Fall Organizing Checklist to Prepare for Cold Winter Months
Fall brings the feeling of nesting for us all. The season change and a cold winter ahead has us planning and preparing. Getting a start on fall organizing will make your fall more relaxed. Here are some things you can do right now to prepare.
Garage Organizing
With any organization process, the key to cleaning is clearing away the clutter.
- Spread everything into your driveway, to go through everything you’ve piled into the garage.
- Group by use such as toys, tools, garbage and equipment.
- Get rid of anything you haven’t used in two years.
- Get rid of anything broken, or otherwise considered junk.
- Buy hooks and shelves to get as much as you can off the floor. Storage is important. Peg boards, wall shelves, rolling carts and wall hooks should be used whenever possible.
- Buy clear bins with labels to help keep smaller items organized and easy to find when needed. Consider open bins for toys and equipment that are frequently accessed.
- Mark areas where items get stored such as labels on the walls and shelves, and painter’s tape on the floor.
Outside Organizing
With your outdoor areas packed up, you can enjoy the cooler month’s guilt-free and tucked indoors.
- Take care of and pack up your outdoor living items.
- Clean any pieces you plan to store: cushions, hammocks, umbrellas.
- Stack patio furniture and cushions, and store in your garage or on a covered porch. If you don’t have the room, you can leave furniture outside with heavy-duty waterproof furniture covers. These will stand up to winter weather and keep everything protected. Most granite pieces can withstand the elements so you can leave those alone, but softer stones like cast stone, marble or manufactured stone should be either covered or moved.
- Clean and cover your grill, but you don’t need to pack it away. Keep your grill available for grilling all winter.
Yard Organizing
The beginning of fall is the perfect time to prep your lawn for a lush spring. You won’t be planting any new plants, but you’ll want to prep your green areas for the impending cold. And cooler temperatures mean you won’t be boiling in the summer sun while you work outdoors in the yard.
- Reseed any bare spots in your lawn and use a winter fertilizer that builds resistance to the cold.
- Prepare for the fall and winter by fertilizing, mulching and pruning shrubs and trees.
- Always rake fallen leaves.
- Plant bulbs for spring flowers.
Kitchen Organizing
- Pull out summer entertaining items and outdoor dishes to free up space in your cabinets and countertops.
- Clear the pantry of summer convenience foods.
- Before your next trip to the grocery store (or delivery), empty the refrigerator. Toss items that are expired.
- Wipe down all shelves and walls of the refrigerator.
- Inventory what food items you have and plan some meals around those items.
- Jot down some favorite fall meals to make your meal planning a bit easier.
Enjoy the cooler weather. Remember to take your organizing journey one step at a time. Focus on what matters and what will have the biggest impact for you.
If finding the time and creating a strategy to organize is overwhelming, a professional organizer can help. See if Top Shelf Home Organizing can help you on your journey. Contact Jayme to schedule a consult or chat about organizing.
