How to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Sure, it’s still August, and sweltering, but the time to prepare your home for Fall is NOW! If you’re like me, I’m a busy mom, and while maybe some of the weekly cleaning tasks are getting done, there are so many things that have fallen through the cracks. I’m looking at you, grimy kitchen table legs!

How good would it feel to get some of these tasks that are driving us nuts DONE before we drag out the beautiful fall decor come September? I’ll answer my own question! It’s going to feel awesome! So, let’s get going and get a list together to plan out how we are going to get this done! And, since I need SIMPLE, let’s go room by room!

I would like to invite you to join me on a two-week challenge to get our homes fully prepared for fall! You can also follow me on Instagram for some real life before and afters as I tackle the grime in my own home to prep for the fall season!

If you have missed the start date, don’t worry! Just jump in where you are! I will save the before and after stories on Instagram in the Fall Home Prep bubble.

Imagine how good it will feel to move into this cozy season without all these things hanging over your head!

The plan is to only spend an hour or two, Monday through Friday these two weeks, depending on the tasks that need to be accomplished those days. This is not a power speed clean! This is not my season for fall cleaning my house in one or two days. I’m a homeschooling mama of 3, plus a 3-year-old who is into everything…oh yeah, and I’m 12 weeks pregnant with baby number 5! I completely understand not having full days to devote to this! Take it easy and slow and you will be so surprised at what you can accomplish in just 10 days! If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll join me!

Click here to join the challenge starting August 19, and I will send you a free printable checklist to keep you organized! Again, no worries if you missed the start date! This list can be completed at any time!

While we could guilt trip ourselves by saying that these are things we should do more regularly, we could and should choose to give ourselves grace and jump right in where we are today! Since we mamas spend so much time in the kitchen, let’s start there for big impact! Also, this room will probably be the most time-consuming, so let’s get it out of the way first! We are going to break it up over three days to avoid burnout!

• Vacuum tops of cabinets
• Clean light fixtures
• Dust Blinds and/or Clean Window Treatments
• Clean Windows and Window Tracks
• Declutter/ Wipe Down Counters
• Vacuum/ Wipe out Cabinets and Drawers
• Scrub Cabinet Fronts
• Clean Refrigerator
• Scrub Dishwasher (Inside and Out)
• Clean Stove/ Oven
• Clean Small Appliances
• Scrub Table and Chairs (Focus on the legs- you will be grossed out!)
• Wipe Trim and Baseboards
• Quick Declutter
• Organize Pantry
• Sweep and Mop Floor

Your bedroom should be a haven and a sanctuary for you, but maybe some extra clutter and grime has slipped in! Let’s not beat ourselves up about it! Let’s get it done!

• Strip Bed/ Wash All Bedding
• Clean Ceiling Fan/Light Fixtures
• Dust/Clean Moulding and Baseboards
• Clean Windows/Window Tracks
• Quick Declutter
• Dust
• Clean Mirrors
• Vacuum

This is the place where we should be able to relax and unwind with our families, but for mama, it’s next to impossible with all the clutter and hidden things that are driving you crazy! Let’s tackle the living room next.

• Clean Ceiling Fan/ Light Fixtures
• Dust
• Clean Windows/Window Tracks
• Quick Declutter
• Wash Throw Blankets
• Thoroughly Vacuum couches and chairs
• Spot-clean any areas on furniture that need attention
• Vacuum/ Mop

Here is a quick list for each of your bathrooms. In our house, we have four (both blessing and a curse), so of course, there is much to be done!

• Quick Declutter of Countertops, Drawers, and Cabinets
• Wipe Down Countertops, Drawers, and Cabinets
• Clean Sinks and Toilets
• Scrub Showers and Tubs
• Clean Windows/ Window Tracks
• Sweep and Mop

We all have a different set up in our houses. For our family, we don’t really have much of an entry way by our front door. We all enter through the mudroom/laundry room off the garage, and it is my nemesis! Here are some things on my list to tackle here in this space!

• Quick Declutter
• Dust
• Clean Windows/ Window Tracks
• Clean Utility Sink
• Organize Shoes
• Catch Up Laundry
• Mop Floor

Since every house is different, I’ve purposely left this block a little ambiguous. Perhaps, you have spaces in your basement or kid’s rooms that need some serious attention as well. Let’s take some time to accomplish those tasks so that you can head into this new season feeling great about your home!

• Dust Ceiling Fans/ Light Fixtures
• Clean Windows/ Window Tracks
• Quick Declutter
• Dust
• Vacuum

• Clear Cobwebs
• Sweep Porch
• Clear Out Summer Flowers (I mean if some of them look pretty sad like mine do. Plants come to my house to die each year!)
• Put Away Summer Pillows/ Decor

Now, you’ve done a fantastic job of making sure to prepare your home for fall this year! Bring on September, pumpkins, cinnamon, candles, and cozy blankets! You have a refreshed space to enjoy this beautiful season in!

If you participated in this challenge, I’d love to hear from you! Let me know how you feel about it, and anything you would do differently next year to prepare your home for fall! Were there things you added in that would be helpful for us all? If you can relate to not being about to stay on top of all the tasks that we are “supposed” to do more often, leave a comment below! You’ve found “your person”! I love clean and tidy, but I’m only human and so, in this season of littles, I’m extending grace upon grace on both myself and you, my friend!