March is wrapping up and the humidity on the Sunshine Coast is finally starting to ease. That makes autumn one of the best times to do a thorough clean of your home. The air’s cooler, you can open windows without inviting in a wall of moisture, and everything dries faster.

We’ve put together a room-by-room checklist that covers the spots most people forget. It’s based on what we see every week in homes across Maroochydore, Buderim, Caloundra, and everywhere in between.

Kitchen

Start with the rangehood filters. After a summer of cooking, those filters are probably coated in grease. Most can be soaked in hot water with dishwashing liquid for an hour, then scrubbed clean. If they’re metal mesh, a dishwasher cycle works too.

Pull your fridge away from the wall and vacuum the coils at the back. Dust buildup makes the compressor work harder, which drives up your electricity bill. While you’re at it, clean the drip tray underneath.

Wipe down the inside of your oven. Even if you use the self-clean function, there’s usually residue left that needs manual attention. A paste of bicarb soda and water left overnight does a solid job on baked-on grime.

Empty your pantry completely, wipe all shelves, and check expiry dates. Weevils love the warmer months, and you don’t want to carry an infestation into winter.

Bathrooms

Mould is the big one for Sunshine Coast bathrooms. Even with good ventilation, summer humidity means mould spores have had months to establish themselves. Check ceiling corners, grout lines, and the underside of shower shelves.

For surface mould on tiles and grout, a spray of white vinegar left for 30 minutes before scrubbing usually works. For stubborn spots, a hydrogen peroxide solution is effective without the fumes of bleach-based products.

Remove and wash shower curtains or clean glass screens thoroughly. Replace any silicone that’s gone black with mould — you can’t clean that effectively, it needs resealing.

Check under bathroom vanities for any signs of leaks or moisture damage. Small leaks that went unnoticed during summer can cause serious problems if they’re left.

Living Areas

Ceiling fans collect an impressive amount of dust over summer. Use an old pillowcase slipped over each blade to trap the dust as you wipe, rather than sending it across the room.

Wash all curtains or blinds. Fabric curtains can usually go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. For blinds, fill the bathtub with warm soapy water and soak them.

Move furniture and vacuum underneath. You’ll find dust bunnies, lost items, and possibly evidence of insects. Cockroaches and silverfish tend to shelter under furniture during hotter months.

If you have tile or hard floors, mop with a vinegar-water solution after vacuuming. It cuts through the film that builds up from foot traffic and humidity.

Bedrooms

Wash all bedding, including mattress protectors, pillow protectors, and any quilts or blankets stored for winter. If you have a clothesline, autumn sunshine is ideal for airing out bulkier items.

Vacuum your mattress on both sides and sprinkle with bicarb soda before vacuuming again. This helps with dust mites that thrive in humid conditions.

Sort through wardrobes and do a seasonal swap. Donate or sell anything you haven’t worn since last autumn. Less clutter means better airflow and fewer hiding spots for pests.

Outdoor Areas

Pressure wash patios, driveways, and paths. The Sunshine Coast’s wet season leaves behind algae and mildew that makes surfaces slippery. A good pressure wash also removes salt residue if you’re near the coast.

Clean outdoor furniture thoroughly. Mould can establish quickly on fabric cushions during humid months. Machine-washable covers should be washed; everything else gets a scrub with soapy water and sun drying.

Clean gutters and downpipes. Autumn leaves will start accumulating, and blocked gutters can cause water damage during late-season storms. Check for any debris buildup from summer storms while you’re up there.

Wipe down window exteriors. Salt air, dust storms, and insect residue from summer all combine to make windows grimy. Clean windows make a surprising difference to how your home feels.

Laundry

Run an empty hot wash cycle in your washing machine with a cup of white vinegar. Front loaders especially develop odours from mould in the door seal. Wipe the seal thoroughly and leave the door open between washes.

Clean your dryer’s lint filter — and check the vent pipe if it exhausts outside. Lint buildup in vent pipes is a fire hazard that’s easy to overlook.

A Few Extra Things

Replace your vacuum cleaner bag or empty the canister and wash the filters. A vacuum with a full bag or clogged filter loses suction dramatically.

Test your smoke detectors. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services recommends checking them monthly, but if you haven’t done it recently, now’s the time.

Clean light switches and door handles — high-touch surfaces that rarely get attention but accumulate bacteria and grime.

Autumn cleaning doesn’t have to happen in a single weekend. Tackle one room at a time over a few weeks. The point is to reset your home after the Sunshine Coast summer and head into the cooler months with a fresh start.

If you’d rather hand it off entirely, that’s what we’re here for. But whether you DIY or bring in help, this checklist covers the essentials.