A Simple End-of-Summer Reset for Your Home

End-of-summer cleaning always sounds like a bigger project than it needs to be.

Pool towels never quite make it back to the closet, sunscreen bottles appear in random places, shoes are everywhere, and somehow there's just more stuff scattered around than usual.

End-of-summer home reset with summer gear organized in a bright entryway before fall.

By the end of August, I'm usually ready for a little end of summer cleaning to get things back in order. I love summer, and I'm never in a hurry to see it end, but there's something nice about starting fall with a house that feels a little less chaotic.

I'm not talking about a giant cleaning day. I don't want to spend an entire Saturday cleaning out closets any more than you do. These are just a few simple things you can do to clear out some of the summer mess, get organized, and prepare your home for fall.

1. Put Away the Summer Stuff You're Done With

Notice I didn't say to put away all the summer stuff.

Depending on where you live, you may still have plenty of swimming days left. Keep out the things you're actually using, and put away the rest.

Gather up the pool bags, beach towels, sunscreen, outdoor toys, summer sports equipment, and whatever else has migrated around the house. Throw away what's empty or broken, wash what needs washing, and put the rest where it belongs.

You might be surprised by how much better the house looks just from doing this one thing.

2. Fix One Spot That's Driving You Crazy

You know the spot.

Maybe it's the kitchen counter where everyone drops their stuff. Maybe it's the entryway, the laundry room, or the pile of shoes by the door.

Pick one.

Clear everything out, put away what doesn't belong there, and then take a minute to figure out why the mess keeps happening. If everyone drops their backpacks in the same spot anyway, maybe that's where the backpack hooks need to go.

Don't move on to another area until you finish this one. One finished project feels a lot better than five organizing projects scattered around the house.

Need a cute organizing solution? Try this cute blanket basket.

3. Clean Out the Fridge

Woman cleaning and organizing the refrigerator during an end-of-summer home reset.

This isn't a full kitchen organization project. Just clean out the fridge.

Get rid of the leftovers nobody is going to eat, check the dates on the questionable containers hiding in the back, and wipe up the sticky spots.

Then take a quick look through the pantry.

With school, practices, activities, homework, and everything else that comes with fall, dinner can get complicated fast. It's helpful to know what you already have and which easy meals you can pull together on a busy night.

4. Wash the Things You Forget to Wash

I'm thinking about throw blankets, pillow covers, kitchen rugs, mattress pads, and all those other things that don't necessarily make it into the regular laundry rotation.

Pick a few that need it and throw them in the wash.

This is also a good time to bring back a favorite blanket or anything else you've had tucked away for the summer. Even if it's still 90 degrees outside, cooler nights are coming eventually!

5. Make a Short End-of-Summer Cleaning Checklist

Woman writing a fall home checklist as part of an end-of-summer home reset.

Grab a piece of paper and walk through the house.

What actually needs to be done before fall?

Maybe you need to change the air filters. Maybe the windows are filthy. Maybe there's something outside that needs to be put away before the weather changes. Maybe you've been walking past the same little repair for three months thinking, "I really need to fix that."

Write it down.

Then stop when you get to five things on your list.

Now is not the time to create a list of every possible thing you can clean, organize, repair, or improve in your house. You'll just end up with a giant list that makes you want to do none of it.

If you are in the mood for a more thorough seasonal cleanup, Martha Stewart has a helpful Fall Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist with some of the bigger jobs you may want to tackle.

A Simple End-of-Summer Reset for Your Home with 7 easy ways to get ready for fall text overlays a bright mud room.

6. Make One Busy Part of Your Day Easier

Fall schedules can get crazy pretty quickly, so think about the part of the day that tends to cause the most trouble at your house.

If mornings are rough, maybe you need a better place for backpacks, shoes, and lunch boxes.

If dinner is the problem, make a list of five meals you can get on the table quickly.

If papers are piling up everywhere, find a place for them.

You don't have to solve everything. Just fix one thing that will make the next few weeks run a little more smoothly.

7. Add a Little Fall

Fast and Frugal Fall Decor {OneCreativeMommy.com} Fill vases and bowls with real Fall leaves for a quick and easy centerpiece or Fall mantel

Okay, now you can get out a pumpkin.

Or don't.

You definitely don't need to redecorate your whole house just because September is coming. Start small. Bring out a cozy blanket, change a kitchen towel, or add one simple fall decoration.

If you're ready for a fall project, take a look at my Fast and Frugal Fall Decor project. It's an inexpensive way to add a little fall to your home without going all-in on pumpkins just yet.

And if you're still firmly in summer mode, that's okay too. Put out a cozy blanket and call it good.