“When summer gathers up her robes of glory, and like a dream of beauty glides away.”

Sarah Helen Whitman

It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. Where did the time go? While I love hot summer days by the pool, I love fall even more! Here is a seasonal checklist to make sure your home is in great shape for the cooler months ahead.

• Start a note on your phone or a paper “to do” list. You’ll find that as you begin to tackle this list, “to do” items will come up. Be prepared and have your note on hand.
• Get a bag/box for donations set up near your front/back door. Try to donate as much as you can!
• Check all sunscreens for expiration dates. Toss expired sunscreen.
• Sort beach towels. Donate older towels to a local animal shelter.
• Sort and purge swim and outdoor toys.
• Sort and purge summer accessories – think googles, sunglasses, visors, hats, pool shoes, etc.
• Sort and purge summer wardrobe.
• Deep clean grill and accessories. Check the cover, make sure you have a good place to store the grill (or a good cover) for when the weather gets cold. 
• Patio and porch clean up. Scrub tables and chairs. Clean outdoor cushions. Make sure you have a good cover(s) for your furniture/place to store when the weather gets cold.
• Store outdoor rugs.
• Remove and store outdoor lighting.
• Clean out the garage. Create space for items that need to be stored for the winter.
• Clear out flower beds and weed the yard.
• Check hoses and sprinklers. If you have a sprinkler system, schedule your sprinkler blow out now.
• Walk the perimeter of your home and check for cracked sidewalks, gaps in the foundation or windows.
• Check your walkways.
• Clean and cover A/C.
• Check furnace filters. It’s helpful to set a calendar reminder so that you remember to change them regularly out during the winter.

Happy organizing!