10 Things to Do Around the House Before Labor Day to Prepare for Fall
Inside: An end-of-summer home checklist of quick things to do before Labor Day to prepare your home for fall. Refresh, organize, and get ready for cozy days ahead!
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Even though fall isn’t officially here until late September, Labor Day always feels like the changing of the seasons. And the last bit of summer (and the long holiday weekend) is the perfect time for a mini fall home prep.
This quick end of summer home checklist is full of pre-fall home projects we can knock out in an afternoon or less. By the time September rolls in, we’ll have a refreshed space that’s ready for cozier days, game-day gatherings, and holiday hosting!
Here’s a quick sample of what’s on the list:
- Kitchen and pantry prep for fall cooking
- Refreshing floors and lighting
- Decluttering summer extras and getting ready for seasonal decor
- Restocking essentials for cozy mornings and fall entertaining
Here are ten things to do before Labor Day to prepare our homes for fall:
1. Prep Your Coffee Station for Cozy Mornings.
The coffee pot is about to become the star attraction on the kitchen counter again. That first cool morning will feel even better with a cup of warm pumpkin spice-flavored coffee goodness.
Wipe down the coffee maker thoroughly, clean or replace filters, and run a cycle of vinegar and water through to remove mineral buildup. Refill sweeteners and organize your mugs. Add a tray next to your coffee maker and fill with pretty coffee supplies and decor like:
- Mugs or cups
- Sugar bowl or jar of sweetener packets
- Small creamer pitcher
- Canister of coffee pods or ground coffee/beans
- Stir spoons or a small container of stir sticks, a coffee spoon rest
- Napkins or a folded linen tea towel
- Flavored syrups in glass pump dispensers
- Small vase of flowers or greenery (or include a first hint of fall decor)
See how I start easing into the season in “29 Easy Ways To Get Into a Cozy Fall Mood At Home” for a little autumn inspiration.
2. Prep Your Kitchen for Fall Cooking.
Before the holiday baking and big family meals begin, give your kitchen a quick cleanout and organization session so it’s ready for the major cooking of the upcoming seasons.
Clear Out and Organize the Refrigerator for Fall Cooking
Toss anything expired or out of season like half-empty popsicle boxes or multiple leftover condiments from summer cookouts. Wipe shelves and drawers so they’re fresh and ready for fall produce and ingredients.
Labor Day weekend is also a great time to freeze your summer herbs so you’ll have them ready for fall cooking.
Declutter and Organize Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers for Fall
Start with the spice cabinet—organize it so you know where to quickly locate everything, toss anything expired, and make note of what needs replacing. Make sure all of your kitchen cabinets are arranged how they make the most sense so that the contents are in easy reach of where you would use them, like around the cooktop, oven, and prep space. Clean out and neaten kitchen towels, dish rags, and potholders so they’re ready for pie-baking season.
Clean Your Oven Before Holiday Baking
Holiday baking will be here before you know it, so now’s the perfect time to clean the oven while it’s not in heavy use. Wipe down the inside, scrub the racks, and even give the stovetop a quick but thorough cleaning. You’ll thank yourself when you’re not continuing to burn on past spills and splatters.
See this simple step-by-step guide to cleaning the entire oven without using toxic and harsh chemicals that’s better for you and your oven!
Update Your Fridge Calendar or Family Command Center
If you use a fridge calendar or family command center, take a few minutes to wipe it down, swap in a fresh calendar page, and update any schedules or meal plans for the busy months ahead.
Deep Clean and Freshen the Kitchen Sink and Garbage Disposal
A shiny, fresh-smelling sink instantly makes the whole kitchen feel cleaner. Scrub the basin with Bar Keepers Friend, run a cleaning pod or citrus peel through the disposal, scrub the gunk in the crevice under the counter, and shine up the faucet.
See more of the 15 Things People Forget to Clean in Their Homes (That Make a Big Difference).
3. Refresh and Restock the Pantry.
Unlike the rest of the kitchen, the pantry stores both food and cooking essentials, which means it can quickly become cluttered and disorganized. A well-organized pantry makes meal prep faster, helps avoid buying duplicates, and keeps food from expiring before you use it.
Start by removing everything from the shelves so you can see exactly what you have. Toss anything that’s expired, donate unopened items you know you won’t use, and wipe down the shelves before putting things back. Group similar items together, such as baking ingredients, canned goods, snacks, and breakfast foods, so they’re easy to find. Use clear containers or baskets to corral loose items and make the space look neat.
4. Deep Clean the Floors Before Fall.
Once we start spending more time indoors, we don’t want to hunker down in all of the summer dust and dirt that’s been tracked in. Move furniture enough to vacuum the hidden spider webs and dust bunnies, steam clean area rugs and wall to wall carpet, and spot treat any stains in high-traffic carpet areas for a quick refresh. It’s one of those chores I only notice after it’s done but my whole space feels (and smells) a lot cleaner!
5. Clean or Swap Out Air Filters.
It’s not glamorous but still important, especially considering how hard the A/C has been running all summer and that we’re about to close up ourselves up in the house more often. Change HVAC filters, clean portable air purifier filters, and vacuum vacuum filters to improve airflow and reduce dust particles in the air.
6. Check Lighting for Shorter Days.
As days get shorter, lighting plays a bigger role in making our homes feel warm and welcoming. Replace any burnt-out bulbs, and walk through the house to mull over what areas might need a different wattage, cooler or warmer cast bulbs, and any spots that could use a lamp. (I love putting automatic timers on a few lamps for a cozy glow in the evenings.)
7. Organize and Prep Your Entertaining Essentials.
Football season, fall dinners, and holiday get-togethers aren’t far off. Take stock of serving dishes, trays, and glassware. Get rid of pieces you’ll never use, wash dusty glasses and china, and make a list of what you need to buy. Restock paper goods, candles, or napkins so you’re ready for hosting.
Need ideas for basic pieces you should have in your core collection of entertaining items? I cover that in “Entertaining 101: Basic How-To Guide for the Home Hostess“.
8. Declutter Summer Extras.
Before the chaos of fall routines hits, clear out what you won’t need until next year. Even if it is still hot outside, there’s a good chance you won’t use some of those summer items again after Labor Day. Think beach towels, summer decor, outdoor games and toys, beach bags, or your pool flip flops. Donate what you didn’t use and store the rest in labeled bins.
If you’re in a bigger organizing mood, my How to Declutter Your Home for a Fresh Start in the New Year post has even more tips.
9. Organize Closets for the Season Change.
Instead of packing all the warm weather clothes away and bringing out the fall/winter in one weekend, take 15–30 minutes now to start working it in. Rotate in a few transitional pieces like lightweight sweaters or rain jackets where they’re easily accessible so they’re ready when temps dip. Don’t forget about shoes, boots, and handbags. And as you go, get rid of anything you’re never going to wear or that has seen better days. (I’m always horrified at the state of some of my shoes when I look at them for the first time after a year!)
10. Make Room in the Garage for Seasonal Decor.
I know when the fall and holiday decor comes out, I need a big area for temporary storage and working space and it’s usually in the garage. It’s super frustrating when I’m ready to dive into decorating and I don’t have this area clean because I’ve filled it with “stuff” during the first half of the year. So do yourself a favor with this quick task—before you pull down the fall bins and Halloween decor, make some space and get everything back where it’s supposed to go. Store or donate unused summer items, consolidate boxes, and clear the area near the attic stairs or storage shelves.
Before You Know It…It Will Be Fall.
By tackling just a few of these quick Labor Day weekend house projects now, we’re setting our homes up for an easier, smoother transition into fall. And the best part? We’ll start the new season with a refreshed space, fewer to-dos, and more room to enjoy the cozy days ahead.
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