Here are six things you should do to prep your home’s interior and exterior for the fall season so you can ease into the holidays more organized than ever.
The leaves are changing, the air is getting cooler, and you can’t drive one block without seeing a sign for pumpkin-spiced something. Whether you’re ready or not, fall is here. Just like you swap out your wardrobe for fall and winter, there are some things you should do around the house to make sure it’s safe, tidy, and organized before the holidays kick in. Here are the top six things you should do to prep your house for fall.
Declutter The Pantry
You may think you’ve still got time to let that hot mess of a pantry hang out, but the earlier you can knock this out, the better. Between school bake sales, Halloween treats, bulk stock-ups for freezer meal making, and cans on cans on cans for slow cooker soups, your pantry is about to take on a lot more food than it had last season.
Take some time to declutter old food, rearrange to accommodate more canned goods, clean the shelves, and add storage containers to ultra-categorize your ingredients. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself the next time you buy groceries.
Clean & Organize Your Closet
Fall weather means hoodies, sweaters, hats, and boots are working their way into your weekly wardrobe rotation. It also means your shorts and sundresses aren’t going to be touched for at least five months. Now is the time to purge items you didn’t wear at all during the summer, rearrange your closet to prioritize cool-weather clothes, and give it a good deep clean. You can also use this time to sell items for extra holiday cash.
Straighten Up The Garage
After a summer full of yard work, outdoor events, and projects, your garage may have gotten a little out of hand. Now that lawn equipment won’t be used as often and kids’ toys will be played with less, you can spend a weekend getting your garage cleaned up and organized.
Mice also start creeping their way into garages and storage buildings around this time, so make sure you seal belongings in bins with gasket-lined lids and close up any cracks and openings.
Walk Your Property
Take a walk around your entire property and make a list of anything that needs maintenance, repairs, or attention. Look for things like clogged gutters, fallen trees, chipping paint, damaged seals, broken gate latches, pest damage, water damage, and landscaping in need of some TLC. Once you’ve made a list, create an action plan to take care of everything, and hire help if needed.
Address Safety & Security
Unfortunately, not everyone gives off warm and fuzzy fall vibes. Crime and vandalism starts to pick up as the days get shorter and dark hours get longer. Now is the time to analyze your home security systems and make upgrades, test door and window locks, and replace outdoor light bulbs.
Inside the house, make sure you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, update security software, make sure your Wi-Fi is protected, and stock your emergency stash for power outages and bad weather.
Get Your Guest Room Ready
If you have a dedicated guest bedroom, spend an afternoon refreshing the space so it looks and feels clean and inviting. And if you don’t have a guest bedroom, you aren’t in the clear. Evaluate your current guest situation and make sure you have what you need if someone stayed over for the weekend. Do you need to repair or replace your air mattress? Do you have enough blankets and pillows? Prepping now will save you stress later.
How To Manage Your Household Maintenance Annually
Every season requires different types of maintenance, both inside and outside your home. To make sure you have a plan for every month, as well as all your important information organized in case of emergency, grab the Organized-ish Essential Home Management Starter Kit. This printable home management binder helps you keep track of home maintenance, records, family info, and emergency plans. It’s available for individual purchase or as part of the All-Access membership in the Organized-ish Shop.
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