Get your home October ready with this list of 10 to-dos.

1. Rake Leaves

• • The leaves are already starting to fall! To make quicker work of collecting leaves from a large lawn, rake the fallen foliage onto a large plastic tarp. Then bag it or add it to your compost pile.

2. Decorate for Halloween

• • If you’re planning to participate in Halloween festivities, whether you’re working on an elaborate lawn display or simple door decor, it helps to get an early start on shopping or crafting.

3. Keep Seasonal Decorating Low-Key with Natural Finds

• • Pumpkins, gourds, fresh heirloom apples, quinces, pomegranates, figs and fall foliage make wonderfully simple decor. Bring in cut branches from your yard, stop by a pick-your-own farm, or scoop up fall’s bounty at a farm stand.

4. Neaten Up Your Mudroom/Entry

• • The flurry of activity this time of year can leave your mudroom or entry looking a little worse for the wear. Sort through papers/mail and put away stray summer items. Clean the floors and invest in a new doormat if needed. Keep a recycling basket near the entrance to make sorting mail and school papers easier, and dedicate a tote or bin for items that need to go out.

5. Vacuum Radiators, Baseboard Heaters & Heating Grates

• • Prepare for heating season by vacuuming up dust from radiators, baseboard heaters and heating grates. If you have radiators with covers, remove the covers and vacuum beneath them before replacing.

6. Cover/Put Away Outdoor Furniture & Grills

• • If you plan to leave your patio furniture or grill outside through the fall and winter, cover them well and stow them beneath an overhang that will protect them from rain and snow. Even if you live in a mild climate, covering your grill between uses is a good idea to preserve the finish.

7. Shut Off Exterior Faucets & Store Hoses for Winter

• • Disconnect, drain and roll hoses before storing them for the winter. Shut off the water supply to exterior faucets to prevent frozen pipes.

8. Clean Gutters & Downspouts 

• • Wait until most of the leaves have fallen to schedule a rain gutter cleaning. Inspect gutters and downspouts for cracks and loose parts, and make repairs as needed.

9. Check Safety Devices

• • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house, replacing batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on the kitchen fire extinguisher and replace it if needed.

10. Start a Gift List

• • It may seem as though the holidays are a long way off, but that’s why it pays to start getting organized now. Start a list of everyone you plan to give gifts to this year, and as ideas strike, jot them down on your list. You can also use your list to keep track of a holiday gifting budget. And if you want to make any gifts by hand, October is a great time to get started — handmade gifts always seem to take longer to make than expected.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your September! Until next month!

Resources: Houzz.com

Get your home Spring ready with this list of 10 to-dos.

1. Get Rid of Dust & Clutter

• • Start with clearing out any cluttered areas because the less stuff is in your way, the easier it will be to clean surfaces. Be sure to remove items you don’t want from your home! If you don’t, it’s highly likely that these items will find a way of working themselves back into your closets, cupboards, and drawers. Have old furniture, kitchenware, or clothing? See if a local charitable organization is accepting items and will do a pickup. Having a pickup scheduled can be a good way to get motivated to get the work done.

2. Clean the Exterior & Inspect Your Window Screens

• • One extremely way to increase your home’s curb appeal is as easy as turning on the hose (or pressure washer if you have one!) and giving your siding a quick blast to remove unwanted dirt and debris. While you’re at it, inspect your window screens and see if you can find any small tears that need replacing to avoid letting bugs in. Warmer weather is around the corner and you’ll want to open those windows!

3. Simplify Your Living Room

• • Take a look around your living room and consider reducing the amount of books and media to create a more relaxing space. Donate used books, movies and music to your local library or sell them. Organize what’s left, hiding anything unsightly (like gaming equipment) behind closed doors. There is even this modern Ikea hack to help hid your router: click here.

4. Deep Clean the Kitchen

• • Give your kitchen a fresh spring start with a thorough cleaning. In addition to your usual cobweb clearing and floor mopping, wipe down walls and doors and vacuum behind the fridge and stove. Encourage seasonal eating by cleaning out the fridge and pantry, and stocking the space with items from your local farmers market. Check the expiration dates on your spices and toss/repurchase as necessary.

5. Clean Ceiling Fans & Overhead Lighting

• • Time to bust out a tall ladder and carefully get to work! Use a duster or microfiber rags to remove dust from fans and light fixtures. Be careful not to use wet rags; it will only make the dust harder to remove. For caked-on grime, start with a dry duster or microfiber cloth and then move on to a fresh damp cloth if needed.

6. Streamline Your Files

• • Tax Day is quickly approaching. Since you’ll likely be digging through your paperwork and files as you prepare taxes, take some additional time to shred/recycle junk as you come across it rather than stuffing it back into your files. A slimmed down file drawer will make it much easier to find what you need so it’s worth the extra effort now.

7. Freshen Patios & Porches

• • The longer days always tend to draw people outdoors onto porches, patios, and decks to soak up some sunshine. Make sure your outdoor spaces are ready for the season by cleaning away cobwebs and leaves, washing floors and refreshing outdoor furniture.

8. Refresh Your Textiles

• • If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your rugs or upholstery, this could be the right focus for you. Start by laundering small washable items, like shower curtains, cotton rugs and washable slipcovers, at home. When laundering slipcovers, try putting them back on while they’re still barely damp for a better fit.

9. Check Safety Devices

• • Test batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them as needed. It’s also a good idea to periodically check for recalls of your home safety products; you can find up-to-date listings at Recalls.gov.

10. Clean Out the Garage

• • Can you park your car in your garage? If not (or if it’s a tight fit), it may be time to make some more space. Clear out the junk, and schedule time to take unused paint, motor oil and other hazardous items to a recycling center that accepts them. (If you’re not sure where to go, search Earth911 to find a center near you.) Once your garage is cleaned out, consider adding wall-mounted storage to keep things neat and off the floor.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your March! Until next month!

Resources: Houzz.com