Welcome, Fall! With the changing of the seasons, it is a great time to knock out those quarterly home tasks. Get your family ready for cooler weather and get a head start on preparing for the holiday season. You won’t regret it in the long run!
This post includes affiliate links, and I may receive compensation from their usage. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon. This does not sway my opinion in the least. I appreciate your support!
Fall seasonal tasks:
- Rotate clothing; store summer-specific outfits, inventory cold weather clothes and keep a list of any gaps that need filled for the upcoming seasons. Don’t forget to check outerwear and boots!
- Review calendar for upcoming birthdays; make sure cards and gifts are purchased.
- Review calendar for upcoming events or deadlines that you need to start on now. For example, in my area, preschools begin enrolling for 2022 in February, so I have “schedule preschool tours” on my list for late Fall. Check out my post on choosing a preschool here!
- Who needs haircuts? Doctor or dentist appointments? Pet grooming?
- Change whole-home air filter.
- Clean washing machine and dryer vent. Did you know that dryer vent-related fires cause $35 million in property loss per year? In other words, clean yours out today.
- Wash comforter, swap to cold-weather bedding, and rotate mattress. If you are in need of fresh bedding, you can’t go wrong with The Company Store (my link will save you 25%!)
- Check water lines to refrigerator and dishwasher.
- Vacuum fridge coils and floor under refrigerator.
- Clean the outsides of windows; I like to use Windex Outdoor because it is easy to use with just the garden hose! I have this on my list to do early in the season because I know my husband puts the hose away for the winter and I don’t want to miss my chance as a result!
- Check your tires to make sure they’re ready for winter driving! If you don’t know how to do that, check this handy guide here. While you’re there, check the date on your inspection sticker and mileage on your oil change sticker.
- Decorate the outside of your home for fall! Pumpkins, mums, hay bales, corn stalks– don’t just skip ahead to the Jack O’Lanterns! Enjoy the autumn!
Holiday prep and planning!
If you haven’t already, start thinking about the upcoming holidays! This is a biggie, so it will get its own section of the list.
Halloween!
- Costumes! If your kids are old enough, have they chosen a costume? If your kids are younger, pick a costume in line with their interests and get it done, Mama!
- Do the costumes need accessories? Do your littles have candy buckets? Does your car need a costume for Trunk or Treat? (I have some great ideas in this post!)
- Pull the Halloween decoration bins and look them over; is anything broken or outdated since last year? Any gaps in indoor or outdoor decor you need to address? Stores like to be a holiday ahead so, as a result, you’ll want to get this done before the shelves are cleared to make way for Santa.
- Treats and experiences. Are there any local Halloween experiences you need to be aware of? Our church does Trunk or Treat and I need to look at upcoming newsletters so that I don’t miss registration details! Haunted houses, hayrides, costume parades— update your family calendar with the events you don’t want to miss! Oh, and candy. Get some candy. And then get some more, just in case.
Moving on to Thanksgiving!
- Who is hosting in your life? Will you be bringing a dish? If so, put the non-perishable ingredients on your grocery list for this week! With supply chain issues still a thing in many areas, I’m sure we’ll see empty shelves again before too long, especially concerning holiday favorites! Furthermore, most grocery chains mark down Thanksgiving staples early in the season as well!
- If you’re hosting, consider booking carpet cleanings or other home maintenance services now before their appointment books fill up.
- Do your kids have their holiday outfits? Do you? Make sure things fit and are clean and hung wrinkle-free. If you don’t have them already, get them ordered now! Some of my favorite online shops for “nice clothes” are The Beaufort Bonnet Company, Janie and Jack, Cecil and Lou, and even Carters has some great choices!
And the big one: your winter holiday of choice!
- Book a photographer for holiday cards and do it NOW!
- Start obsessing over– I mean thinking about– outfits for family photos. You’ll want a cohesive look without being too matchy at the same time. I have some great ideas on my Pinterest!
- Update your address list and order holiday cards as soon as your gallery comes in. It might seem obsessive, but you’ll be so pleased to have it taken care of when everyone else is stalking UPS waiting for their package from Shutterfly.
- Plan holiday travel.
- Make a list of potential gift ideas and consider starting your holiday shopping now– don’t @ me! November You will appreciate the head start!
- Plan holiday activities; are there recurring events that your family likes to do every year? Write them out and put them on your calendar.
Phew! Are you ready? Get yourself a PSL or a big chai tea latte and get to work!
Tell me, what’s on your fall to-do list?
Pam says
What a great list! A lot of these are on my “fall list” too, but I found some new ones to add.
Caroline says
I’m so glad you found my list helpful! Thank you for sharing, Pam!