Spring gets most of the attention when it comes to cleaning. But, fall has a pretty good case for its own reset.

We're about to close the windows, pull out the blankets, spend more time on the sofa, and start using the oven for something besides storing baking sheets. Before we settle in, there are a few jobs worth knocking off the list.

1. Wash the Blankets Before They Hit the Sofa

The return of blanket season is one of fall's finer developments. But, if your favorite throws have spent the summer folded in a closet or stuffed into a basket, give them a wash in your favorite scent before putting them back into circulation.

Check the care labels first, especially for wool and other fabrics that may need special treatment.

This is also a good time to wash heavier bedding, duvet covers, and removable pillow covers that are coming back for the season.

2. Give the Windows One Last Good Cleaning

We're about to get less daylight, so we might as well make the most of what we've got.

Clean the inside of the glass, then tackle the sills and tracks where the dirt has been collecting all summer long. If the weather cooperates, this is also a good opportunity to wash the outside of any windows you can safely reach.

Then, when you’re staring through them at 4:30 in the afternoon wondering where the sun went, at least the view will be clean.

3. Clean the Oven Before Holiday Cooking Begins

Nobody wants to remember the oven needs cleaning when there's already a pie waiting to go in.

Fall gives us a nice little window of opportunity before the holiday cooking gets serious. Remove the racks, clear away any crumbs and spills, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning your particular oven.

While you’re in the neighborhood, wipe down the stovetop and range hood, too.

4. Get the Entryway Ready for Wet Weather

The entryway is about to start working overtime. Sandals and beach bags will make way for coats, umbrellas, boots, and all the wet leaves determined to come inside with us.

Wash or vacuum the doormat, clean the floor underneath it, and clear enough space for the things you’ll use during colder weather.

A boot tray isn't a bad addition, either, especially if muddy shoes tend to wander farther into the house than you’d like.

5. Make a Couple of Your Own Cleaners

You may already have the makings of a few simple cleaners in the kitchen. For an everyday vinegar spray, combine:

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 cup water

Pour everything into a spray bottle and use it on suitable washable surfaces.

For something with a fresher scent, you can fill a jar about halfway with citrus peels, then cover them completely with white vinegar. Seal the jar and let it sit for about two weeks. Then, strain out the peels, and combine equal parts of the citrus-infused vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

Just remember that vinegar isn't an all-purpose solution for every surface. Its acidity can damage materials like natural stone, so keep it away from marble and granite.

For jobs that need a little scrubbing power, you can also make a simple baking soda paste with:

• 1/2 cup baking soda

• Enough water to form a paste

Apply it where appropriate, scrub gently, and rinse away the residue.

6. Vacuum the Places We're About to Live On

The sofa is about to become prime real estate again. Remove the cushions and vacuum underneath them, then get into the seams where crumbs, hair, and everything else have been quietly gathering.

It's worth moving the sofa and favorite chairs, if possible, to clean underneath them, too.

We're going to be spending plenty of evenings curled up in these spots. We might as well start the season clean.

7. Give the Kitchen a Fall Reset

Fall has a way of sending us back into the kitchen. Before soup, baking, and holiday-food season gets underway, take a look through the fridge, freezer, and pantry.

Get rid of anything that’s expired, wipe down the shelves, and take stock of any ingredients that have been hanging around longer than you can remember.

Then, you’ll have room for the cans of pumpkin, bags of flour, soup ingredients, and whatever else inevitably follows you home from the grocery store.

Then We Can Settle In

Fall cleaning doesn't need to become spring cleaning with pumpkins. A few jobs now can get the parts of the house we'll use the most ready for the months ahead.

Then, make something warm, and claim your spot on the freshly cleaned sofa with fresh-smelling blankets. 

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