Getting Your Home Ready for Winter in Toronto

By mid-October, the warm days are done. Toronto's winter starts settling in around November and does not let up until April. That is five to six months with the house sealed tight, the heat running, and no open windows. Whether you're commuting along the 401 or the DVP, you know how fast the cold sets in. What you do in October to prepare your home makes a real difference in how comfortable and clean it stays through the cold months.

Here is a practical fall close-up checklist.

Clean your window AC units before storing them

If you have window air conditioners, do not just pull them out and shove them in the basement. They have been collecting dust, moisture, and sometimes mould all summer.

Remove the filter and wash it in warm soapy water. Let it dry completely. Wipe down the inside of the unit with a damp cloth. Check for any visible mould, especially around the coils and the drip tray. Let the whole unit dry thoroughly before storing it. Store it upright if possible, with a cover or old sheet over it to keep dust off.

A unit stored dirty and damp will smell terrible when you install it next June.

Clean baseboards before the heat kicks on

Here is something most people do not think about. Your baseboards collect dust all year. When the furnace kicks on for the first time in October, that dust heats up. That burnt dust smell you notice the first day the heat runs is exactly that.

Wipe all your baseboards with a damp cloth before you turn the heat on. If you have baseboard heaters, vacuum inside the covers with the crevice tool first, then wipe the covers down. We have a full walkthrough on how to clean baseboard heaters properly if you want the step-by-step. This takes about 30 minutes for a whole house and prevents that unpleasant smell.

While you are down there, check for dust buildup on floor vents too. Pull the covers off, wash them, and vacuum inside the duct opening as far as you can reach.

Deep clean the kitchen before holiday cooking

November and December bring a lot of cooking. Thanksgiving, holiday dinners, baking. Your kitchen is about to get heavy use, and our holiday cleaning tips can help you stay on top of it through the season.

Clean the oven: Run the self-clean cycle or use oven cleaner on a day when you can open a window for ventilation. A clean oven before the holidays means no burning residue smell while you are roasting a turkey.

Pull out the stove and fridge: Clean behind and underneath both. Crumbs and grease build up there all year. Doing this before winter also helps keep mice away. They come inside looking for food and warmth starting in October, and the area behind the stove is their favourite spot.

Clean the range hood and filter: A greasy range hood filter does not vent properly. Most metal filters can be soaked in hot water with dish soap or run through the dishwasher.

Organize the pantry: Toss anything expired. Wipe shelves. Transfer open packages into sealed containers. This is partly about cleanliness and partly about keeping pests out over the winter.

Clean and store patio furniture

Do not just leave patio furniture outside and hope for the best. Toronto winters will crack plastic, rust metal, and warp wood.

Wash everything down with warm soapy water and let it dry completely. Cushions should come inside or go in a dry storage area. If you do not have room to bring furniture inside, at least stack it and cover it with a proper outdoor furniture cover that is secured against wind.

Store the BBQ: Clean the grill grates, empty the drip tray, wipe down the outside. Cover it or bring it into the garage. Disconnect the propane tank and store it upright outside, not in the garage.

Prep the mudroom

Your mudroom or front entry is about to become the most important room in the house. From Cooksville to Queen West, for the next six months every person walking through the door brings salt, slush, and wet boots.

Boot trays: Place large rubber boot trays by the door. You need enough space for every pair of winter boots in the household. This keeps salt water off your floors.

Hooks: Install hooks or use an over-the-door rack for coats, scarves, and hats. Wet winter gear needs to hang and dry, not pile up on a chair.

Entry mats: Put a sturdy mat outside the door and a large absorbent mat inside. These take the brunt of the salt and slush.

A mop and bucket nearby: During winter, you will need to mop the entryway regularly. Having a mop stored within reach of the front door makes it more likely to actually happen.

Check weather stripping

Walk around your house and check the weather stripping on all exterior doors and windows. Close the door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, the seal is not tight.

Replacing worn weather stripping is cheap and takes about ten minutes per door. It keeps drafts out, reduces your heating bill, and stops cold air from pushing dust and particles under the door.

Flip or rotate mattresses

While you are in fall cleaning mode, flip or rotate your mattresses. You are about to spend more time indoors, and more time in bed during the long, dark months. A fresh mattress makes a difference.

Vacuum the mattress surface while it is stripped. Sprinkle baking soda on it, let it sit for 30 minutes, and vacuum it up. Then put on clean sheets and a mattress protector if you use one.

The point of all this

A few hours of focused cleaning in October sets your home up for a comfortable winter. If you want a room-by-room breakdown, our fall cleaning checklist covers everything from gutters to bedding storage. The heat does not smell when it kicks on. The kitchen is ready for holiday cooking. The entryway is set up to handle six months of salt and slush. Furniture is stored properly instead of getting destroyed.

If you would rather have someone handle the fall close-up for you, give us a call. We have been doing this in Toronto for over 30 years and we know exactly what needs attention before winter hits.