Spring gets all the glory as the season of cleaning, but I’d like to officially declare fall as the best time of year to clean and declutter our homes. Why? We’re about to spend the next several months cozied up indoors, and who wouldn’t want to spend that time in a well-organized and clutter-free environment? I know I would, which is why I’ll be spending the beginning of fall purging closets, drawers, and cabinets to make my home clean and cozy ahead of winter. Plus, spring cleaning will be that much easier come next year. Just imagine knowing exactly where all your supplies are for your cozy hobbies, reaching into a well-organized pantry full of seasonal snacks, and easily finding your favorite fall sweaters in your closet.
If you want to do one last declutter before you settle inside for the rest of the year, read on for expert-backed tips to reset your space this fall.
1. Go through your library
Curling up with a book is one of the best ways to embrace the coziness of fall. I always find myself reading more during this season than in spring or summer, when I’m busy soaking up the sun. But let’s be honest—having too many books can quickly clutter your space and distract from your reading goals. You don’t have to part with your most beloved, dog-eared copies, but if there are books you didn’t enjoy, never finished, or have been holding onto for “maybe someday,” consider donating them. Decluttering your library will make room for new reads you’re excited about. Once you’ve pared down, reorganize your bookshelves into a curated display to rival Barnes & Noble so you’re ready for your next fall reading binge.
2. Purge and organize your closet
Depending on where you live, fall can either feel like an extension of summer or the early days of winter (or both depending on the day). Regardless of the weather, this transitional period is a great opportunity to take inventory of both your summer and winter wardrobes. Clear out your closet and separate clothes into seasonal piles. Evaluate your summer pieces, setting aside the items you love and can see yourself wearing again next year. For anything that no longer fits in terms of size or style, consider donation or resale so you’re only left with items you’ll actually wear.
Similarly, look through your winter pieces for the upcoming season. Are there any that no longer fit or need repair? Clear out unwanted items and make a list of any gaps in your wardrobe so you can shop intentionally.
3. Check your existing candle collection
One thing about me: I love a good candle. I burn through them at a crazy rate and have to resist the urge to buy another one every time I stumble across a new scent (which happens almost every time I leave the house). Not only do I have plenty of unused or barely burned candles, but I’m also holding onto several that I’ve nearly finished but can’t part with because they smell so good. This year, before stocking up on all the pumpkin scents, clear out your current collection and enjoy the ones you have first. Then you can determine if you truly need more for fall—then treat yourself to some new seasonal favorites, guilt-free.
4. Clean and store away summer items
Whether you’re ready to admit it or not, summer is over and so is the need for summer items like umbrellas, sprinklers, and pool floats. Dan Hnatkovskyy, co-founder and CEO of the homebuying platform NewHomesMate, recommends preparing for fall by saying goodbye to warm-weather gear and properly preparing it for storage until next year.
“When the cold comes, give your gardening tools, lawn equipment, outdoor toys, pillows, and grill a thorough clean, and then put them away along with any unneeded summer decorations and outdoor furniture,” he said. “Set out your beach bags, pool toys, and swimming gear. Determine what can be reused next year and dispose of any items damaged beyond repair. Deflate inflatables, wash off the sand, then label and store them somewhere easy to find for next summer.”
These steps ensure that your items are properly stored so they don’t rust or degrade while not in use over the winter months. You’ll also avoid hanging onto any broken or unwanted items that will take up valuable storage space only to be thrown away next year.
5. Clean out your pantry and fridge
Hnatkovskyy also recommends sorting through your pantry and fridge during your fall declutter session. “Summer brings a change in cooking and eating habits, so go through your kitchen cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator,” he said. “Discard condiments, sauces, and perishables that will likely spoil before use.”
To get started, fully remove all goods from your pantry and sort them into categories: baking ingredients, canned goods, snacks, etc. From there, you’ll be able to easily identify any duplicate items and consolidate them, dispose of expired products, and donate any unwanted items or those that you won’t consume before their expiration date. Then repeat this process with your refrigerator. Not only will this eliminate potential waste, but it’ll prepare you to better organize your kitchen for the items you will reach for during the fall and winter months (hello, soups and baking mixes!). Once you’re left with all your must-have items, implement organizational tools like expandable risers or a lazy Susan to keep things neat and tidy.
6. Sort through and organize your linens
I don’t know about you, but my linen closet is one of those areas in my home where I take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. I cram things in to make them fit and don’t think about it again until I need to swap the sheets or towels. With colder weather on the way, you’ll want to pull out those cozy blankets and heavier bedding that you stashed away for summer. So while you’re at it, take this opportunity to declutter your linens. Toss out (or repurpose) towels and sheets that have seen better days, and refold and organize everything left into neat stacks. That way, your weekly sheet swap will be seamless, and you’ll know if you need to invest in new bedding before the first cold front moves in.
7. Dispose of expired beauty products
As the seasons change, so do our beauty needs—think swapping lightweight moisturizers with more intensely hydrating ones and pulling out the self-tanning drops now that we’re not getting a natural glow from the sun. Now’s the perfect time to go through your beauty stash to switch up products and throw away any expired items. It’s also a good idea to throw away any summer-related products like bug spray or sunscreen that will expire before you need them again next year.
Pro tip: Check the packaging on your personal-care products for a symbol that looks like a jar with a number and the letter M inside. This will tell you how many months the item is good for after opening. If you can’t find this symbol on the packaging, look for any discoloration or change in smell to determine if it’s still safe to use. After you’ve gone through everything, maximize your bathroom storage by sorting items by category before storing.
8. Take inventory of your holiday decorations
The holidays can be stressful enough without the added worry of trying to remember where you stored your winter decor or struggling to untangle jumbles of Christmas lights. If you want to get ahead of the holiday spirit, Joanna Wirick, the professional organizer behind Joanna Organize, recommends sorting your holiday decorations now. “With pleasant weather and fewer holiday pressures, the pre-fall period offers a conducive environment for decluttering and improving productivity. You can get organized before the cooler months, which helps reduce stress and eases the transition,” she said.
Take inventory of the items you have, those that need to be repaired or replaced, and any items you don’t have but would like to buy. This will give you a plan for shopping, so you won’t end up with a cart full of impulse-buys when you inevitably find yourself at Target (guilty).
