7 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Autumn

7 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Autumn

Autumn brings us warm colours in nature and Halloween. It also brings us more time in the home huddled under blankets, getting out of the cold and rain.

With this time of year, you’ll want your home to be a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. We have all heard of spring cleaning, but sometimes, those big tasks we don’t do all the time actually can do with being done again before winter.

 

How to get your home feeling more autumnal

1. Deep clean

Did you know that carpets can hold up to four times their weight in dirt before they start to actually look dirty? Dead skin cells, mud from outside, and dust and other allergens can be tricky to remove with a vacuum alone. Use a carpet cleaner to get the dirt from summer out, when your windows were open, and you were going in and out of the garden.

Vacuum all surfaces (this is better than polishing with a cloth), including high up on shelves and in the corner of skirting boards. Move out all furniture when cleaning, and don’t forget to clean this too.

You may want to give your upholstery, such as cushion covers, sofas and curtains, a clean too. Pop them in the washing machine if they can be washed this way; if not, use the handheld attachment on a carpet cleaner, or take them to the dry cleaners.

 

2. Check gutters

We like to remind you about checking and repairing guttering as much as we can here at Speedy. A leaking gutter can not only be noisy, but it can also cause walls to become damp, resulting in damage to the structure of your house.

This could mean an expensive repair bill, so to avoid all of this, check them for blockages and leaks using a ladder or one-man Mi tower. Remember to always get someone to help when you’re working at height.

You want to look for:

• A build-up of fallen leaves and other debris
• Any holes or cracks
• Any weak attachments
• Any warps in the plastic
• Damage to your external walls

Clear out leaves and reattach any fixtures and weak brackets.

While you’re on the tower, also check for any missing roof tiles, and get them repaired or replaced immediately by a qualified roofer.

 

3. Add autumn accessories

Think candles, extra cushions, and warmer colour décor (such as vases which are mustard yellow, or cushions in burgundy). Don’t forget throws and blankets, which will help you keep warmer too.

There’s no need to repaint your living room walls (although if you want to, hiring a paint sprayer will get the job done much quicker), but changing up the style using accessories can help everything feel cosier.

• SPEEDY TOP TIP: Try changing your lightbulbs to warmer hues. A soft white will be 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin rated. Smart bulb colours can be changed to suit the season, too.

When choosing candles, opt for scents such as winterberry, ginger, cinnamon and pumpkin spice rather than clean linen and cotton, which are more spring vibes.

 

4. Keep everything warm

Central heating prices are at an all-time high, but unfortunately keeping the heating off in your home completely could mean mould, dampness and condensation thrive, so you do need to keep it on low every day for a little while at the very least.

If you don’t want to keep the heating on high enough to feel the benefit yourself, hire some heating options from Speedy. These can help you heat the body, not the home, and will help to keep energy bills lower.

• SPEEDY TOP TIP: Don’t forget to exclude draughts! Draught excluders for below the door and some draught-proof tape around windows and doors can help keep the heat in your home, and the wind outside

You may not have time this year, but for next year, have a look into loft insulation and any other aspects of your home which can be changed to keep heat in.

 

5. Get your boiler checked

Not as exciting as adding cushions and blankets, but even if you know you’re going to be using portable heaters for more targeted warmth, you still need to check your boiler is safe and can be used for hot water.

Boilers should be checked annually, to ensure they meet safety standards. You still need to put the central heating on occasionally too, so your home and walls are warm and prevent damp.

Always get a professional Gas Safe registered engineer to check your boiler.

 

6. Sort out storage

Everything will need attention here. Wardrobes can be rotated to make jumpers front and centre, and tool sheds or garages can be changed around to give easier access to anything stored for winter, such as heaters.

Pack anything away which won’t be needed in waterproof, dustproof and mould/bug-proof bags. Vacuum bags are a great idea here.

 

7. Check batteries and power banks

All this talk of potential power cuts during the cost of living crisis over winter has reinforced the idea that we take mains electricity for granted. In strong winds, power cables can come down too.

Do as much as you can by checking you have plenty of spare batteries for torches and backup power, candles if needed, and keep your power banks charged up so you can still power your mobile phone. This will all be needed throughout winter, so autumn is a really good time to act before it is too late.

If you need to power anything which you rely on, such as a workshop or home office, or live remotely where power cuts are a regular winter habit, take a look at the small generators that Speedy Services provide for hire, so you know what you need when you need it (although touch wood you won’t, of course).

 

 

READY FOR MORE HOME TIPS?

We have plenty of how-to guides and videos to help you get to grips with any tools or jobs you need to do over the autumn and winter months. Why not read how to get your garden ready for winter once you’ve sorted the house out?

Please visit our Skills and Projects page if you need some inspiration.

You’ll find all the power tools and hire equipment you need right here. Open a Speedy account online or instore for all your tool hire needs.

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