As the days become shorter and winter approaches, you'll be spending more time at home, making a fall/winter cleaning even more important. After all, who wants to breathe the dust and filth that has accumulated in your home over the summer's open-window days? Especially during the Covid-19 period.

Indoor air quality can be five times more contaminated than outdoor air, according to the EPA. So, here's a checklist to help you breathe easier in your house this winter. You can do this winter cleaning checklist alone or hire some help from a local company like Commercial Cleaners in Midlands. They can assist you with as many or as few of the products as you desire.

● Garbage cans and wastebaskets

They should be washed and disinfected. Because you'll be cooped up for the entire winter with these germ trappers, now is a good time to clean them completely. Take them outside and use a garden hose to blast the insides, then apply disinfectant.

Using undiluted hydrogen peroxide or vinegar mixed 50/50 with water is an environmentally friendly solution to sanitize these awful dirt catchers. Regular bleach (one part bleach to six parts water) is a powerful disinfectant, but we prefer environmentally friendly alternatives. Allow an hour for the garbage cans to sit, then empty them and scrub the insides with a firm bristle brush to remove any residue. Rinse the wastebasket and, if possible, dry it in full sunshine to help eradicate odors.

● Toilet Brush Holders

They should be cleaned and disinfected. Yes, it seems nasty, but this is probably the dirtiest spot in your house, so cleaning it thoroughly is a good idea. Take the holder and brush outside and thoroughly clean them with a garden hose.

● Furniture

Vacuum the bottoms of the furniture and turn it over. You may move furniture around from time to time to clean the floor, but there's another side to the story: the bottom of the furniture. Tilt upholstered chairs and couches back to expose the bottoms (far more comfortable with two people).

Dust bunnies can get caught in the dust covers tucked behind furniture, so vacuum them and be cautious not to press too hard on the fabric to harm it.

● Artwork, doors, etc.

Wipe the tops of the doors, the trim, and the artwork. Tables and countertops aren't the only horizontal surfaces in the home. Almost everything in your house, except Rover's tennis ball, has a flat surface where dust and filth can collect and go unseen. Interior doors, trim, including baseboards and chair rails, artwork, and mirrors should all have their flat-top edges cleaned. Don't forget about electrical wall plates, smoke detectors, CO detectors, and thermostats that are located on the wall, upper kitchen cupboards, light bulbs and light fixtures, computer monitors, and, last but not least, your books on the shelves.

● Refrigerator

Vacuum the area behind the refrigerator
Your refrigerator's coils should be cleaned regularly to keep it running efficiently. Clean the coils by brushing or vacuuming them, as well as any debris and dust on the floor. Make sure your freezer vents are clear as well. Freezers circulate air to prevent frost, but putting objects in front of the tiny gill-like vents within your freezer prevents them from doing their job. If your refrigerator's condenser coils are on the bottom, you'll need to clean them from the front.

● Prepare Your Front Door for the Winter

Make your entryway a dirt guardian to keep the slush, mud, and germs out this winter.

● Wash your windows

According to some estimations, filthy window glass reduces daylight by 20%. That's a lot less light coming in at a time when you need it to help you get over the winter blues. Use a homemade non-toxic solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to 2 cups water to clean and polish windows both inside and out, then wipe clean and polish with microfiber towels.

● Fans

Make sure the ceiling fan blades are clean.
Your ceiling fan's large blades are fantastic at moving air, but when they're not in use, they're gigantic dust magnets, collecting dust on the top surfaces where you can't see them. Maybe out of the picture, but not out of mind. Filters in the furnace should be changed regularly. This is a no-brainer, which is why it's at the bottom of the list.

But if you don't change your filters at least once every 60 days (more if you have allergies), everything else you do could be for naught. The effectiveness of air filters is measured. The better the filter is at removing dirt, mold spores, and pet dander, the higher the grade. It's worth noting that some filters with very high ratings can block airflow, causing your HVAC system to work so hard that it heats and cools inefficiently.