Everybody talks about spring cleaning, but for many families, spring is the busiest time of year. There is little for time clearing everything out of the cabinets and going through things. Kids are starting spring sports and schools are in full swing. Fall is usually a little slower for most people. Embrace it and do your cleaning now. Plus, you will have a clean and organized home for the holidays!
It’s time to get to work. Here’s a to-do list for household cleaning and organizing that prioritizes the needs of the season.
Transition Your Closet from Summer to Fall/Winter
Make sure you’re prepared to dress for the changing weather. Depending on where you live, the severity of the change in the weather will vary. If you live where the leaves are changing and the temperature is dropping, then it’s time to bring out the warmer clothes from storage and pack away the lighter weight clothing. If you are lucky enough to live where the weather is pretty much the same all year round, then this is a good time to say take stock of what you have been wearing the most and decide if you need to update or replace items.
Pack Away Summer
Before storing all your summer gear, take stock of what you did and didn’t use. Ask yourself…what did I really use this summer? Is it worth storing if I didn’t use it? Be realistic about what items to keep and what is better off in the donation bin, sell online or have a garage sale.
Clean Outdoor Areas
Rake the leaves, clean and protect/cover patio furniture, put away the pool toys if you have a pool and give the grill a thorough cleaning.
Take Advantage Of Cooler Weather
This is the prime time to work on those areas that are just too hot to work in during the summer. Areas without AC like the attic, garage, or shed are often used as storage spaces but can be too hot to tackle during the summer. Now that it’s a little cooler, this is a good time as any to re-organize and declutter. Don’t wait until winter….these areas may be too cold to spend time in.
Update Your Storage Containers
The trick to accessible storage is categories. Separate your things into seasons, activities, holidays…whatever works best for you. Then, store them together in sturdy containers. Examples would school supplies in one bin, pool gear in another and holiday decor in designated containers. Label them so that you know EXACTLY what is in each one. I have used color coded lids too…red for Christmas, orange for Fall, etc. It helps to use all the same type and size. This will assist in organizing the storage area.
Once you’ve packed away all the summer supplies, move those bins to the back of the storage space and bring the next season forward. School supplies can come into the house and be put into use. By bringing the Halloween, Thanksgiving and winter holiday decor forward now, you will have easy access to it when you are ready to decorate!
Check your Holiday Supplies
The holidays will be here before you know it but not close enough yet to panic. This is the perfect time to leisurely prepare and sort through what you have. Decide what you need for the holiday season and stock up to fill in any gaps before the shopping gets crazy and you are super busy with preparations for the big day!
Check on the decorations you stored away last year to see if they are still in good condition. Check your gift-wrapping supplies to see if you need or want any new items. This is a good time to repack your decor also. I use special containers for my tree ornaments and wrapping paper.
Organize your Bakeware
Temperatures are finally dropping! It’s the season of warm, homemade treats full of fall flavors like cinnamon, apple and pumpkin. Group together your bread pans, muffin tins, cookie sheets and ceramic dishes. During the summer these items can get pushed to the back of the cabinet in favor of outdoor entertaining gear. Now is the time bring them back to the forefront! Give them a good cleaning to make sure they are ready for use.
Update your Spices
This is the perfect time to give your spice drawer a good cleaning. Spice drawers are often overlooked and can quickly get disorganized. Replace old spices, especially ones used in baking….they lose potency as they get older. Keep an eye on your local grocery store for specials or 2 for 1 offers! This is a quick and easy project that can be done in just 30 minutes.
Check your pantry for staples like flour and baking powder. I like to have a bag of flour on standby…nothing worse than wanting to make something and not having enough!
This is also a great time to clean out the entire panty and reorganize. I just did this with my daughter. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to walk into my pantry and see how clean it is. I used all the same containers to make it uniform.
Check Expiration Dates
Your spice drawer isn’t the only place where food may be outdated. Sort through your pantry to discard outdated food there, too. Old cans, packages, marinade packets, yeast….these all have expiration dates. I recently found a can of french onions (the ones used in green bean casserole) that expired years ago. Not sure how that got past me, lol!
The same goes for your medicine cabinet. Medicine expires….check your cough and cold medicine, pain relief, vitamins, etc. This is also a good time to dispose of old cosmetics and makeup.
Update Your Linens and Organize the Closet
As the weather cools, many people like to swap their bedding for something warmer. If you’ve got different sheets the seasons or holidays, this is a good time to make sure that they’re still in good shape. Don’t forget the guestroom! These may have been out of use for longer and require some extra attention. See what condition your towels and linens are in. If they’re all worn or discolored, it’s time to replace them.
Freshen Guest Rooms
Restock your guest room with everything an overnight guest would need to be comfortable, like blankets, snacks, bottled water, etc. Give the rooms a thorough cleaning. Make sure closet and drawer space is available and plenty of hangers. Put new soaps, shampoo, body wash, etc. in the guest bathroom, maybe even a candle. Buy a luggage rack or two so guests have a place to put their suitcase off the floor.
Guest rooms tend to become prime real estate for overflow storage. Look at what has accumulated and decide if it is something you still need or if it is excess clutter.
Set Up a School Area
School comes with a lot of stuff and it all needs space. Designate a place for doing homework and filing of important papers that come home from class to keep them organized.
The things kids bring home can easily create clutter. No parent wants to throw out the drawings brought home by young children, but you can’t let them overtake every surface in your home either. Designate an area to display their work and rotate it as new pieces arrive. Decide what you want to keep and place in a plastic bin or file for the future. I love this bulletin board. It has that farmhouse look and is magnetic!
With school also comes the onset of new schedules. A master calendar is an excellent tool for keeping the family organized and on schedule. This might also be a good time to reevaluate everyone’s chores, as older kids may have less free time available, due to homework and extra activities.
Organize Drop Zones
Do you have a designated drop zone? Or does your family use the first available flat surface to drop everything? Our current home has a convenient built in drop zone, but even that gets cluttered. Spend some time organizing a drop zone and have a system in place.
Designate where backpacks, shoes, and jackets will go and make sure that the area is clutter-free and organized. Invest in some sturdy containers, provide hooks for jackets and a place for keys.
I hope this helps you get a little more organized this Fall. If you have any suggestions or tips on what works well for you and your family, please share them!
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