March in Melbourne is that beautiful in-between time — the heat starts to ease, the mornings get a little cooler, and suddenly you want to open the windows and breathe some fresh air through the house.

It's also the perfect time to deal with the mess that summer leaves behind and set your home up for the months ahead. Here's our March cleaning guide for Sunbury and surrounding suburbs.

1. Clear Out the Summer Dust

Summer brings dust — lots of it. Dry conditions, open windows, and fans running constantly means dust settles on everything. March is the time to do a proper dust-out before you close up for winter.

Ceiling fans: Clean both sides of the blades before you stop using them for the season. Dusty blades spread grime when they spin.
Air conditioning filters: If you've been running the aircon hard through summer, clean or replace the filters now. A dirty filter makes it work harder and circulates dust.
Window tracks and frames: Summer dust and insect debris builds up in tracks. A quick vacuum and wipe makes a big difference.
Skirting boards and cornices: Dust settles here over summer. A damp cloth wipe-down takes minutes but freshens the whole room.

2. Deal With the Outdoor Mess

Summer entertaining means outdoor areas take a beating. Before the rain arrives, get on top of it:

BBQ: Give it a proper clean before it sits unused for months. Grease left over winter turns rancid and attracts pests.
Outdoor furniture: Wipe down and store cushions before the autumn rain starts. Mould on outdoor cushions is a nightmare to deal with.
Driveway and paths: Summer foot traffic, BBQ grease, and dry dirt leaves marks. A pressure wash now (before the wet weather) restores the look and prevents slippery buildup.
Gutters: Check for summer debris — leaves, seed pods, and dust — before the autumn leaves start falling and block them further.

3. Refresh the Bathroom After a Hot Summer

Summer means more showers, more sweat, and more humidity. By March, bathrooms often need a reset:

Check grout lines for mould that's developed over the humid months
Descale showerheads and taps — mineral buildup is worse in summer
Wash bath mats and shower curtains (or replace if they're past it)
Clean the exhaust fan — it's been working overtime

4. Prepare Your Kitchen for Comfort Food Season

As the weather cools, we move from salads and BBQs to soups, roasts, and baking. Your kitchen needs to be ready:

Oven: If you haven't used it much over summer, now's the time to deep clean it before you start roasting again. Baked-on grease from last year is not a great start to autumn cooking.
Rangehood filters: Grease builds up fast. Clean or replace filters before you start cooking heavier meals.
Pantry: Rotate stock, check expiry dates, and wipe down shelves. A fresh pantry makes cooking more enjoyable.

5. Swap Out Summer Bedding

March is the time to transition your bedroom for the cooler months ahead:

Wash summer sheets and store them clean (not dirty — they'll smell by the time you need them again)
Bring out the heavier doona and wash it before use
Vacuum the mattress and flip or rotate it
Wash pillows — they accumulate sweat over summer

6. Windows: The Last Chance Before Winter

Clean windows in autumn means more natural light through the darker winter months. It also means you can see the autumn colours outside properly — which is worth it.

March is our busiest time for window cleaning bookings. If you want to get them done before winter, book early.

7. The Autumn Declutter

Before you close the house up for winter, do a quick declutter:

Summer clothes you didn't wear — donate or store
Outdoor toys and equipment — clean and put away properly
Holiday gear — pack it away clean and dry
Anything that's been sitting on benchtops "temporarily" since December

A decluttered home is easier to keep clean through winter, and it makes the space feel bigger and calmer.

The March Clean Checklist

☐ Ceiling fans cleaned (both sides)
☐ Air conditioning filters cleaned
☐ Window tracks and frames wiped
☐ BBQ cleaned and covered
☐ Outdoor furniture wiped down
☐ Driveway/paths pressure washed
☐ Bathroom grout checked for mould
☐ Oven deep cleaned
☐ Rangehood filters cleaned
☐ Summer bedding washed and stored
☐ Windows cleaned inside and out
☐ Autumn declutter done

Need a Hand?

March is one of our busiest months — lots of Sunbury families use the season change as a trigger to book a deep clean or get on top of the things that slipped over summer.

We offer deep cleans, oven cleaning, window cleaning, and pressure washing — all the things on this list that you'd rather not do yourself. Get in touch for a fixed quote.

March Cleaning Tips: Get Ready for Autumn