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Winter cleaning checklist for Peoria-area homes
Short answer: before the first snow (Peoria's average is November 25[1]), put mats at every door you use[3], check the furnace filter[6], dust the vents, fans, blinds and baseboards, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms[10][11]. Every week until late March, shake out the mats, vacuum the grit and wipe up salt film[3], and wipe window condensation; keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent[4]. Every month, check the filter[6] and test the alarms[10]. After the last snow, deep clean the floors.
Updated 2026-10-26. Items with a source number come from that source (read on 2026-10-26); items marked Wrenly suggestion are our own advice as a cleaning service. Prices come from our live price list. Disclosure: Wrenly Home sells house cleaning in the Peoria, IL area.
What a Peoria winter brings in
Peoria averages 26.2 inches of snow a year. The first measurable snow comes around November 25 and the last around March 21, on about 22 snowy days[1]. Most nights from December through February drop to 32 °F or below[2], so the windows stay shut and the furnace runs for months. That is what a winter checklist is for: salt and slush at the door, and dust and moisture that have nowhere to go.
| Month | Average low (°F) | Average snow (in.) | Nights at or below 32 °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 33.0 | 1.5 | about 15 |
| December | 23.2 | 6.2 | about 25 |
| January | 17.6 | 7.7 | about 28 |
| February | 21.4 | 6.9 | about 24 |
| March | 31.6 | 3.3 | about 17 |
The winter cleaning checklist, by when
Before the first snow (November)
- Put washable mats at each door you use (we suggest one outside and one inside), a set place for wet shoes, and a spare mat so one is always dry. (Bona[3]; outside-and-inside is our suggestion)
- Check the furnace filter and replace it if it's dirty. Then check it once a month all winter. (ENERGY STAR[6])
- Have the furnace and chimney cleaned and inspected (once a year, by a professional). (USFA[7])
- Dust what the furnace will blow around once the windows close: floor and return vents, ceiling fans, blinds, baseboards, and under and behind furniture. (Wrenly suggestion; winter air is drier, so dust and allergens matter more (Bona[3]))
- Test smoke alarms; replace 9-volt batteries at least once a year and any alarm older than 10 years. (USFA[10])
- Make sure there is a working carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every bedroom, and on every level. (Illinois law[11]; USFA[9])
- Clean the dryer lint screen (we suggest every load) and have the dryer vent duct cleaned out. (Wrenly suggestion; failure to clean was the leading factor in home dryer fires (USFA[8]))
- Clear a 3-foot zone around the fireplace, wood stove, radiators and space heaters: no blankets, boxes or drying laundry. (USFA[7])
Every week, December to March
- Shake out or wash the door mats; swap in the dry spare. (Bona[3])
- Vacuum or dry-mop entry, hall and kitchen floors to pick up sand and salt grit before it gets ground in. (Ice melt is abrasive to floors and finishes (Bona[3]))
- Wipe up melted snow and the film road salt leaves, using a cleaner made for that floor type (check the floor maker's care guide). (Ice melt can leave a greasy film when tracked in (Bona[3]))
- Wipe condensation off window glass and sills. If it keeps coming back, the house is too humid. (EPA[4][5])
- After a storm, check that the outside vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace aren't blocked by snow. (USFA[9])
If you run a portable humidifier
- Empty the tank, wipe it dry and refill it every day. (EPA[5])
- Scrub the tank and remove scale every third day, unplugged. (EPA[5])
- Use low-mineral water such as distilled; "white dust" on furniture means minerals are getting into the air. (EPA[5])
Every month
- Check the furnace filter (inspect, clean or change). (ENERGY STAR[6])
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. (USFA[10]; renters test and replace batteries under Illinois law[11])
After the last snow (late March)
- Deep clean the floors to lift the salt and grit left from winter, and wash or replace worn mats. (Bona[3])
- Wash heavy throws and blankets, and wipe window sills and tracks where condensation sat. (Wrenly suggestion)
- Clean and dry the humidifier before you store it, following its manual. (Wrenly suggestion; EPA[5] says follow the maker's instructions)
Salt and slush at the door
Sand, salt and ice melt make walks safer, but Bona, a floor-care manufacturer, warns that ice-melting products are abrasive to floors and finishes and leave a greasy film when they're tracked in[3]. The cheapest fix is at the door. Bona's advice is rugs and mats at entryways, a backup mat so one is always clean and dry, a set place for wet shoes, and drying pets' paws before they come in[3]; we'd add a mat outside to scrape and one inside to absorb. Vacuum or dry-mop the grit before you mop, so you're not grinding it into the finish, and use a cleaner made for that floor; your flooring maker's care guide says which. Booking a visit? See how to get ready for a winter visit.
Dust, humidity and condensation
With the house closed up, dust that the furnace moves around settles on vents, blinds, fan blades and baseboards, and drier winter air makes dust and allergens more noticeable[3]. A dusting pass before heating season (top to bottom, then vacuum) is the biggest single winter job. Humidity is the other half. EPA's mold guide says to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, and lists condensation on the inside of a windowpane as a sign of too much moisture[4]; EPA's humidifier guidance adds that levels above 50 percent can encourage biological growth[5]. A $10 to $50 hygrometer tells you where you are[4]. If you run a portable humidifier, EPA says to empty, wipe dry and refill it daily, clean it every third day, and use low-mineral water such as distilled[5].
Furnace, dryer and alarms
These aren't cleaning in the scrubbing sense, but they're the winter jobs that matter most and they come down to keeping things clean and clear. ENERGY STAR says to inspect, clean or change furnace and heat-pump filters once a month; a dirty filter raises energy costs and can damage the equipment[6]. The U.S. Fire Administration says to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a professional and to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources[7]. In home clothes-dryer fires from 2018 to 2020, failure to clean was the leading factor in ignition (31 percent)[8]. After a snowstorm, check that the outside vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear[9]. Test smoke alarms monthly[10]. Illinois law requires a working carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping; in a rental the owner installs it and the tenant tests it and replaces its batteries[11].
What a Wrenly clean covers, and what's yours
A deep clean takes care of the dusting half of this list in one visit. The furnace, dryer and alarm jobs stay with you.
| Task | In a Wrenly clean? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, hall and kitchen floors vacuumed and damp-mopped | Every visit | Standard and deep cleans |
| Baseboards, door frames and doors hand-wiped | Deep clean | Also the first visit of every recurring plan |
| Ceiling fans, vents and blinds dusted | Deep clean | Reachable from a two-step stool |
| Window sills and tracks | Deep clean | Inside only; we don't do exterior windows |
| Bathrooms cleaned and disinfected, kitchen counters and appliance fronts | Every visit | |
| Washing mats, throws and bedding | Not included | Laundry isn't part of our checklist (we do make beds with fresh linens you leave out) |
| Furnace filter, humidifier, dryer vent, smoke and CO alarms | Not included | Household or HVAC pro |
| Shoveling, salting the walk, garage, exterior windows | Not included | Please clear a path to the door you want us to use |
Full lists: what's included and the deep cleaning checklist. Not included in any clean: biohazards, moving heavy furniture, or anything that needs a ladder taller than a two-step stool. If something on the checklist is missed, tell us within 48 hours under our re-clean guarantee.
What it costs
Swipe the table sideways to see every price column →
| Home | Deep clean | Then every 2 weeks (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bed (1 bath incl.) | $175 | $119 |
| 2 bed (2 baths incl.) | $209 | $145 |
| 3 bed (2 baths incl.) | $269 | $179 |
| 4 bed (3 baths incl.) | $339 | $235 |
| 5 bed (3 baths incl.) | $429 | $259 |
| Each extra bathroom | +$25 | +$15 |
Book online with your bedrooms, bathrooms and preferred day; we confirm the date by email within one business day, and if we can't schedule you within 10 days you get a full refund. Skipping or rescheduling a recurring visit is free with at least 48 hours' notice (cancellation policy).
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a winter cleaning checklist?
Before the first snow: door mats inside and out, a furnace-filter check, a yearly furnace and chimney inspection, a dusting pass over vents, fans, blinds and baseboards, tested smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and a cleaned-out dryer vent. Every week through winter: shake out mats, vacuum or dry-mop the entry, wipe up salt film and melted snow, and wipe window condensation. Every month: check the furnace filter and test the alarms. After the last snow, deep clean the floors to remove the salt.
How do I get road salt residue off my floors?
Stop most of it at the door with mats (we suggest one outside and one inside) and a set place for wet boots. Then vacuum or dry-mop the grit first, since ice melt is abrasive to floors and finishes, and clean the film it leaves with a cleaner made for your floor type, following the floor maker's care guide. Wipe up melted snow quickly rather than letting it sit on wood.
What humidity should my house be in winter?
EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent; a hygrometer costs about $10 to $50. Bona, a wood-floor care maker, suggests 40 to 60 percent for wood floors, so 40 to 50 percent suits both. Water condensing on windows is a sign the air is too humid.
How often should I change my furnace filter in winter?
ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist says to inspect, clean or change the air filter in your furnace or heat pump once a month. A dirty filter can raise energy costs and damage the equipment. Have the furnace itself cleaned and inspected by a professional once a year.
Does Illinois require carbon monoxide detectors?
Yes. The Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act says every dwelling unit must have at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in working condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping. In a rental, the owner installs the alarms; the tenant tests them, replaces the batteries and reports problems to the owner in writing. USFA also advises an alarm on every level of the home.
How is winter cleaning different from holiday or fall cleaning?
Holiday cleaning is a one-time push before guests arrive (see our Thanksgiving and holiday cleaning timeline). Winter cleaning is the upkeep that keeps a closed-up house clean from November to March: salt and slush at the door, dust the furnace moves around, humidity and condensation, and the furnace, dryer and alarm checks that come with the heating season.
Does Wrenly Home clean in the winter?
Yes, all year, Monday to Saturday. A deep clean ($175 to $429 by home size) covers the dusting jobs on this list: baseboards, doors, ceiling fans, vents, blinds, and window sills and tracks; every visit vacuums and mops the floors. We don't change furnace filters, do laundry, shovel, or clean exterior windows or garages. Please clear and salt the walk to the door you want us to use. Skipping or rescheduling a recurring visit is free with at least 48 hours' notice.
Sources
- National Weather Service, Central Illinois office: Peoria Climate, Normal Monthly Statistics (1991-2020 normals). https://www.weather.gov/ilx/pia-normal-monthly. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly normals for Peoria Greater Peoria Airport (station USW00014842). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00014842&format=json. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- Bona (floor-care manufacturer), Winter Deep Clean. https://www.bona.com/en-us/homeowner/how-to/winter-deep-clean. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home (last updated Feb. 18, 2026). https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. EPA, Use and Care of Home Humidifiers (last updated Apr. 29, 2026). https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/use-and-care-home-humidifiers. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA/DOE), Heating and Cooling Maintenance Checklist. https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/heating-cooling/maintenance-checklist. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety Outreach Materials. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating/. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety (clothes dryer fires 2018-2020). https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/appliance-and-electrical/. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention (last reviewed Sept. 21, 2026). https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/life-safety-hazards/carbon-monoxide/. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Smoke Alarms. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/smoke-alarms/. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act, 430 ILCS 135/10. https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/043001350K10.htm. Accessed 2026-10-26.
General home-care information drawn from the sources above, not professional HVAC or fire-safety advice; follow your equipment's manual. If anything here is out of date, email hello@wrenlyhome.com and we'll correct it.