When the temperatures drop, we naturally hunker down indoors — but according to the American Lung Association, that also means more dust, germs, and indoor air pollutants settling in with us. Since you’re spending more time inside anyway, why not take the opportunity to freshen up your space? A deep clean now can make your home feel cozier while also cutting down on allergens and germs—especially important during flu season.
By focusing on a few key areas that often get overlooked, you can make a big difference in keeping your home healthier until spring arrives.
Clean the Entryway
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The entryway is the first point of the house you should tackle because so much collects there — salt, snow, and mud residue, anyone? If you keep the entryway clean, you can prevent people in your home from picking up any debris and trudging it through the house.
I like to keep a Swiffer mop in the closet nearest the door to quickly clean up any and all messes that may spread.
Dusting is a Must
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Dusting is one of my most dreaded chores, but I do it anyway because it helps get rid of the allergens in my home. Plus, dust has a way of making your home look grungy; it’s best to get rid of it as soon as it settles.
Unfortunately, that means since you’re inside more, there will be more to dust. Don’t worry; the warmer months will be here soon!
A study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that regular, thorough cleaning — including dusting — can help lower airborne dust levels. This can ease nasal congestion and other respiratory symptoms, especially in office environments where dust tends to accumulate.
But First … Declutter
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Too much clutter also makes dusting a bigger chore. If you’re constantly moving knickknacks, picture frames, and other objects just to wipe down a shelf or cabinet, you’re less likely to clean as often as you should. Simplifying your space makes dusting quicker and more effective, which helps improve indoor air quality and reduces allergens.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small—maybe a single drawer or one corner of a room. Set aside items to donate, recycle, or toss, and you’ll be surprised at how much fresher your home feels. And with fewer surfaces collecting dust, keeping things clean will be easier all year long.
Caring for Wood Floors
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During the winter months — especially if you live in an area like mine where snow and ice are a given — you track in a lot of dirt and debris. Making matters worse, some of it is slushy.
Grime will quickly dull your wooden floors, so make sure you clean them. Once a week should suffice unless you have a lot of traffic running through your home.
Don’t Forget Those Hidden Spots
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The saying “out of sight, out of mind” definitely applies here. It’s so easy to forget hidden spaces, like behind your TV or ceiling fan blades.
When you’re going through a room, make sure you look at every element; the windows, the doors, any shelves, or tables. They all need cleaning.
Deep Clean Your Furniture
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One of those areas many of us forget to clean? The furniture. When was the last time you cleaned your sofa or loveseat that wasn’t just brushing crumbs off of it?
Your sofa holds a lot of allergens, dust, and debris, especially if you have pets, so make sure cleaning it is a priority. Remove the cushions and vacuum inside. Wash the covers if they’re removable; otherwise, deep clean them with a steamer.
Install HEPA Air Filters
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When you change out the air filters in your HVAC, replace them with HEPA units. These trap those pesky allergens and debris, purifying your air. You should be replacing those filters at a minimum of twice a year.
Speaking of HEPA filters, they’re not just for your HVAC unit: they’re also for your vacuum. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they’re designed to capture at least 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns—things like dust, pollen, mold spores, and even bacteria. That 0.3-micron size is actually the trickiest for filters to trap, which means HEPA filters are even more effective at catching both larger and smaller particles.
In other words, if you’re looking to cut down on allergens and improve indoor air quality, a HEPA filter is one of the best tools you can use.
Deep Clean Carpets
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Carpets can hold some nasty stuff, including lots of dirt, grime, and dust. Add deep cleaning your carpets to your winter to-do list.
Don’t forget the area rugs while you’re at it. Those, too, can trap particles within their fibers and require cleaning from time to time, more often if they’re in high-traffic areas.
Wash Curtains
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This is one thing that many people don’t think of when it comes to cleaning, but your window dressings need to be taken down and washed regularly.
If you have blinds, make sure you dust each slat or, for quicker work, use your vacuum’s brush attachment to go over each of them.
Use Microfiber Cloths
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The last thing you want to do when you’re cleaning is spread dirt and grime elsewhere. Dust is particularly pesky because a slight disturbance in the air and you’re in the midst of a dust cloud.
Using microfiber cloths helps effectively trap the particles and keeps them from going airborne. As an added plus? They’re washable.
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