There is something about the month of September that signals a shift. With back to school and changing seasons, it feel like a time for fresh starts, to do lists and changing priorities. Our focus turns from summer events, to fall preparations. Sometimes we feel a desire to declutter what isn’t serving us anymore or notice an item that needs to be replaced or serviced. It’s the perfect time for reflection and renewal!
And yet, September is a busy month when it comes to keeping your home maintained and organized. As a shoulder season, there is a lot that needs to be done to wrap up summer and prepare your home for winter. With the weather starting to change, there is pressure to complete winterizing tasks before the rain comes.
To help keep these tasks organized (and ensure that they are done in a timely manner!) I always suggest putting together a to-do list for the month. Knowing what needs to be done helps you schedule your time to check off these items when the weather is favorable instead of being caught off guard.
To help get you started, I’ve put together a list of tasks I suggest completing in September. Feel free to print my list and add any other personal tasks that need to be done.
Here’s a suggested list of things to do this September to keep your home maintained and organized:
Add some cozy accessories to your home
When the temperatures start to dip, you may notice yourself reaching for warmth, be that a light sweater, fuzzy throw blanket or an extra bed blanket. Now is the time to cozy up your home and get out all those soft blankets, flannel sheet and extra pillows. And if you are feeling festive, it’s a great time to add a few seasonal decorations.
Purge your closet (especially summer items!)
Going through your clothes at the end of a season is the perfect way to remember what you actually wear (and what never made it out of your closet!) Purge the items that no longer fit, are worn out, or just aren’t your favorite. Future you will be thankful that you don’t have to store these extra items until next summer.
Reorganize your entryway for easier mornings
With back to school and a change in season, it’s the perfect time to evaluate you entry to make sure it’s working for you and your family. Take a good look around the space and note any problems that could use solving. Too many shoes on the floor? Consider adding a shoe rack or basket. Backpacks and coats littering the entry? Add hooks to the wall to give household members a place to hang their belongings.
Schedule service appointments for furnace and replace filter
When was the last time your furnace was serviced? Fall is a great time to schedule an appointment before the HVAC companies are busy with winter repairs and it will help ensure your furnace works as expected on those first cold fall mornings.
Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
Fall and spring are the perfect time to check the safety of your home. Test all smoke alarms and make sure you have at least 1 carbon monoxide alarm per floor of your house. Change batteries as needed and buy and install more detectors if you realize your home doesn’t have enough.
Put away summer gear
All those swim toys, beach chairs, and coolers have passed their frequent use stage. Now is the time to put them away in long term storage, whether that be in the shed, garage or attic. This can mean rotating fall and winter gear (hello sleds and snow shovels!) into an easier to reach spot and putting summer gear out of the way.
Purge summer photos on your phone
Have a few minutes while waiting in line? Use that bonus time to review your summer pictures and delete any duds. The extra 45 pictures you snapped just trying to get one of everyone smiling or the duplicate sunset picture will not be needed in the future so now is the time to clear the space on your phone. Even just 5 minutes will make a big difference.
Clean and winterize outdoor furniture
This one is always a battle against weather! While it is amazing to keep outdoor furniture out for September and October, in some locations the change in weather can be swift and punishing. Better to take advantage of the warm weather in early September to clean & fully dry outdoor cushions and rugs before safely storing for the fall and winter.
Add Fall favorites to your meal planning
Dust off your favorite fall cookbooks and bring back soups, stews and roasts into your regular meal rotation! Purchase seasonal ingredients, like squash and root veggies or a can of pumpkin to your grocery order and make a seasonal pumpkin bread. Just a few food tweaks can make your meals feel fresh and new for the season.
Looking for a way to track these to-do items? Download your own copy of the September List
Click here to download a printable copy of the September List and use the extra empty bullet points to write in any personal to do’s
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