Favorite Fall Organizing Projects
When the fall season hits each year, I get the itch to get some fall organizing projects done. Here is my list of 8 projects for this season. Feel free to do these projects yourself, or make up your own list.
1) Wash the windows. I want to be sure I'm able to enjoy the colors of fall and I don't want to have to view them through dirty windows. So, I plan to grab my squeegee and pail and go outside to work on cleaning a minimum of two windows each day until they are all done.
2) Hose 'em down. Lawn mowers, plastic garbage bins, bikes and other items stored in the garage tend to get very dusty. Get your husband out there and choose a weekend to drag anything that could be washed onto the driveway. Then hose everything off to get them nice and clean again before returning them to the garage. While everything is out in the driveway, also take the opportunity to sweep and hose out the garage.
3) Have a closet session. Make a plan to go through your wardrobe from last fall and winter to see what you want to keep, and what you want to donate. All donations can be brought to a local charity. Once this is done, you will be able to take inventory and determine if there's anything new you need to buy to make up your new fall wardrobe complete.
4) Old toys. Plan to get together with the kids, go through there old toys and have them help put the ones they no longer play with in a large box. Then drive together to a charity drop-off to make your donation. Finally, make one last stop at a toy store to pick up one new item for being so kind and giving.
5. Skip the Market. Plan to skip going to the Farmer's Market/Grocery Store for one week (we'll just pick up milk at the convenience store) and use up any food that you already have in the house. You may be surprised how many meals you can scrape together from your refrigerator, freezer, cabinets and/or pantry. Before shopping the following week, give all of those food storage areas a good cleaning--it will be quick because most of the food will have been eaten! You will have a better idea of what you REALLY need and not what you thought you needed.
6) Finish that holiday shopping. Try not to do any holiday shopping December (unless it is for last minute things). It is always a good plan to try and have it completely finished by the end of October or the first of November. This way, you can enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends, rather than rushing to crowded malls and pulling your hair out.
7) Perennials and Pruning. Landscaping is usually made up of perennial plants for most people. So arrange a day where you can take a full afternoon or more to go and select this year's additions to the garden. Try to take a nice, sunny day and get it all done in an afternoon. After you are finished and have them loaded in your car go back inside and take some time to reward yourself with a delicious cup of apple cider. (Don't forget about getting those tulip bulbs planted!)
Note also:
As a rule it is best to wait until late fall to do any pruning. So schedule well in advance if you are having someone come into do it for you.
8) Get the house decorated. When the season changes it always seems like such a chore to put away last season's decorations. If you rotate with new decoration's right after you have put the others away it won't seem like such a chore. You soon forget and have now created a beautiful new display. It's always great to keep those creative juices flowing.
Keep about 5 large, plastic boxes that hold seasonal items--one season per box. The task will be both easy, and fun!
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