Fall Home Reset Checklist: Cleaning and Organizing Your Home for Fall

There’s something about the first cool days of Fall that makes me want to reset my whole home. After a busy summer, I’m ready to put away the summer clutter, wash all the cozy blankets, organize the entryway and make our home feel warm and welcoming again. I think of it as a cozy Fall home reset! And thankfully, that doesn’t mean you need to deep clean and organize your entire house in one exhausting day! I like to work room by room, tackling the little things that will make our home easier to live in and more enjoyable as we start spending more time indoors. To make it easier, I created a free printable Fall Cleaning Checklist that you can save, print and work through at your own pace.

Why I Love Doing a Fall Home Reset

Spring cleaning gets most of the attention, but I actually think fall is one of the best times of year to give your home a good reset.

Summer can be wonderfully chaotic. There are vacations, outdoor projects, gardening, kids coming and going, and all of the extra stuff that seems to migrate into the house.

Then September arrives and suddenly we’re back to routines… and before we know it, we’ll be spending a lot more time inside.

A fall reset gives me a chance to clear out some of that visual clutter, deal with the cleaning jobs I’ve been ignoring and prepare our home for the colder months ahead.

But there’s another reason I love doing this: a clean, organized home is so much easier to make cozy!

Before I start bringing out fall pillows, throws, branches and candles, I try to give the house a fresh foundation first.

Start With a Whole-Home Declutter

Before you start deep cleaning, grab a basket or box and do a quick walk through your home.

Don’t overthink this part. You’re simply looking for things that are obviously out of place, no longer needed or ready to be donated.

Return stray items to their homes, gather donations and clear off the surfaces that have become clutter magnets over the summer.

I find that even 15 or 20 minutes of decluttering can make the whole house feel lighter before I’ve cleaned a single thing!

This is also a good time to tackle some of those often-forgotten whole-home jobs: dust ceiling fans and light fixtures, wipe down baseboards and doors, clean the windows, vacuum rugs and upholstery, and wash those throw blankets and pillow covers.

Reset the Entryway for Fall Routines

If there’s one space worth organizing before fall, it’s the entryway or mudroom.

Put away the summer sandals, sun hats and outdoor gear you won’t be using anymore. Donate coats and shoes that have been outgrown, and make room for the things your family actually needs this season.

Think jackets, backpacks, boots, umbrellas and eventually all of that winter gear!

I also like having a designated place for everyday things like keys, mail and bags. A few hooks, baskets or trays can make such a difference here without requiring an expensive organizing system.

Make the Living Room Cozy Again

Our living spaces naturally become more important as the days get shorter, so give yours a little extra attention.

Vacuum the sofa (including underneath those cushions where all sorts of treasures tend to hide!) clean the area rug, dust surfaces and wash your throw blankets and removable pillow covers.

Once everything feels fresh, then comes my favourite part.

Bring back the cozy layers!

A soft throw draped over the sofa, a couple of textured pillows and warm lamps can completely change the feeling of a room. You don’t need bins and bins of seasonal decor to make your home feel like fall.

Give the Kitchen and Pantry a Fall Reset

Fall always makes me want to cook and bake again, which means it’s a great time to reset the kitchen and pantry.

Clear the counters, wipe down cabinet fronts and tackle one or two problem cabinets or drawers. Clean out the refrigerator and pantry, toss anything expired and group similar ingredients together.

I especially like organizing my baking supplies at this time of year so they’re easy to grab when the urge to make something pumpkin-y strikes!

And if your food-storage-container drawer has somehow become a chaotic collection of containers with no matching lids… this is your sign.

Refresh the Bedrooms for Cooler Nights

One of the most satisfying parts of a fall home reset is changing over the bedrooms.

Wash the bedding, mattress protectors and blankets, vacuum underneath the beds and declutter nightstands and dressers.

This is also the perfect time to start your seasonal clothing swap. Put away pieces you won’t wear again until next summer and set aside anything that no longer fits or gets worn.

Then bring out the warmer bedding and/or add more layers to your bed. Of course, I love my own line of linen-cotton sheets and duvet set.

There are few things cozier than climbing into a freshly made bed with soft, clean layers on the first chilly night of fall.

Don’t Forget the Bathrooms, Laundry Room and Linens

These aren’t necessarily the glamorous parts of a fall reset, but they’re some of the most useful!

Toss expired toiletries, organize bathroom drawers and cabinets, wash bath mats and shower curtains, and give everything a good clean.

In the laundry room, wipe down your machines, clean the washing machine and sort through your laundry supplies.

I also love resetting the linen closet at this time of year. Match sheet sets together, donate worn or excess linens and move your extra blankets somewhere they’re easy to grab.

Little organizational projects like these make everyday life run so much more smoothly.

Deal With the Paper Clutter

Fall routines often bring a fresh wave of school papers, schedules, forms and mail into the house.

Take a few minutes to recycle paperwork you don’t need and create a simple home for the things you do.

You don’t need an elaborate command centre. Even one basket, drawer or file folder for incoming paperwork can prevent it from taking over the kitchen counter.

And while you’re in decluttering mode, tackle one junk drawer or catch-all spot. Just one!

Prepare Your Outdoor Spaces for Fall

Your fall reset doesn’t have to stop at the front door.

Clean and store summer furniture and decor, sweep the porch or deck, tidy up garden tools and drain and store garden hoses before freezing weather arrives.

This is also a good time to clean the gutters, check outdoor lights, wash exterior windows if needed and make sure your snow shovels and winter gear will be easy to access when the time comes.

Then give your front porch a simple fall refresh. Even a pretty wreath, planter or pot of mums can make your home feel ready for the season.

Finally, Add the Cozy

Now for the fun part!

Once you’ve decluttered, cleaned and organized, look around your home and think about how you want it to feel this fall.

Maybe you bring out a basket of blankets for movie nights. Set up a little coffee, tea or hot chocolate station. Add a lamp to a dark corner. Bring in some branches from the yard. Put a stack of books beside your favourite chair.

You could also choose one small DIY or decorating project you’ve been wanting to try.

The goal isn’t to completely redecorate your home for fall. It’s to make the home you already have feel a little warmer, calmer and more enjoyable to live in.

That’s really what my Cozy Little Reset approach is all about: small, manageable changes that make a noticeable difference in how your home looks, feels and functions.

Download the Free Fall Home Reset Checklist

I’ve put all of these ideas (and plenty more!) into my updated Cozy Fall Home Reset Checklist so you don’t have to remember everything yourself.

Print it out, stick it on the fridge and work through it room by room. You absolutely don’t have to finish it all in one weekend!

Pick the areas that need the most attention in your home and start there.

Done is better than perfect.

Put on some music, make yourself something warm to drink and give your home a little love before the new season begins. Happy fall resetting!