We’ve all heard of spring cleaning but how about its counterpart, fall cleaning? Now, I’m the last person to willingly add more tasks onto my to-do list, but I started coming around when I realized that there are many good reasons to consider another big cleanup in the fall.

If you need some motivation to hunker down and get your home ready for the coming months, here are 5 reasons to consider fall cleaning:

1. You soon won’t see the light of day. OK, I exaggerate.  But reality is that once fall and winter kick in, we’re more likely to spend time indoors with windows shut tight.   If that‘s the case, wouldn’t you rather curl up on a clean couch (covered in toys) than a dusty one (covered in toys)?

2. Your house is dirtier. OK maybe not yours, but there IS more dirt tracked into the house during Spring and Summer than any other time of the year — especially if you have pets.  And if your kid is anything like mine, there will be more “pet bugs” and other unidentified outdoor stuff that makes its way into your home and needs a thorough “sayonara.”

3. She’s baaaack! Moving toward the holidays means turkey, eggnog and more guests (wanted or unwanted).  Giving your house a thorough clean will ensure Aunt Agnes doesn’t see the questionable guck behind your sofa or on your windowsills.   Even if you manage to avoid entertaining this season (lucky you!), holiday schedules are always more chaotic for families, leaving less time for any cleaning you might regularly do.

4. You’re lazy, like me. If the last deep-cleaning you did was in 2009 or if you’re like my son Max whose version of cleanup is “soccer cleaning” (i.e.: cleaning up using only his feet and making a pile of stuff in the corner of his room), leaving a cleanup to “another day” or next year makes things seem overwhelming.  Batten down the hatches for a thorough clean before year end and your home and health — not to mention your sanity — will be better for it.

5. You can save moo-lah. By doing simple fall cleaning tasks like changing your furnace filter or plugging leaks around your home so heat doesn’t sneak out the window, you can save some green.   If you’re extra-ambitious, do some purging and have a yard sale to finally sell those dust-gathering table lamps before the weather gets cold.  Besides, tossing items you don’t need also means fewer items to clean.  Woot!

Do you plan to do any fall cleaning?