Cooler temperatures and changing colors – on license plates, that is – are signs that fall has arrived in Florida. Even here, where the seasons blur together, autumn has a warmth and beauty all its own.
Are you ready for fall?
Everything has a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and every season has something to celebrate. When it comes to seasons of the year, fall is my absolute favorite. It has my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving) and my favorite time (standard time). Plus, Christmas is just around the corner.
Do YOU like autumn? Do you want a home that’s clean, tidy, and ready for the holidays? Today, I’ll share eight ways to make your home ready for fall so you can savor this beautiful, festive season.
Let’s get started.
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8 Ways to Get Ready for Fall
There are many things you can do around the house to make your home ready for fall. Some of them are more involved than others. As always, YOU get to decide how much time and effort to spend on household tasks.
Are you itchy for a time-intensive project or a quick tidy-up? A deep clean, or simple routine upkeep? Either way, doing the work now will make your home more peaceful, relaxing, and ready for fall.
Sound good? On to the tips!
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1. Tidy Up Your Closet
I used to associate closet organizing with spring cleaning. While springtime is a good time to put your closet in order, it’s not the only good time. The fall season works, too.
In fact, fall is a GREAT time to tidy up your closet. How else can you make room for new coats, boots, and pretty fall fashions? Even if you live in a warm weather climate like Florida, you likely need sweaters for layering in the fall.
I’m an organizer by nature; it’s in my makeup. I like cleaning, decluttering, and putting things in order. It’s an outlet for my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. What’s more, it’s fun!
But that’s me. If organizing doesn’t come natural to you, here’s a checklist to help you start:
- Remove everything from your closet: clothes, purses, shoes, accessories.
- Sort them into three piles: keep, donate or sell, and discard.
- Organize the “keep” items with new hangers and storage boxes.
- Store away your summer clothes to make room for your fall wardrobe.
- Dry clean your coats and weather-proof your shoes.
A clean, organized closet makes it easy to find exactly what you need. It streamlines your daily dressing routine. Moreover, it reveals what’s missing so you can fill in the gaps. (Did someone say “shopping”?)
For more inspiration to organize your closet – or any part of your home – read Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. This two-book set covers everything you want to know about the trendy KonMari organizing method.
You will discover new tricks, like file folding your clothes. And you’ll learn to determine what items spark joy – from your closet to your kitchen and beyond. Knowing this can make a big difference in how you feel about “home.”
2. Rotate and Flip Your Mattress
Bed mattresses get uneven wear over time, causing permanent ruts and impressions. By the time you notice your mattress sagging, it’s too late to fix the problem.
Fall is a good time for a seasonal spin. In fact, it’s smart to flip your mattress at the start of each season. For best results, alternate between side-over-side and end-over-end rotation.
If your mattress is the no-flip type – like the plush hybrid mattress on our adjustable bed – rotate it. Seasonal rotation will prolong its life.
While you’re at it, why not launder your bedding? Most of us have a regular wash schedule for our sheets and comforter. But we often forget about the mattress pad, bed ruffle, pillows, blankets, and other bed linens.
Check the care labels to see if you can wash your bedding at home. Some items are machine washable, like our Castille Clay comforter* from Waverly. Others may need dry cleaning.
*Out of stock; links to similar product.
3. Wash and Shine Your Windows
Window cleaning is something you should do at least once a year. Choosing the right time of year will give you longer-lasting results.
Early autumn is a good time to wash the windows. A crisp fall day has milder temperatures than spring or summer. And the autumn breeze promotes natural drying without streaks.
To get ready for fall, gather commercial or homemade cleaning products – or use dish soap and water. Then wait for a day with overcast skies to reduce window spots and streaks.
If you don’t have time for window washing right now, reach for some glass cleaning wipes to control smudges. Or use an outdoor glass cleaning tool for a “streak-free shine in half the time.”
4. Polish Your Stainless Steel
Shiny stainless steel makes your kitchen sparkle. So take some time out this fall to clean and polish your appliances. Clean the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, sink, microwave – anything that needs to shine.
Therapy® makes a standout cleaner and polish for stainless steel appliances. Bonus: this powerful, plant-based cleaner is now scented with lavender essential oil.
But you can have a shiny kitchen without a store-bought product. Want to know MY secret? It’s olive oil and vinegar.
First, I dampen a cleaning rag with white vinegar and wipe the surfaces of my appliances. Next, I pour a dab of olive oil a different rag and wipe the surfaces again. Then I buff everything with a clean paper towel.
I like how this works, especially for my dishwasher and refrigerator. This simple remedy seems to get the most spots and stains. It removes all the fingerprints and drip marks, leaving a nice shine. Best of all, it keeps things smudge-free for days.
5. Clean Your Bathroom Shower
Most of us clean the toilet on a regular basis – once or twice a week, at least. But how often do we clean the shower stall? The tile walls or fiberglass surround, the floor, the shower head and attachment?
Bathtub rings remind us that it’s time to clean the tub. But what about the shower? A good bathroom cleaning is another way to make your home ready for fall – for you or your holiday guests.
For the easy route, use a powerful automatic cleaner that tackles the tough stuff for you. A starter kit is not cheap, and you’ll have to buy refills. But this cleaning partner will keep your shower clean for a month, with only the touch of a button.
Not ready for this much investment? Do what I do, and use a mega shower foamer like Scrubbing Bubbles®️. It’s easy to use and requires little effort on your part. Simply spray the surfaces and let the product do its work. Wait a few minutes, rinse with water, and wipe away.
You’ll have a cleaner, healthier bathroom in no time.
6. Bring Your Plants Indoors
Unless you live in a warm climate like Florida, now is the time to bring your outdoor plants inside. Depending on where you live, you may need to overwinter your plants to help them survive.
Some hardy plants can spend the winter outdoors. But tropical and blossoming plants don’t appreciate cold weather. A chill can stunt their growth, or worse.
If you have a lot of plants on your porch or patio, it can take some planning to fit them indoors. Try placing your plants together in groups. Natural plant vignettes create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the home.
Need a good, general thumb rule for overwintering your plants? When the temperature dips below 45 degrees (Fahrenheit) at night, bring your plants inside.
But don’t bring the bugs in with them! Inspect your plants before moving them. Check for leaf-dwelling hitchhikers and bugs that live in the soil. Use appropriate methods to debug your plants before bringing them in the house.
7. Keep Bugs and Pests at Bay
When it comes to pest control, don’t stop with your patio plants. Keep an eye out for common household pests, too. Everyone looks forward to holiday feasts, including uninvited guests.
With the arrival of fall, outdoor pests seek shelter from the cold wherever they find it. Your warm and toasty home attracts many types of pests, from mice to bugs to snakes.
Protect your home from cockroaches and other pesky critters with a professional pesticide. Look for one with an insect growth regulator (IGR) for residential indoor and outdoor use.
If you don’t want to use chemicals in your home, try a natural pest deterrent like lavender or lemongrass. Amazon sells peppermint oil pest control that’s natural, effective, and safe for pets.
Finally, don’t invite bugs to the table! Keep your kitchen clean, your stored items secure, and the food garbage bagged in a covered trash can.
8. Clean and Organize the Garage
With the flurry of summer behind us, your garage could likely use cleaning. While spring may be a better time to empty the garage for a deep clean, fall is a good time for tidying up.
Dust or wipe the cabinets, shelves, and refrigerator (if you have one). Treat mildew with bleach, or with baking soda and white vinegar. Remove motor oil stains with cat litter, dish soap, and a scrub brush.
Sweep or vacuum the floor and walls to remove cobwebs, dirt, and leaves. Address oil stains before you clean the floor. If the floor is already clean, use a leaf blower for a quick tidy-up.
Before you organize the garage, remove obvious clutter. Identify the items you want to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. Once you determine the keepers, invest in some plastic storage bins to store them.
Install adjustable shelving, like these heavy duty wire racks, or add pegboard and hooks to keep things organized year-round. We like this 15-piece Rubbermaid FastTrack kit for wall-mounted storage.
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Conclusion
There are SO many things you can do around the house to make your home ready for fall. Let this post inspire you to put your home in order so you can relax and enjoy this cozy time of the year. And for more motivation, read: 8 More Ways to Make Your Home Ready for Fall. ◻️
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- October is the Perfect Time to Celebrate Apples
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. Is your home clean, tidy, and ready for the holidays? What’s the first thing on your list to make your home ready for fall?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
📋 NOTE – You are reading “8 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Ready for Fall” on Savoring Home. First published in November 2019, it was updated in September 2023.
Photo Sources
- Anastasia Turshina, Vorawich-Boonseng / Getty Images Pro | Canva | License
- Getty Images, New Africa Studios, Travelarium | Canva
- Tanya Payton / Getty Images | Canva
Reference Sources
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I just reorganized my bedroom closet. Yay! Next on the list: washing my sheets and bedding (the items that don’t require dry cleaning). What are YOU doing this month to get your home ready for fall?
Remember to check your heating, do repairs if needed, and replace filters. A well-functioning heating system is about more than just a comfortable temperature in the house. It also prevents pipes from freezing and improves air quality.
That’s a good tip. Thanks for the reminder.
Excellent tips! As for pests, you should also inspect air ducts in your home regularly. Different types of pests like living in them. This is especially true for dirty air ducts, which makes regular duct cleaning necessary. Pests carry in dander and leave droppings, which get into your airstream, spreading diseases like the hantavirus. That’s why you should remember to inspect air ducts from time to time and clean if needed.
Glad you liked the post. And thanks for sharing YOUR tip with us.
Also, take care of your pipes. If your house is in a part of the world where the weather turns cold, you should check all exposed pipes for damage from weather changes. Pipes that are near exterior walls should be wrapped so they do not freeze.
That’s a good tip, especially for cold weather locales. Thank you.
Yes, shower head cleaning is important. A clogged shower head can cause plumbing leaks. To clean it yourself, carefully remove the showerhead and place it in a container of vinegar to soak. You can also fill a bag with vinegar and secure it tightly around the showerhead without removing it, ensuring all of the holes are submerged. Let the showerhead soak for several hours or overnight. When you remove the bag, turn on the shower and run hot water through the showerhead. This can help push out any remaining mineral deposits.
Many people forget about the shower head. Thanks for the tip and how-to.
Also, remember to caulk your windows when preparing your home for cold and wet weather. It will improve your home insulation and keep you warm without increasing heating bills. If windows in your home are old, think about replacing them with energy-efficient units. Weather-resistant windows can be an excellent solution in areas with extreme temperatures in winter and summer.
Higher efficiency windows can make a big difference in your heating AND cooling use and costs. While they cost slightly more than regular windows, they more than make up for it with reduced energy loss and lower energy bills. Thanks for the tip.