Need a fall refresh to prepare your home for winter? Doing some fall decluttering and cleaning can reduce stress, streamline daily chores, help you feel cozy, and get your home organized before the holidays. Here are some tips to prepare your home for winter during the fall!
Make a Fall Cleaning Plan
Creating a fall clean-up checklist—and timeline—can help you stay on track while preparing for winter and break the process up into more manageable chunks. First on your list should be high-traffic areas like bathrooms, mudrooms, entryways, and living rooms. Next, jot down common problem areas around the house, such as junk drawers, medicine cabinets, playrooms, guest rooms, kids bedrooms, and more. After determining your priorities, plan to set aside a bit of time each day to slowly chip away at your autumn cleaning list—one room or area at a time—so you’re not overwhelmed by doing it all once.
Take Care of Clutter
Deep cleaning and getting ready for winter is less overwhelming when there’s less clutter to deal with. That’s why choosing a decluttering method and getting rid of excess belongings is key to a successful autumn home organization process. However you choose to declutter, take time to consider which items you actually use, need, and want. Consider selling furniture online or at a garage sale if it’s still in good condition, tossing trash, and finding a place to donate household goods that are no longer serving you.
Deep Clean Rooms & Surfaces
Once you’ve removed any excess clutter, kick off your fall home refresh with a top-to-bottom clean! Start by scrubbing the floors, walls, mirrors, windows, and baseboards. Give furniture a thorough wipe down or vacuum. Dust off overlooked areas like ceiling fans, vents, and shelves. To spend your time as wisely as possible, try to focus your fall home cleaning on areas that see increased usage during the winter, such as guest bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, and the living room.
Refresh Entryways
Whether it’s a mudroom or the front door area, entryways make the first impression on guests and can simplify your life when organized properly—so they should be a priority on your fall cleaning schedule. Clear out summer shoes, bags, and other gear you won’t need for cooler months, only keeping what you need for the rest of fall into winter. Utilize wall hooks or cubbies to neatly organize coats, scarves, boots, backpacks, and more. Then put off-season items in bins and tuck them away under the stairs, in a junk room, or in a self storage unit until you need them again!
Rotate Linens
One easy way to get ready for winter is to switch out lightweight cotton or linen sheets with flannel sheets or thicker blankets for extra warmth on colder nights. If you want to take fall home prep in a more festive direction, try incorporating autumnal or winter colors or patterns into your bedding, too. When you’re finished refreshing your bedding, go through your linen closet to determine if any sheet sets or blankets are worn out and ready to be tossed or replaced.
Organize Your Closet
As the weather changes, your wardrobe does, too. Part of your fall refresh should include cleaning out your closet to make picking out your outfit each day a stress-free process. First, consider donating or repurposing any clothes that you won’t wear in the seasons to come. Then organize your closet by placing warmer clothes up front for easy access and moving lightweight clothing to the back. If you don’t have enough closet space at home for off-season clothing storage, consider compressing clothes in vacuum-sealed bags or utilizing temporary storage solutions.
Focus on the Kitchen
Whether you’re planning to host game day parties, holiday gatherings, or simply want a more organized space to cook, one of the best fall cleaning tips is to prioritize your kitchen. Go through the pantry, fridge, and freezer, taking note of what’s expired and what’s still viable. If you have items that are still good that you don’t plan to use, donate accepted items to a local food pantry to free up even more space. Wipe down all pantry and fridge shelves before you place food back onto them to avoid build-up. To round out fall home cleaning in your kitchen, pay attention to:
- The inside of, outside of, & space behind appliances (e.g., stove, oven, fridge, toaster, coffee maker, etc.)
- Countertops
- Cooking utensils
- Cupboards & drawers
- Floors & floorboards
Tidy Up the Laundry Room
Your laundry room can double as a drop-off spot for various items throughout fall and winter, such as dirty sports equipment, wet clothes, and general clutter—so be sure to prep it during your autumn deep-clean! Put items that don’t belong in the laundry room back in their designated spot, and throw away any empty or expired cleaning products. Another great laundry room organization idea is adding functional storage—like cabinets, shelves, hooks, or wall-mounted drying racks—to help keep the floor clear and give wet clothes a spot to dry.
Rotate Out Seasonal Decor
A key part of fall home organization for many is switching out seasonal decor. This can include rotating out seasonally-themed patio furniture, throw pillows, and other autumn decorations that don’t entirely fit in with a late fall and winter aesthetic—for example, some switch out Halloween decorations with Thanksgiving decorations once November begins. While rotating out your decor, evaluate what you want to keep for next year and what you can let go of, and ensure winter decor is easy to access when the time comes. Put remaining decorations into clear, labeled storage bins that can be kept out of sight—ideal places for holiday decor storage include basements, hall closets, sheds, attics, and self storage units.
Prep Your Garage
As you prep your house for winter, don’t forget your garage! An organized garage is key to a smooth seasonal transition into colder months. Landscaping equipment and materials used primarily in the warmer months—such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, and fertilizer—can be stored in harder-to-reach places in the fall and winter, giving priority access to items like rakes and snow shovels. If you have one, make sure to service your snowblower and check that other winter tools are in good condition before you need to use them. Additionally, consider installing garage organization systems like slat walls, pegboards, cabinets, and more to keep your winter essentials neatly put away and ready for use.
Ready Your Car for Winter
Preparing your household for colder weather should also extend to your car. First, swap sun shades, pool toys, and other warm-weather items you’ll no longer use on a regular basis with a winter emergency kit—including water, gloves and hats, blankets, an ice scraper, jumper cables, and more. To round out your fall refresh, have a mechanic inspect your vehicle’s battery health, tire pressure, brakes, oil, and any other maintenance concerns so it’s ready to go for the winter season.
Complete a Safety & Maintenance Check
A home maintenance and safety check is an important part of preparing your home for winter, helping to ensure you and your family will be comfortable and safe in the colder months. Take the following steps to make sure your home is ready for colder weather:
- Before using a fireplace or switching on the heater, test all smoke detectors and replace any dead batteries.
- Clean your fireplace, removing excess dust and soot build-up.
- Hire a technician to verify your HVAC systems are in good condition before cold weather hits.
- Inspect the seals on windows and doors to catch and fix any drafts that could leak cold air into your home.
- Clear out your gutters, and conduct a quick roof inspection to avoid potential issues when snow and ice start to arrive.
- Winterize your sprinkler system and drain any hoses and faucets to avoid damage from frozen pipes and ice.
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