Fall(?) Cleaning in Calgary

It's Calgary in the middle of the Fall - that means snow, temperatures that whip up and down like a yo-yo, and the looming threat of Winter that will come soon but who-knows-when. Calgarians have it tough when it comes to cleaning and winterizing our homes - it's easy to do things too early or too late.

For me, the outside of the house is already winterized - meaning that the garden has been harvested (the last of the tomatoes went into this tomato ginger soup some of you might recognize from our Meatless Monday posts) and all the pots and equipment has been washed and stacked. But what can I do inside to clean and prep for winter? Here are five ideas that you might not have gotten to yet!

1 Reorganize Storage: This is a great time to reorganize storage space. You can switch out summer clothing for winter clothing, and while you're at it declutter these spaces. Charities and thrift stores will be looking for donations around this time to prepare for the holidays, so you can donate clothing, appliances, and so on that you no longer need.
2 Check the Windows: Having clean windows before the winter's gloom sets in feels good, and it gives you a chance to check for any worn-out weather stripping or caulking that might need replacement!
3 Give the Furnace Some Love: If you haven't already, it's a good time to make sure your furnace is running well. Changing air filters is an important step, but you might also need an air duct cleaning. It's also a good time to install a carbon monoxide detector if you don't have one already.
4 Clear out the Fireplace: If you happen to have a fireplace in your house, it's important to make sure it's clean and operating smoothly before you use it in winter. If you have a fireplace you never use, it might still need to be checked as it can be a big source of cold air leaks.
5 Shut Off Outdoor Water: It's important to shut off outside water and drain the pipe before you get really cold days that might burst the pipes.
Bonus: Organize Food Stores. This is a good time to take stock of what's in the freezer, your dry food, and so on. In my house, this is when we always make sure that all our grains/flours/etc. are in sealing containers because we've had issues with mice in the past. You might not have the same issue, but it's good to know what you have before going into holiday season.

Hopefully you found this helpful information! If you have some recommendations of your own, share them with our community on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Happy... Fall, I guess?