In a world of viral cleaning hacks and extensive cleaning routines, you may be left feeling like you're fighting an uphill battle when it comes to getting everything done. But what if there were some cleaning tasks you could skip in November?
As we head into the festive season, taking time to deep-clean guest bedrooms or scrub your oven will simply be a job you have to repeat next month, when regularly cooking, hosting guests, and entertaining – whether for seasonal parties or just for yourself.
So, I spoke to professional cleaners for their cleaning tips on which cleaning tasks you can skip this month. After all, if the pros agree, there's no reason not to!
10 cleaning tasks you can skip in November
To set the record straight, these are not the cleaning tasks that are a waste of time. They are all important and need doing at some point, but you can usually put them off if you are swamped with other chores or responsibilities.
Here's why you can get away with procrastinating.
1. Cleaning your gutters
When is the best time to clean gutters? Well, not yet, says Alessandro Gazzo, a professional cleaner at Emily's Maids. As clogged gutters are more of an issue in the fall if they're not causing any trouble right now, Gazzo recommends waiting until spring to clean them, especially if they have been cleaned recently.
He says, 'I recommend skipping cleaning gutters unless they are overflowing or causing drainage issues.
If you want to know how to prevent gutters from clogging in general, we recommend investing in a gutter guard, such as the bestselling A-M Gutter Guard available at Amazon, which effectively stops leaves from causing clogs, and is pest, rust, and weather-resistant.
2. Deep-cleaning the garage
You might be looking to organize a garage with too much stuff or wondering the best way to clean garage floors, but deep-cleaning your garage is a cleaning task experts recommend you skip this month.
Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless says, 'Fall is not the ideal time for a garage-deep clean, especially if it's going to be used for storage over winter.'
This is because Toner advises that you will likely need to reorganize it or clean it again in spring, when the weather allows for a more thorough clean out. Therefore, it's best left until then, provided you can access any festive storage solutions you may be using in there.
3. Dusting baseboards
While you're probably eager to learn tricks to prevent dust, as we head into the festive season, you probably have more pressing cleaning tasks to get done first.
Forrest Webber, cleaning expert at Bear Brothers Cleaning says, 'They'll be fine if you ignore them for a while. Most people don't walk into a room and immediately drop to their knees to check out your baseboards. Let them gather a little dust this month – you have more important things to do, like making sure the rest of the house isn't a total disaster.'
If your baseboards are in desperate need of a clean, try using the Damp Duster (Scrub Daddy Damp Duster available at Amazon) or make a homemade cleaning spray to stop dust build-up for good.
4. Decluttering closets
While you might think that now is the perfect time to harness some closet decluttering tips and reset your wardrobe for winter, Logan Taylor, professional cleaner and president of Dazzle urges you to think again.
He says, 'If your closets aren't overflowing, decluttering can wait. Focus on areas of the home that are more visible and actively used, and schedule closet organization for another time when it's more necessary.'
Therefore, it's a better use of your time to determine items to get rid of in your living room or use a kitchen decluttering checklist, for example.
Logan adds, 'If you do have the time, you can also use this opportunity to assess your winter wardrobe and donate any items you won't be wearing. This will save you time and energy in the long run.'
When you get around to addressing your closet, invest in some dual hangers for a quick space-saving closet technique that fits more in even the smallest of closet
Keeping expensive and seasonal clothing that needs hanging in clothes storage bags will keep everything neat, safe, and reduce visual overstimulation when getting ready for the day. It is one of the best ways to aesthetically organize a closet, too
It is always worth investing in good seasonal storage ideas. Vacuum storage bags are the best for this, as they can then be kept in under-bed storage ideas out of the way until next season
5. Deep-cleaning guest rooms
If you're not expecting guests until later in the season, cleaning expert Karina Toner recommends putting your guest bedroom ideas and cleaning schedule on hold.
She says, 'If no one will be using the guest room this month, there’s no need to deep-clean it. Save the effort for December, closer to when guests are likely to arrive.'
This means that you won't have to re-clean the room again before guests arrive, when dust and dirt will inevitably have settled. Instead, wait until then, and follow the golden rules for a clutter-free guest bedroom for a welcoming, relaxing space that your guests will love.
6. Organizing the pantry
With such a wealth of pantry organization ideas and pantry trends to try out in your own home, cleaning expert Webber recommends waiting to get started.
He says, 'You can leave that cluttered can collection alone for now – unless the pantry is in danger of becoming a landslide, it's probably fine as it is. Besides, once you start stockpiling holiday snacks, you'll need to reorganize it anyway.'
Wait until your seasonal shopping for Thanksgiving and Christmas is done, before taking everything out and organizing it so everything is both neat and accessible.
There are loads of pantry organizing tricks to try out when the time is right, like using a Lazy Susan such as the Set of 4, 10 Inch Non-Skid Lazy Susan Organizers available at Amazon, or shelf risers such as the SONGMICS Cabinet Organizer Shelf also available at Amazon.
7. Cleaning behind appliances
When it comes to your regular kitchen cleaning routine, cleaning expert Logan Taylor suggests that cleaning behind your appliances is a cleaning task you can skip this month.
He says, 'As I can see, pulling out heavy kitchen appliances like your refrigerator or oven for a deep clean is a task you can skip unless you've had a major spill. Since this area typically doesn't get seen, it's more effective to tackle it during your next big seasonal clean rather than wasting time doing it monthly.'
You should, however, take the time to clean stainless steel appliances by wiping the front and side regularly, says Taylor. We tried polishing stainless steel with olive oil and it genuinely worked, and is super easy to do, too, with just a bottle of olive oil such as the bestselling Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil available at Walmart.
8. Deep cleaning outdoor furniture
While it gets used almost daily in summer, for cookouts, relaxing, and entertaining, your best outdoor furniture will likely sit under cover for all of winter, so cleaning expert Forrest Webber recommends delaying cleaning until spring.
He says, 'If winter is coming, let's be real – no one is sitting outside on that patio furniture this month. Don't bother deep-cleaning it. Cover it up, say goodbye until spring, and save that scrubbing energy for when you can actually use it again.'
Before warmer weather arrives, our guide to how to clean outdoor furniture can set you in good stead for perfecting your patio when the time comes.
9. Washing outdoor windows
Knowing how to clean a window is valuable, but cleaning expert Karina Toner says, 'As fall progresses, outdoor windows can get dirty from rain and debris. Skip washing them for now, as they're likely to get dirty again quickly.'
Instead, wait until leaves cease falling, and for any winter storms to blow over to avoid repeating your efforts. In the meantime, I use this dish soap solution for streak-free windows on the inside of my home, and all it needs is dish soap (I recommend using Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Dishwashing Liquid available at Walmart) and cleaning with vinegar.
An essential for any cleaning cabinet, white vinegar helps to break down grease and dirt on windows without the need to scrub with harsh abrasives.
10. Cleaning the oven
How often should you clean your oven? While regular maintenance is required to keep it sanitized, cleaning expert Forrest Webber suggests waiting until later in the season before giving any oven cleaning hacks a go.
He says, 'Unless you had a serious pie mishap, leave the oven alone. With all the upcoming holiday baking, you'll only be getting it dirty again anyway.
'Skip the hassle now, and give it a proper deep clean once the baking marathon ends. For now, just embrace the crumbs – proof of your culinary genius.'
Then, before tackling your Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, or simply before hosting if you don't celebrate these holidays, you can learn how to clean an oven without using harmful chemicals.
FAQs
What house cleaning should be done monthly?
So, you know which tasks you can skip, but what about those that always need doing?
Never neglect washing your bedding, if you're wondering how often you should change your bedsheets, cleaning your bathroom and sanitizing surfaces in the kitchen.
Luckily, it's possible to clean a bathroom in 30 minutes or less, so there's really no excuse not to get the job done.
If you're struggling with motivation to tackle cleaning tasks, why not try employing yourself?
It sounds bizarre, we know, but I employed myself to clean for a day, and it boosted both my productivity and mood – and you get to decide your hourly wage!
