whatever show has you saying, “Just one more episode.”

But first, turn off the TV and take a look at the screen. See all that dust and fingerprints? Give TVs, tablets, phones and other compatible coated-glass screens a gentle cleaning with JAWS Glass Cleaner. Then grab the blanket, find the remote and settle in.

Fall Cooking Just Hits Different
Apparently 60 degrees is all it takes to make us want chili again. After months of grilling, salads and trying not to heat up the kitchen, suddenly we’re thinking about soup, casseroles, apple crisp, pumpkin bread and Sunday dinners. 

Before fall cooking kicks into high gear, give the kitchen a quick reset. Wipe down countertops, cabinet fronts, backsplashes and appliance exteriors. Clean out the refrigerator and get rid of anything that has been hiding in there since summer. JAWS Kitchen Cleaner can help tackle everyday grease, food messes and grime so the kitchen is ready when the urge to bake something with cinnamon strikes.

And If Your Garden Had a Good Year...
Tomatoes, peppers, herbs and other late-summer favorites may still be coming in, which means kitchens can suddenly become canning, freezing and food-prep central. Before you get started, clear and clean your prep surfaces and make some room in the refrigerator or freezer. No garden? No problem. It's still Farmer's Market season.
Then enjoy one of the best parts of gardening: putting a little bit of summer away to enjoy later.

Game Day Means Cleanup Day
Chips. Dips. Wings. Chili. And that one person who will inevitably spill something.
Whether you’re tailgating at the stadium, watching outside or hosting everyone in the family room, a little prep makes game day easier.

Clean coolers before packing them. Wipe down outdoor tables and chairs. Give kitchen counters and gathering spaces a quick once-over before everyone arrives.

Afterward, tackle spills and food messes before they become tomorrow’s problem. JAWS Multi-Purpose Cleaner is handy for quick cleanup on compatible hard surfaces wherever the game-day action happens. The cleanup may not be as exciting as a last-second touchdown, but at least it doesn’t need to go into overtime.

Give the Patio a Proper Send-Off
We spent months enjoying our patios, decks and backyards, and then one day we look outside and realize winter is coming.

Before storing outdoor furniture, give tables, chairs and other pieces a good cleaning so you aren’t packing away an entire summer’s worth of dust and grime. Wash cushions according to their care instructions and make sure everything is completely dry before storing them. Clean up the grill, empty planters that are finished for the season and put away outdoor accessories you won’t need until spring.

Future-you will be very happy when patio season returns.

Put the Lawn Tools to Bed
The lawn mower has worked hard. The garden tools have done their job. The hose has probably been dragged across the yard approximately 400 times. They deserve a little fall reset, too. Brush or wipe dirt and grass from lawn and garden tools before storing them. Organize rakes, shovels and gardening supplies, and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for winterizing powered equipment. 

There’s something strangely satisfying about ending the season with a garage full of clean, organized tools. At least until someone dumps something in front of them.

Speaking of the Garage...
There is a very small window each year when cleaning the garage actually sounds reasonable. This is it. It’s not blazing hot anymore. It’s not freezing yet. It's perfect. 

Put away summer gear, organize sports equipment, clear out gardening supplies and make room for the things you’ll need as the weather changes. Wipe down shelving, workbenches and other hard surfaces while you’re at it. Even an hour spent getting things back in order can make a huge difference. Your December self will be grateful.

Take Care of the Little Fall Things
Some fall jobs aren’t especially exciting, but they’re worth putting on the list. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries when needed. Change your HVAC filter according to your system’s recommendations. Look over weather stripping around doors and windows. And make sure gutters and outdoor areas are ready for falling leaves and colder weather. They’re small tasks, but taking care of them now can make winter a little easier.

Reset Your Home. Reset Your Routine.
Maybe that’s why fall feels so good. After the heat and busyness of summer, we’re ready for something different. Cool mornings. Open windows. Favorite sweaters. Football weekends. Marching bands. Warm blankets. Fall recipes. Time with friends. More time at home. And maybe even a little more energy to tackle the things we’ve been putting off.

A fall reset doesn’t mean everything has to be perfectly clean and organized. It’s simply a chance to change gears, put summer away and get your home ready for the season ahead.
So, clean the windows. Pull out the sweaters. Wash the blankets. Put away patio furniture. Make the chili. Then sit down, turn on the game or favorite romcom and enjoy fall.

Fresh season. Fresh home. Rethink the way you clean with JAWS.