The moment leaves go from green to bright orange, red, and yellow, I know I need to start getting my home ready for fall and winter! If you would like to get prepared but don’t know how to do so, be sure to snag the FREE printable checklist! Submit your email and you’ll get it sent straight to your inbox!
As the seasons turn, it seems like there’s always a sort of hustle and bustle that takes place. There’s a rush to get things done as the weather turns.
If it’s summer, I’m usually excavating summer toys from their winter slumber so my children can enjoy the warmer weather. But if it’s fall, I’m preparing my home for shorter days when we’re all looking for something to do.
Keeping the boredom at bay isn’t the only thing fall requires of me. Making sure my home can get through the winter is a huge motivator for getting things prepped and ready to go.
In this blog post, I’m going to take you through everything you as a homemaker can do to make sure your home is prepared for fall! We will largely focus on keeping things cozy, but as responsible stewards of our physical home, we will also touch on a few maintenance things you don’t want to miss.
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How a Homemaker Can Prepare Her Home for Fall
As the weather drives everyone in, there are a few things you need to do to your home to make sure it’s ready for those long winter nights!
Here are a few ways you can maintain your home during the fall.
Change the Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors
A good rule of thumb for this is to change the batteries in your smoke detectors when the time changes – spring forward and fall back!
Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The same rule applies to carbon monoxide detectors. Test them when it’s time to change your clocks.
Cover Outdoor Faucets
When temperatures hit below freezing, standing water in exterior pipes can expand causing pipes to burst. But when you use a protective cover on your exterior faucets, you can keep them (and the standing water) insulated from the cold.
A faucet cover from my local grocery store is anywhere from $2 to $15, depending on the brand. Seems like a small investment for a big reward!
Address Air Leaks
Door frames and windows are the obvious culprits for unnecessary air leaks, so check there first! Other air leaks could be indicative of bigger issues, or be specific to your home.
As cooler weather moves through your area, you could simply lay a draft stopper at your door.
Winterize Outdoor Spaces
Don’t overthink outdoor winter preparation. As a homemaker, you can put away patio furniture and drain garden hoses and fulfill your winter preparation obligations.
If you haven’t already, you can also service a snow blower or other winter machinery you may need during the winter. Make sure it runs and has the proper upkeep, like oil and a filter.
FREE Fall Homemaking Checklist
Maintaining a home is only a sliver of what homemakers do. Creating wonder, encouraging peace, and inspiring joy are at the heart of her work.
For ideas on how to do all of that, download my FREE fall homemaking checklist!
How a Homemaker Can Prepare for Fall
Fall is a great time to circle back on some of the routines you want to follow. Especially since summer always encourages relaxation and a departure from normal routines.
Don’t let this beautiful season of slowing down make you feel like you neglected your home! Enjoy the memories you now have and be thankful that fall does allow you more time indoors, even if it feels like you’re playing “catch up.”
Fall Cleaning Tips
We have already touched on a few of the bigger, more technical cleaning tips. Those go along with general home safety and upkeep.
I also like to take the time to dust my ceiling fans and change the blade settings so the fans turn clockwise. Did you know this creates an updraft that forces warm air down? Such a handy trick to keep up your sleeve!
I also like to take some time and clean windows, remove any dead limbs from trees or shrubs, and change the filters in my HVAC system (we do this every month during the spring, but fall out of the habit as the fun of summer keeps us outside!)
Shop at Thrift Stores
As I’m sorting through winter hats and coats, I jot down what my family may need for the coming season. With growing children, there’s always something that will need to be added to their wardrobe!
The first place I start is thrift stores – and I start as early as August!
Thrift stores are the best place to find reasonably priced apparel. And while I’m there, you know I’m going to be looking for fall decor!
Stock Your Pantry
We always think to prepare water, toilet paper, and fuel when winter storms threaten us. But don’t forget food!
Fall also ushers in baking season, and many grocery stores run sales on things like nuts, flour, and sugar to kick off the holiday sugar high. When you see those items go on sale, snag an extra package or two to put in your freezer for later!
As you squirrel away an extra container or can here or there, you’re also giving yourself a great reason to stay out of the grocery store during the sick season.
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Prepare for Increased Foot Traffic
Thanksgiving and Christmas are special because they emphasize time spent with family. What an honor it is to host others in our home!
Get a jump on holiday planning so you don’t get overwhelmed the day of.
If you’re hosting, consider picking up some festive paper plates so you don’t have to worry about dishes on top of cooking. If your guests are staying the night, you can go the extra mile and prepare a welcome basket with all of their favorite treats.
The best tip I have for hosting is to prepare activities for everyone – especially children! A little planning goes a long way for everyone’s comfort. I talk more about that in this blog post!
Prepare Hostess Gifts
If you aren’t hosting, start looking for universal hostess gifts. I have a blog post with 35 gift ideas for homemakers – start there to get the wheels turning!
Start Collecting Christmas Wish Lists
I love getting a jump on Christmas shopping around late fall. As Christmas looms, stores begin rolling out more displays of toys and gifts that you could pick up and set aside for a month or two.
If you aren’t a fan of a commercial Christmas, this is the perfect time to begin making gifts!
I love taking inspiration I’ve gathered throughout the year and pairing that with my newfound free time to get my creativity flowing. Homemade gifts can also be dressed up with homemade wrapping. Get your children involved in a fun afternoon of coloring and crafts!
Get Baking!
Baking during the colder months is something I look forward to every year. As I snuggle up to the oven with a cup of coffee, I love pulling a warm pastry or cookie out of the oven for snack time. It’s always such a special treat for my kids!
Fall is also the perfect time to begin recipe testing for any Christmas cookie boxes you may be assembling. If you really want to be on the ball, you can make, form, and freeze cookie dough balls for easy baking down the road!
More Fall Homemaking Fun
Do you want to enjoy the fall season to the fullest? Check out these other blog posts!
Preparing for Winter Damage
There’s a lot that proper home maintenance can prevent when it comes to preparing your home for fall.
Be sure to look for areas that are prone to water damage and ways you can prevent it.
If your heating system includes a chimney, invest in a chimney sweep. If you’re handling fire in any way inside your home, get a fire extinguisher. But more than that – know how to use it! It’s going to be useless if you aren’t educated or it’s expired.
If you experience significant winter weather in your area, consider creating an emergency bin to store in your car. Think of things like extra blankets, snacks, water, and flashlights.
How Do You Prepare for Fall?
I love the coziness and richness that comes from fall. How do you prepare your home for fall?
For recipe and decor inspiration, follow me on Pinterest!
Don’t Miss My Fall Checklist!
You can download my FREE printable for your fall homemaking straight from your email. I’ll send it right over! Just submit your email below!
I talk a bit about winter preparation and homemaking in this blog post. But I go into even more detail in my free printable!
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