Personne portant des gants blancs et un manteau jaune ramassant des feuilles mortes dans un jardin ensoleillé à l’automne, dans le cadre d’un ménage d’automne extérieur.
28 October 2025

Autumn cleaning: preparing for a zen winter

Fall cleaning is a little ritual that I like to incorporate into my daily routine every year, a bit like the famous spring cleaning. Seasons of transition, like autumn or spring, are perfect times to take stock, put things in order and prepare for what's to come. 

In autumn, the days get shorter, the light changes, we spend more time indoors... and we start to feel that need to create a cocoon. This kind of seasonal housework is something I really enjoy doing - and recommend to everyone. It helps you regain control, regain some clarity and lay the foundations for a gentler season.

Here are some of my must-haves for effective fall cleaning, inside and out.

1. Preparing the exterior for winter

Before the frost sets in, it's important to take care of the outside of the house. It's often overlooked, but it makes all the difference when winter arrives.

  • Storing garden furniture Clean chairs, cushions, parasols, etc. and store them under cover to prevent damage.
  • A final lap of the pitch We're always on the lookout for new ideas: picking up children's toys and garden accessories, pruning perennials and raking up fallen leaves.
  • Preparing winter tools For example, put out the shovels, check that the snowblower is working and buy salt or sand in advance.

A word of advice: take advantage of these cool but still sunny days to do these tasks gently, it makes everything more pleasant.

2. Tidy up and store what's no longer needed

Entrée de maison bien rangée avec banc de rangement en bois, manteaux suspendus et tapis à la porte, baignée d’une lumière naturelle.

Autumn is also the ideal time to sort out your belongings.

  • Put away summer clothes, sandals and beach accessories. Wash, fold and place in clearly marked bins.
  • Take out coats, boots and toques to make sure they're still in good condition.
  • Install a boot tray at the entrance to prevent calcium and snow water from soiling the floor.
  • And if you have items you haven't used all summer... ask yourself if they deserve to stay 😉

To go further and take the opportunity to reorganize your wardrobe, I also recommend that you check out my other blog: My top tips for organizing your wardrobe - it's the perfect complement to this autumn phase, helping you to keep your closet functional all year round.

3. Give your kitchen a thorough cleaning

Personne en tablier en train de couper une courge sur une planche de bois dans une cuisine lumineuse, avec plusieurs morceaux de courge autour.

In autumn, I crave a kitchen that exudes simplicity, order... and simmering! So it's the perfect time to give it a little love.

Here are the areas to be cleaned and reorganized:

  • The fridge and the freezer Throw away what's expired, wash the shelves, and reorganize so that everything is visible.
  • The spices We accumulate so many! Check dates, sort by type, and replace what's missing.
  • The famous plastic dish drawer a classic. Make sure everything has a lid, nothing is too damaged, and sort.

💡 I recommend you read my article "Organizing plastic containers in the kitchen".

  • The drawers and cabinets Empty, clean and tidy up.
  • Devices such as the hoodthe oven and the microwave : Clean them thoroughly (and it feels so good afterwards!).

A good kitchen clean-up is the kind of thing you put off... but once it's done, everyday life becomes much simpler.

4. Deep cleaning of common areas

Autumn is also a good time to give the rest of the house a facelift:

  • Pack furniture to vacuum and wash forgotten corners.
  • Wash the doorsthe walls and baseboards.
  • Take the opportunity to windows while it's still not too cold.
  • Clean or have inspected fireplaceif you have a home.
  • Check or service the heating system and clean the filters of the air conditioner.
  • And of course... remove the mosquito netsclean and tidy up until spring. Why should you do this? Because in winter, they can retain moisture and warp with the cold. It also frees up the view and lets in more light!

All these little tasks may not be glamorous, but they make for a healthy, pleasant environment.

And if you need a helping hand...

I know that this kind of housework and reorganization can be a bit daunting when you don't know where to start.

If you need an outside perspective, a personalized action plan or a helping hand to regain control of your space, I'm here to help! 💛

Whether you want to declutter a room, reorganize your kitchen or optimize your hallway, I can help you find a home that's good for you.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like to work together!

contact me