Closing Your Cape Cod Summer Home for Winter: A Cleaning Guide

Remove all food, including pantry items that could attract mice: cereal, crackers, pasta, rice, pet food and anything in a paper box. Clean the refrigerator and freezer, and if they will be turned off, leave the doors propped open so they do not develop odor. Wipe the inside of cabinets and drawers, clean the stovetop and oven front and run the dishwasher empty.

Crumbs under the toaster, behind the stove and in drawers are exactly what pests look for over the winter. A thorough kitchen cleaning is the most important part of closing a home.

Clean showers, tubs, sinks and toilets thoroughly and leave them dry. Wipe down glass doors and leave shower curtains open so they can dry. Moisture left behind in a closed house is what turns into mildew by spring, especially in homes near the water.

Take all towels and bath mats out to be washed. Leaving them damp in a closed bathroom for months is a common source of musty smells.

Wash and fully dry linens and towels before storing them. Store them in breathable containers or closed closets rather than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture. Strip beds or cover them, vacuum mattresses and clean under beds, where sand and dust collect all summer.

Clean closet floors and shelves so dust and sand do not sit for months, and leave closet doors slightly open for air flow.

Vacuum and mop every floor to the edges, clear sand from entries and slider tracks, and vacuum rugs well. Take out all trash and recycling, including small bins in bathrooms and bedrooms. A final walk-through catches anything left behind, like a forgotten bag of chips in a bedroom or a wet swimsuit in the outdoor shower.

Sweep porches and decks and clean outdoor furniture before it is stored or covered. Clear the outdoor shower of soap, sand and towels. Leaves and debris left on porches over the winter hold moisture against the boards and the house.

A home closed clean needs much less work when it opens. Instead of a heavy cleaning to undo a summer of use plus a winter of sitting, the opening becomes a refresh: dust, air out, check for damp spots and make the beds. It also lowers the chance of surprises, like pests or mildew, that are harder to fix than to prevent.

Kitchen: remove all food, clean and dry the refrigerator, wipe cabinets and drawers, take out trash. Bathrooms: clean and dry every surface, remove towels and mats. Bedrooms: wash and dry linens, vacuum mattresses and under beds, clean closet floors. Whole house: dust top to bottom, clean sliders and sills, vacuum and mop every floor. Outside: sweep porches, clean outdoor furniture, clear the outdoor shower.

Keep the list with the house so the closing is the same every year.

A clean home is less likely to have problems, but winter storms on the Cape can still bring surprises: a leak after a nor'easter, a window that did not seal, a sign of mice. Many owners arrange for someone to check on the home now and then. If anything is found, it is far easier to deal with in a clean house than in one left in a hurry.

For rental homes, the last turnover of the season and the closing cleaning can often be combined. After the last guests leave, the home gets a full closing cleaning instead of a regular turnover. Use the visit to make a list of anything that needs repair or replacement before next season, while it is still fresh in mind.

Many owners also take inventory at this point: linens to replace, dishes that broke during the season, supplies to restock in spring. Doing it in the fall spreads the work and makes the spring opening simpler.

Schedule the closing cleaning for right after the last visit or the last guests leave, before dust and crumbs have time to settle and before any food left behind becomes a problem. If you leave in a hurry at the end of the season, a cleaner can close the home after you go, as long as access is arranged ahead of time.

Before you lock the door, write down what you noticed: a cabinet that needs a new hinge, a lamp that stopped working, a set of sheets that is worn out, a supply that ran out. Leave the list in a kitchen drawer or keep it on your phone. Next spring, the opening goes faster when you already know what to buy and what to fix, and nothing waits until the first guests notice it.

Keide's Cleaning Services does closing cleanings for summer homes across Cape Cod, and can plan the opening cleaning for next season at the same time. We are family-owned, licensed and insured, with more than 20 years of experience. Call or text (774) 487-7671 for a free estimate, Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm.