The weather has begun to change here in the UK, and the colder, wetter months are well on their way.
As the season changes, it’s a great opportunity to prepare your home for what is to come, making it clean and cosy with some wintery touches.
Lisa Williams, Executive Housekeeper, at 5-star hotel The Grand, York, with over 20 years’ experience in the industry, reveals her three steps for getting your home winter-ready.
1. Deep clean
On top of the usual day-to-day cleaning tasks, it’s important to deep clean the home before the new season.
“Curtains and carpets should be thoroughly shampooed which will not only keep them smelling fresh but rid them of any leftover summer pollen, which could continue to irritate those with allergies into the winter,” Lisa explains.
Windows should also be washed so they can let in as much light as possible on gloomy winter days.
“For a homemade window cleaning solution, mix two litres of water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a bucket. Alternatively, you can also use vinegar and warm water and wipe across the window with a clean cloth.”
When it comes to keeping the home warm, there are two vital cleaning tasks which Lisa recommends:
“Those with fires should remove any debris from their fireplaces and chimneys before lighting the first fire of the season, to ensure that they are keeping themselves and their families safe from any fire hazards.
For central heating, thoroughly dusting radiators and removing any build-up will help them work more effectively and save on energy consumption. It’ll also make sure the home doesn’t develop a ‘burning dust’ smell which can happen when this task is skipped.”
2. Install winter essentials
The start of the season is also the perfect time to install winter essentials for the home.
“Putting down a tough doormat in the entranceway and placing a boot scrapper outside will make sure people don’t walk mud through the house and help to avoid extra cleaning,” Lisa explains.
“If you have a particular room that is prone to feeling cold and damp, investing in a dehumidifier is a fantastic option and can make a huge difference to the feel of the space. Keeping rooms draft-free can also help, so draft excluders for internal doors are a must.”
3. Finish with seasonal touches
The final step of preparing the home for winter is adding any seasonal touches. Change house plants and bouquets to winter foliage or seasonal varieties, light scented candles with warming, spiced, aromas for a cosy atmosphere and swap soft furnishings for seasonal colours and patterns, such as browns and oranges.
Lisa adds, “Whilst cleaning is important, it’s the seasonal touches that truly make your home feel ready for the colder months. These are of course influenced by personal taste and the décor style of a home, but the ultimate goal remains the same – to increase the cosiness of the space to contrast the harsh weather outside.”
