Forget the Spring Clean – Have You Tried an Autumn Blitz?
The changeover from one season to another is a great opportunity to get organised. Here’s your guide to an autumn clean
Victoria Harrison
12 September 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
After a summer of alfresco dining and outdoor living, the interior of your home can start to feel a little neglected. Which is why autumn is the perfect season to pull the focus firmly back indoors again and whip your home into shape.
As much as I love a good spring clean, there’s something incredibly satisfying about an autumn blitz. It must have something to do with the ‘back to school’ mentality that kicks in around September time, because as soon the nights get crisper I get a real urge to clean my house from top to bottom and get everything in order, ready for the cosy season. if you want to treat your home to an autumn clean, here are 12 jobs to tackle in September.
As much as I love a good spring clean, there’s something incredibly satisfying about an autumn blitz. It must have something to do with the ‘back to school’ mentality that kicks in around September time, because as soon the nights get crisper I get a real urge to clean my house from top to bottom and get everything in order, ready for the cosy season. if you want to treat your home to an autumn clean, here are 12 jobs to tackle in September.
Get the chimney swept
Before you can light the first crackling fire of the season, you’ll need to get your fireplace ready –and that means getting the chimney swept.
If you set up a standing yearly appointment with your local chimney cleaning company, they will send you an annual reminder and you can book in an appointment at the end of the summer to ensure you’re ready to go when temperatures drop. Then all you need to do is stack up the firewood and stockpile the kindling (see below) so you’re all set for the first cold night.
Find the right people to help with your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Before you can light the first crackling fire of the season, you’ll need to get your fireplace ready –and that means getting the chimney swept.
If you set up a standing yearly appointment with your local chimney cleaning company, they will send you an annual reminder and you can book in an appointment at the end of the summer to ensure you’re ready to go when temperatures drop. Then all you need to do is stack up the firewood and stockpile the kindling (see below) so you’re all set for the first cold night.
Find the right people to help with your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Swap your duvet
Now is the time to replace your lightweight duvet with a more heavyweight one. But before you pack away your summer duvet, take the opportunity to get it laundered so it will be fresh and clean when you need it next spring. Just make sure you store it in a ziplock bag to keep it dust-free.
As much as I love the warm, balmy nights of summer, there’s something so cosy and reassuring about making up a proper ‘winter’ bed with a thick duvet and soft eiderdown to snuggle under when the weather gets cooler.
Now is the time to replace your lightweight duvet with a more heavyweight one. But before you pack away your summer duvet, take the opportunity to get it laundered so it will be fresh and clean when you need it next spring. Just make sure you store it in a ziplock bag to keep it dust-free.
As much as I love the warm, balmy nights of summer, there’s something so cosy and reassuring about making up a proper ‘winter’ bed with a thick duvet and soft eiderdown to snuggle under when the weather gets cooler.
Audit the airing cupboard
The changeover between seasons is also a good time to take stock of your bedding; go through all your sheets and pillowcases, upgrading any that are looking a bit tired, and sort everything else out into neat bundles to store in the airing cupboard. That way you can grab a full set when it’s time to make the beds rather than hunting around for matching pillowcases and duvet covers at the back of the cupboard.
The changeover between seasons is also a good time to take stock of your bedding; go through all your sheets and pillowcases, upgrading any that are looking a bit tired, and sort everything else out into neat bundles to store in the airing cupboard. That way you can grab a full set when it’s time to make the beds rather than hunting around for matching pillowcases and duvet covers at the back of the cupboard.
Do a wardrobe edit
This is also the perfect time to take stock of your clothes, shoes and accessories. As you pack away your summer clothes and replace them with winter layers, take the opportunity to sort through everything and see if anything needs replacing or recycling.
Put anything that hasn’t been worn at all during the summer season into a recycling pile, and place anything that’s worn out in another pile to remind yourself to buy a replacement item. And also make a list of any winter items you may need.
This is also the perfect time to take stock of your clothes, shoes and accessories. As you pack away your summer clothes and replace them with winter layers, take the opportunity to sort through everything and see if anything needs replacing or recycling.
Put anything that hasn’t been worn at all during the summer season into a recycling pile, and place anything that’s worn out in another pile to remind yourself to buy a replacement item. And also make a list of any winter items you may need.
Tidy up bookshelves
How many books did you take on holiday this summer… and how many stayed in your suitcase the entire time? There are so many other fun things to do on holiday – sunbathing, eating out, sightseeing, relaxing, that books often don’t get a look-in.
Winter evenings, on the other hand, are a much better time to tackle your reading list. Cosy nights tucked up in your favourite armchair with a warm blanket offer the perfect opportunity to dive into a new paperback.
To set up the perfect reading spot, you’ll need to start by tidying up those bookshelves. Take everything off the shelves, give the shelves a good scrub and the books a good dusting, and then sort through all your novels as you put them back. Take any that you want to recycle to your local charity shop, and – if you’re the really neat type – sort the rest into categories or by colour. If, like me, you have a few favourite books that you like to reread every winter, move these, along with any new books, onto a separate shelf so they are close to hand.
How many books did you take on holiday this summer… and how many stayed in your suitcase the entire time? There are so many other fun things to do on holiday – sunbathing, eating out, sightseeing, relaxing, that books often don’t get a look-in.
Winter evenings, on the other hand, are a much better time to tackle your reading list. Cosy nights tucked up in your favourite armchair with a warm blanket offer the perfect opportunity to dive into a new paperback.
To set up the perfect reading spot, you’ll need to start by tidying up those bookshelves. Take everything off the shelves, give the shelves a good scrub and the books a good dusting, and then sort through all your novels as you put them back. Take any that you want to recycle to your local charity shop, and – if you’re the really neat type – sort the rest into categories or by colour. If, like me, you have a few favourite books that you like to reread every winter, move these, along with any new books, onto a separate shelf so they are close to hand.
Make way for winter boots
Autumn means wet weather gear, so you’ll need to clear enough space in your hallway or coat cupboard to make way for all the wellingtons, raincoats and thick winter gear that are likely to pile up when the days get crisper.
Pack away any lightweight summer shoes and coats to clear as much cupboard/hall space as possible, and make sure you have a good sturdy doormat and boot scraper ready to give muddy boots a quick clean outside the front door.
Autumn means wet weather gear, so you’ll need to clear enough space in your hallway or coat cupboard to make way for all the wellingtons, raincoats and thick winter gear that are likely to pile up when the days get crisper.
Pack away any lightweight summer shoes and coats to clear as much cupboard/hall space as possible, and make sure you have a good sturdy doormat and boot scraper ready to give muddy boots a quick clean outside the front door.
Check your heating
Whether you turn your heating on like clockwork on the 1 October or if you have a more relaxed approach to it, you’ll need to get your boiler and radiators checked before this date to ensure any issues are fixed in plenty of time.
Your boiler should be serviced every year, so diarise it to make sure you don’t forget to book an appointment, or set up a regular yearly appointment for this. Radiators should be bled regularly, too. This is a relatively straightforward job you can do yourself though, and there are many online tutorials to show you how to do this if you are unsure.
Whether you turn your heating on like clockwork on the 1 October or if you have a more relaxed approach to it, you’ll need to get your boiler and radiators checked before this date to ensure any issues are fixed in plenty of time.
Your boiler should be serviced every year, so diarise it to make sure you don’t forget to book an appointment, or set up a regular yearly appointment for this. Radiators should be bled regularly, too. This is a relatively straightforward job you can do yourself though, and there are many online tutorials to show you how to do this if you are unsure.
Tidy up your outdoor space
Cooler weather doesn’t mean abandoning the garden altogether, but you will need to switch over to ‘autumn mode’ to enable outdoor living to continue into the colder months. This means packing away summer garden toys and winter-proofing your outdoor space to turn it into a cosy retreat.
Warmth and light are the key to extending the lifespan of your garden, so stock up on lanterns and candles as these will become even more important as the light fades. Swap summery citronella candles for sturdier wind-proof storm lanterns and group them around an outdoor seating area to create a snug conversation area. If you have a firepit or chiminea, this will come into its own now so ensure you have ordered enough firewood for it and place it somewhere central.
Finally, pick a box to keep near the back door and fill it with thick blankets, cushions and warm layers that are easy to grab when you want to go outdoors.
Cooler weather doesn’t mean abandoning the garden altogether, but you will need to switch over to ‘autumn mode’ to enable outdoor living to continue into the colder months. This means packing away summer garden toys and winter-proofing your outdoor space to turn it into a cosy retreat.
Warmth and light are the key to extending the lifespan of your garden, so stock up on lanterns and candles as these will become even more important as the light fades. Swap summery citronella candles for sturdier wind-proof storm lanterns and group them around an outdoor seating area to create a snug conversation area. If you have a firepit or chiminea, this will come into its own now so ensure you have ordered enough firewood for it and place it somewhere central.
Finally, pick a box to keep near the back door and fill it with thick blankets, cushions and warm layers that are easy to grab when you want to go outdoors.
Do a garden stock check
As the gardening season dials down, it’s the ideal time to take stock of gardening supplies and write a list of anything you’ll need to replace before next spring. Make a note of any seeds and bulbs you’ll need to order for autumn planting, and check you have enough seed trays, plant pots, labels and twine.
Clean and pack away the lawnmower, and give any garden tools such as forks, shears and spades a good clean before you hang them up for the winter. You’ll also need to sweep out greenhouses and scrub down cold frames and growhouses.
As the gardening season dials down, it’s the ideal time to take stock of gardening supplies and write a list of anything you’ll need to replace before next spring. Make a note of any seeds and bulbs you’ll need to order for autumn planting, and check you have enough seed trays, plant pots, labels and twine.
Clean and pack away the lawnmower, and give any garden tools such as forks, shears and spades a good clean before you hang them up for the winter. You’ll also need to sweep out greenhouses and scrub down cold frames and growhouses.
Stockpile firewood
I love seeing a neat pile of seasoned firewood outside a house, as much for the pleasingly ordered look of it as for the promise it holds of cheerfully crackling fires and cosy nights indoors.
Now is the time to make sure you have enough wood for the season ahead, so sweep out that wood shed, order a new batch of logs and kindling (pre-seasoned if you are ordering it for use this winter) and bask in the glow of knowing when winter comes you’ll be fully prepared.
I love seeing a neat pile of seasoned firewood outside a house, as much for the pleasingly ordered look of it as for the promise it holds of cheerfully crackling fires and cosy nights indoors.
Now is the time to make sure you have enough wood for the season ahead, so sweep out that wood shed, order a new batch of logs and kindling (pre-seasoned if you are ordering it for use this winter) and bask in the glow of knowing when winter comes you’ll be fully prepared.
Get the harvest in
I also love the busyness of the autumn season, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen where a harvest of autumnal fruits and berries can be stored or preserved before the first frosts appear.
Rich blackberries, bright redcurrants and golden apples are all for the picking in the autumn months, along with rhubarb, pears and a glut of other garden produce, so you’ll need to get busy if you want to make the most of the harvest. Apples can be carefully stored and kept for several months, while berries and soft fruits can be frozen or made into jams and preserves.
I also love the busyness of the autumn season, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen where a harvest of autumnal fruits and berries can be stored or preserved before the first frosts appear.
Rich blackberries, bright redcurrants and golden apples are all for the picking in the autumn months, along with rhubarb, pears and a glut of other garden produce, so you’ll need to get busy if you want to make the most of the harvest. Apples can be carefully stored and kept for several months, while berries and soft fruits can be frozen or made into jams and preserves.
Clear up your desk
If the summer months are for playing and holidaying, then the winter months are for thinking, planning and scheming.
As soon as the first wisp of wood smoke curls into the autumn air I get that ‘back to school’ feeling, and with it comes the irresistible urge to buy a new leather satchel and fill it with new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils. Despite the fact that I left school over 20 years ago, I still associate autumn with fresh beginnings and new opportunities, so it’s a great time to reconnect with hopes, plans and dreams and start to get new projects underway. Whether you want to start new building work in the spring, design a new garden or even change your career, the best plans for spring and summer projects are laid in winter. So take charge of your desk space, clear off all the clutter, sharpen those pencils and carve out a space for planning, writing and scheming.
Tell us…
How do you get your home ready for autumn? Tell us in the Comments section.
If the summer months are for playing and holidaying, then the winter months are for thinking, planning and scheming.
As soon as the first wisp of wood smoke curls into the autumn air I get that ‘back to school’ feeling, and with it comes the irresistible urge to buy a new leather satchel and fill it with new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils. Despite the fact that I left school over 20 years ago, I still associate autumn with fresh beginnings and new opportunities, so it’s a great time to reconnect with hopes, plans and dreams and start to get new projects underway. Whether you want to start new building work in the spring, design a new garden or even change your career, the best plans for spring and summer projects are laid in winter. So take charge of your desk space, clear off all the clutter, sharpen those pencils and carve out a space for planning, writing and scheming.
Tell us…
How do you get your home ready for autumn? Tell us in the Comments section.
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Great tips Victoria; I do love to sit outside with a blanket if the rains holds off! All these reasons are why APDO set up National Organising Week each November. This is year the focus is on taming your kitchen organisation to help reduce food waste!
I love to change my cushions seasonally, put thicker duvets on the beds, get my woolies out and light candles and the fire. Love this article.
Certainly an opportunity to decide, once and for all, whether or not to hang on to summer clothes before packing them away, or to winter clothes before hanging them up. After that, the autumn is one of the busiest times in the garden, as well as preserving fruit (whether jams, jellies or pickles) and gathering walnuts – three large shopping bags of them so far.