Tag Archive for: autumn cleaning

Why a Clean Home in Autumn Makes Life Easier

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Autumn brings changes to our home routines. As evenings grow darker and wetter weather sets in, we tend to spend more time inside.

A clean home during this season can truly make a difference.

At Merry Maids, our expert cleaning service keeps your home clean, cosy, and season-ready, so you don’t have to spend your evenings or weekends on housework.

We Help Keep Autumn Dirt Under Control

Autumn often brings muddy shoes, wet coats, paw prints, and more dirt tracked through the front door.

These daily marks can quickly accumulate, especially in busy hallways, kitchens, and living spaces.

Our professional cleaning teams regularly maintain these frequently used areas, preventing autumn dirt from becoming a major weekend cleaning task.

You Can Come Home to a Clean Space

As days grow shorter, you’ll likely spend more time at home.

Returning to spotless floors, organised surfaces, and a clean bathroom lets you enjoy your space immediately instead of worrying about cleaning.

Our teams handle the regular chores, helping you keep your home tidy during autumn and freeing up more time for yourself.

We Give You More Time Back

Autumn weekends tend to fill up quickly as school routines resume, work becomes busier, and plans for Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Christmas start filling the calendar.

Cleaning can easily consume several hours of your remaining free time.

By letting Merry Maids handle your regular cleaning, you can use that time for other activities.

Whether it’s spending time with family, going out for the day, enjoying a peaceful afternoon, or just relaxing at home without the stress of cleaning tasks.

Regular Cleaning Helps You Stay Ahead

Maintaining a clean home is simpler when you do daily chores regularly.

Our expert cleaning service prevents dust, dirt, and clutter from accumulating between deep cleans.

Instead of waiting until a full refresh is necessary, we support ongoing upkeep week by week.

This is especially helpful as autumn approaches and the holiday season gets busy.

We Clean Around Your Home and Routine

Every home is unique. Some families have children coming and going, while others have pets, busy work schedules, or frequent visitors.

Our cleaning service can be customised to suit your home’s specific needs, so we can prioritise the areas that matter most to you.

This means you receive professional cleaning that adapts to your household’s rhythm, rather than forcing you into a fixed routine.

Why Choose Merry Maids This Autumn?

Our professional cleaning gives you more than a clean home.

With Merry Maids, you get:

  • Professional cleaning from trained and insured teams
  • A service tailored to your home
  • Regular help keeping everyday cleaning under control
  • The reassurance of the Merry Maids guarantee
  • More time away from housework
  • A clean home to enjoy as you spend more time indoors

As autumn arrives, your free time becomes precious. We would rather you spent it enjoying your home than cleaning it.

Enjoy a Clean Home in Autumn With Merry Maids

A clean home in autumn can make the darker, rainier months feel much more manageable.

Our professional cleaning teams can handle the housework, keep high-traffic areas in check, and free up more time for you to enjoy the season.

Let us manage the cleaning so you can focus on what matters.

Find your nearest Merry Maids business | Book a cleaning online or call 0800 021 3072 to find out how we can help.

Do You Really Need an Autumn Deep Clean?

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As summer concludes and routines shift, you might notice areas of your home that have been neglected. Open windows, busy weekends, visitors, and more time outdoors can leave their mark.

So, is an autumn deep clean necessary?

For many homes, the answer is yes, but it doesn’t mean cleaning every cupboard and corner. An autumn deep clean focuses on giving extra attention to the parts of your home that endured the most during summer, preparing them before you spend more time inside.

What Is an Autumn Deep Clean?

An autumn deep clean extends beyond your usual weekly tidy-up.

While regular cleaning involves daily tasks like vacuuming, dusting, wiping surfaces, and cleaning bathrooms, a seasonal deep clean targets areas often overlooked during weekly chores.

This could include:

  • Cleaning underneath and behind furniture
  • Wiping skirting boards and doors
  • Cleaning kitchen cupboard fronts
  • Refreshing soft furnishings
  • Cleaning window frames and sills
  • Giving bathrooms extra attention
  • Tackling dirt in high-traffic areas

The aim is to reset your home rather than completely overhaul it.

Why Is Autumn a Good Time for a Deep Clean?

Autumn brings a shift in our home routines.

In summer, doors and windows are often open, allowing easy access for outdoor activities, visitors, and holiday visits from children.

This can lead to unseen dust and dirt accumulating in hidden areas. With the cooler weather, people tend to spend more time indoors.

Taking time for a thorough autumn clean lets you tackle summer dust and dirt buildup before seasonal routines set in.

What Should You Include in an Autumn Deep Clean?

You do not need to clean everything at once. Focus on the areas that will make the biggest difference to your home.

Floors and Entrances

Hallways and entrances get a lot of activity during summer.

Vacuum carpets thoroughly, mop hard floors, and clean around skirting boards. It’s also a good opportunity to shake out or wash entrance mats before the wetter autumn weather sets in.

Kitchens

Summer entertaining can often leave kitchens in need of extra clean-up. Wipe down cupboard fronts, worktops, splashbacks, and frequently touched handles.

Don’t forget to check the fridge for leftover food and clean shelves and drawers.

You might also want to clean around appliances, which are often overlooked during routine cleaning.

Living Rooms

Living areas tend to be more active during summer breaks and school holidays.

Vacuum under cushions and furniture when possible. Dust off shelves, lamps, and less visible surfaces, then refresh washable throws or cushion covers following their care instructions.

Bathrooms

Regular bathroom cleaning keeps visible surfaces clean, but autumn is a great time to do a more thorough job.

Focus on tiles, taps, shower screens, mirrors, and areas prone to buildup of everyday residues.

Windows and Sills

Over time, open windows can accumulate dust and outdoor debris around frames and sills.

Cleaning these spots can brighten and freshen up rooms, especially as daylight hours decrease.

Do You Need to Deep Clean Every Room?

No. A practical autumn deep clean should mirror how you’ve used your home.

If you were outdoors most of summer, focus on entrances and floors. If you hosted guests frequently, prioritise kitchens, bathrooms, and guest areas.

Instead of a long checklist, identify the spaces that are more challenging to clean than they were at summer’s start. Begin with those.

What Is the Difference Between Regular Cleaning and a Deep Clean?

Regular cleaning keeps your home tidy weekly, while deep cleaning targets stubborn dirt and buildup that regular cleaning might miss.

Using both methods together is most effective. Regular cleaning helps prevent daily messes from piling up, and a seasonal deep clean ensures neglected areas receive extra care.

For many households, this combined approach is more manageable than waiting for rare, extensive cleaning sessions to restore order.

How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Home?

No one-size-fits-all cleaning schedule exists for every household.

Homes with children, pets, or frequent visitors may need more regular deep cleaning, while quieter households may need it less often.

Seasonal changes serve as helpful reminders to assess your home and identify areas that need attention. Autumn is especially ideal, coming after busy summers and before the months when many of us stay indoors more.

When Should You Call in Professional Cleaners?

Sometimes, the hardest part is identifying what needs cleaning. Finding the time is another challenge.

If your autumn deep clean keeps slipping down your to-do list, professional cleaning services can help you restore your home to a manageable state.

Merry Maids offers both one-time and regular cleaning options tailored to your household needs. Our trained teams handle the housework, providing you with a clean, comfortable home without taking up your evenings or weekends.

Do You Really Need an Autumn Deep Clean?

If your home feels more demanding to maintain after summer, an autumn deep clean can be beneficial.

You don’t have to do everything; instead, prioritise the most-used areas, address tasks your regular routine overlooks, and consider where hiring professionals could save you time.

A seasonal reset now can simplify keeping your home clean as autumn begins.

Find your nearest Merry Maids business | Book a clean online or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an autumn deep clean necessary?

Not every home needs a full deep clean. However, autumn is a useful time to tackle areas that have accumulated dirt, dust or clutter during summer.

What should I clean during an autumn deep clean?

Focus on floors, entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, skirting boards and soft furnishings. Prioritise the parts of your home you use most.

Is autumn or spring better for deep cleaning?

Both can be useful. Spring cleaning often follows winter, while an autumn deep clean helps reset the home after summer and before you spend more time indoors.

Can professional cleaners do an autumn deep clean?

Professional home cleaning can help with a seasonal reset and save you the time of doing everything yourself.

Merry Maids’ top tips for a spooktacular Halloween party

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How to make sure your Halloween party is scarily good.

Halloween is coming.

It’s the perfect holiday for people who love sweets and chocolate, dressing up, and being a big kid.

Whether you’re planning a ghostly gathering for kids or grown-ups, some Halloween essentials can’t be missed.

Here are our tips on preparing the perfect Halloween monster bash.

  1. Make it age-appropriate

No matter your guest demographic, ensure it is appropriate for the age of your guests.

For example, some scarier decorations might be too intense for young kids.

If your guests are all adults, you’re probably safe to go all out with the fright factor, but the last thing you want from a fun kid’s party is to upset them!

  1. Avoid hard-to-clean substances

In our experience, some spooky substances are an absolute monster to remove from surfaces and furnishings.

While they are essentials for many, substances like fake blood, silly string, and the makeup from Halloween costume sets can easily stain carpets, curtains, and upholstery and are notoriously difficult to remove.

If any spillages or issues with these substances occur, your local ServiceMaster Clean technicians will remove them in a flash with their specialist expertise and high-quality equipment.

  1. Set the scene with some monstrous media

Prepare for your guests and set the mood for a fun and festive time with a combo of themed media.

Make a playlist of your favourite songs to get you in the spooky spirit.

Some hits like Thriller and the Monster Mash will surely get guests feeling Halloween-y.

And if you don’t have time to make your own, check out our Halloween playlist that’s sure to have your party jumping with fright.

You could also play classic Halloween films in the background for extra ambience.

For horror fans, you could play one of the many Halloween or Scream films, Friday the 13th or The Exorcist.

For a less frightening time, try some appropriate films for a younger audience, like The Corpse Bride, Wendall and Wilde, The Addams Family, or Beetlejuice.

  1. Plan ahead

Your gathering doesn’t need to be a massive expense.

Throwing a memorable, sustainable, but inexpensive party merely requires a little forward-thinking.

The only strangers turning up on your doorstep should be trick-or-treaters.

Establish a “ghouls list” and get an exact headcount for the evening by specifying whether or not people should bring plus 1s.

When you invite your guests, set an RSVP date.

If you host guests often, you can also use decorations that can be used more than once.

You can source a lot of cheap and inexpensive decorations from discount stores.

Halloween is meant to be scary, but one thing you shouldn’t be afraid of is asking for help.

Ask your guests to help out by bringing beverages or their favourite (possibly themed) dish.

This might save you valuable prep time ahead of your party.

You can also plan fun activities like games or a prize for the best costume.

  1. Clear away the cobwebs

While giant spider webs are appropriate for Halloween, you don’t want to invite guests into a dusty or untidy home.

Ensure your home is party-ready by enlisting the help of your local Merry Maids.

As experts in cleaning for over 60 years, we’ll help ensure your home is so clean it’s almost scary!

Contact Us

To see how we can help you maintain a clean and tidy home, find your nearest Merry Maids business for a free, no-obligation quotation on a range of bespoke, one-off or regular cleaning services.

Cleaning up muddy and wet mess in your home

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Here in Britain, we see a lot of rain throughout the year. In fact, on average, it rains on 156 days of the year! Well, this kind of weather can also bring a muddy mess into your home.

If you’re facing water stains on your wood floor from a wet umbrella or a trail of soggy paw prints across your living room carpet from your four-legged family member, the cleaning experts at Merry Maids can help. Below, we share our tips for removing water and muddy stains from carpet, clothes, and wood floors.

Erasing water stains from wood floors

When you can’t mop up water or other spills from wood floors right away, you may see a white ring or watermark left behind. Don’t panic! Try this trick to get rid of water stains on wood floors.

  • Pour mineral oil onto a soft cloth

  • Rub the mineral oil into the water stain and let it sit several hours or overnight

  • If the stain remains, rub mineral spirits into the stain using a soft cloth (Always make sure you’re wearing gloves as this is a chemical)

  • If the stain still persists, try applying a coat of furniture polish in a colour that matches your wood floor

For deeper, more set-in stains, you may want to call in a professional, like Furniture Medic, to restore your wood floors.

Cleaning our muddy carpets

Dry dirt is a problem on its own, but adding water to the mix makes it more difficult to clean. The liquid component in mud helps it settle deeper into carpet fibres, and the organic matter in soil means mud needs to be treated like a protein stain (eg. blood, sweat, etc.). What does that mean? Most importantly – no heat!

To clean mud from your carpet, follow these steps:

  • Let the mud dry, don’t try to clean it up while still wet, or you may end up pushing it further into the fibres

  • Once it’s dry, vacuum up as much of the dried mud as possible and make several slow passes with the vacuum, more than you would normally do.

  • When you’re satisfied you’ve vacuumed up as much as you can, add a teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent to one cup of cool or lukewarm (not hot!) water, and use a clean white rag or cloth to blot the mixture onto the stain

  • Continue to blot to remove excess moisture while keeping an eye on the cloth to see that the stain is coming up. Switch to a clean rag or paper towels as necessary

  • Once the mud is gone, blot with clean water to remove any leftover residue.

You can use these steps to remove mud stains from upholstery, as well. Just be sure to minimise the amount of water you use, since moisture can sink further into upholstery, get trapped, and cause mould or mildew issues.

For professional carpet cleaning and more information head to ServiceMaster Clean

Removing muddy marks from clothing

Mud stains on clothing may combine with sweat or other proteins, making them even more persistent than when found on the carpet

  • Begin by removing any solid matter with the dull edge of a knife or spoon
  • Be careful not to rub, as this can push stains further into the fibres and make it harder to remove
  • Rinse the stain under cold running water, preferably from the opposite side of the fabric to help loosen the mud from the fibres
  • If you can’t wash it right away, soak the garment in cold water until you can
  • Wash in cold water using a detergent, and before putting the garment in the dryer, check to make sure the stain is gone

Don’t forget: Heat will set the stain if it’s not completely removed.

  • If the stain persists or has changed colour, use an oxygen-based stain treatment and soak the garment, then wash again
  • Once you’re sure you’ve gotten out the stain, dry the clothing as usual

Let Merry Maids Clean Up after Rain, Snow, or Sleet!

When you schedule regular housekeeping services from our cleaning professionals at Merry Maids, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re never far from a thorough clean. Spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the season; contact your local Merry Maids today.

Fall Back into a great autumn cleaning routine

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As we get closer to the end of Daylight Savings Time, it’s important to set a new autumn routine so you can stay on top of everything in your house. The days may get a little shorter, but don’t let that stop you! After all, spring cleaning is already a thing: Why not add autumn cleaning to your list?

Creating good cleaning habits is all about consistency – and here at Merry Maids, we can help you keep a consistent cleaning schedule all year round. Using our time-tested methods, we’ll ensure that both the high-traffic and low-traffic areas of your house stay sparkling clean, by performing regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cleaning services.

Committed to re-booting your autumn schedule? Here are a few other ways you can perfect your cleaning routine and develop better habits this autumn.

Sort all cleaning tasks in your household

To reset your cleaning habits and create a more effective household schedule, you should start with documenting all the crucial cleaning tasks in your house, then sort them into distinct categories based on how often they should recur. A good rule of thumb is to have at least a few monthly, weekly, and daily tasks that you could easily do yourself or assign to another household member.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

· Monthly tasks: Window cleaning, clearing out cupboards, appliance cleaning, fixture scrubbing, organising and decluttering

· Weekly tasks: Vacuuming carpets, mopping the hardwood floors, cleaning bathrooms and mirrors, doing the laundry

· Daily tasks: Dusting, sorting out the bins, picking up laundry and clutter, loading the dishwasher, cleaning down countertops, sorting the post

Once you have your list, simply write up a rotating chore list and get everyone on board with your new autumn routine!

Create a 15-minute ritual every day

It’s difficult to enjoy your weekend when you’re still thinking about all the cleaning chores on your list. To reclaim that time as your own, commit to a simple 15-minute cleaning ritual at the end of every work or school day. This ritual should consist of a few essential cleaning tasks, as well as one larger “weekly” task that you rotate every day.

When building your ritual, the most important thing is to keep it simple and to stick to roughly the same time every weekday. Although it may sound exhausting to pick up a duster or mop after a long day, you’ll be surprised at how much more free time you’ll have on the weekends!

Prioritise the rooms that matter most

When you’re busy managing day-to-day messes, you may feel like it’s impossible to get the perfect clean, even when you diligently observe a cleaning schedule. In some cases, that can be fixed by sitting down and thinking about your true cleaning priorities. Do you love to take long, luxurious baths in a clean bathroom oasis at the end of the day? Or do you need the longe to be spic-and-span when you sit down with your kids to surf through Netflix?

No matter what your particular cleaning needs may be, pick the top two or three rooms where you spend the most time and energy in the evenings. By maintaining those rooms throughout the week and rotating other rooms on the weekend, you might not feel as stressed about the state of your entire house.

Upgrade Your Cleaning Routine with Merry Maids

While all of these tips can help you preserve your sanity and manage the daily tide of clutter, a professional cleaning expert can save you even more time and energy for the weekend! At Merry Maids we thrive on keeping your homes clean and making it easier for you to rest and relax. Because we can customise our services to meet your exact standards and needs, you’ll feel like you have a trusted partner in the war against grime – and you just might find that your autumn routine gets a little easier.

Find your nearest Merry Maids and contact us today to get your home looking lovely for autumn!