15 Home & Yard Tasks You Should Be Doing At The End Of Summer

As the endless activities and obligations of summer start to wrap up, you might begin thinking about how to changeover your house from summer to fall. A change in the season is always a good time to inspect and clean items around your home, especially those that could be affected by fluctuations in temperature. The reality is, there are a ton of easy tasks you can tackle to make sure your home is prepared for the cooler days that lie ahead. Things like deep cleaning your rugs, closing outdoor pools, checking for storm damage, and vacuuming neglected areas in your home are just a few examples.

Checking home and yard tasks off of your end-of-summer to-do list is about more than making your place look and feel good. These seasonal chores can also help boost your home's curb appeal, protect its value, and perhaps even save you from needing to make costly repairs down the line. So if you've been bitten by the seasonal cleaning bug, here are a few seasonal tasks everyone should do at the end of summer.

During the summer, you're likely running in and out of the house a bunch, leaving behind a buildup of dirt and germs on your carpets and rugs. It's best to deep clean these items before summer ends so that you can still take advantage of the warm weather, which offers faster drying times and reduces the risk of mold and mildew growth.

The last thing anyone wants to deal with once the cold weather hits is faulty windows. To ensure you stay toasty in the fall and winter months, inspect the windows in your home now. Check the frames for cracks, chipping, mildew, and soft wood — these could be signs of rotting window frames that need to be replaced. Also, look for damage to the window caulk, weather strips, and glass where drafts could occur. Even if your windows are in good condition, it's smart to give them a good clean to wash away any grease or fingerprints from the summer.

Adding a layer of mulch to your garden will help insulate the soil for the upcoming drop in temperature. For perennials, try to get a layer of mulch that's about 1 to 2 inches thick. For trees and shrubs you'll need a little more, about 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Just be careful with your trees and shrubs; you don't want the mulch to come in contact with the bark, as this can trap moisture and lead to rotting.

By the time the end of summer rolls around, your outdoor decor and furniture have likely seen a lot of use. Whether you're planning to store some of these items or just want to wash away the summer dirt and grime, now is the perfect time to break out the pressure washer. Outdoor chairs, tables, decks, and kids' playground equipment — you can use your pressure washer to clean these things for dazzling results at the end of summer. Wash your garbage cans and driveway at the same time.

Whether you have kids getting ready for a new school year or not, having a tidy and organized entryway is key. Your entryway is a catch-all for coats, shoes, keys, and all the essentials you typically need before walking out the front door. During the busy summer months, it's easy for this area to slide into chaos. So, take a few minutes near the end of summer to tidy the area and set it up for fall.

If you've experienced telltale signs like drafts and high energy bills, or have seen visible damage to your home's insulation, it might be time for an upgrade. To check on the status of your insulation, look in your attic. If the insulation sits below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more to keep your home warm in the fall and winter. When dealing with insulation, be sure that you know whether or not it contains asbestos before you touch or disturb anything.

If you've had the ceiling fan running all summer long, the blades are likely covered in dust and grime, and the end of the season is a good time to wipe them off. After a thorough clean, consider reversing the direction of your ceiling fan. Having the blades turn clockwise will help push warm air down from the ceiling and prevent you from having to crank the thermostat up as high.

The end of summer is a perfect time to vacuum some of the more neglected areas of your home. Dust can easily settle in deep corners, under furniture, and around your vents — which could prove troublesome when it comes time to turn on the heater. If you prefer to use a robotic vacuum, you can sweep the dust from these hard-to-reach places into the middle of your floor, then let the robot vacuum do the rest.

With fall and winter on the horizon, falling leaves, blowing dirt, and snow are just around the corner. To protect your outdoor patio furniture, be sure to cover or store it away from the elements. Neglecting to do so could result in damage. Be sure to give the furniture a good wipe down first and allow it to dry fully to avoid the potential for mildew to develop. Keep in mind that different types of patio furniture will require different cleaning and care methods. 

The time to close your windows and turn on the heat is quickly approaching. To make sure the air quality in your home remains good, you should perform some regular HVAC maintenance. Things like replacing air filters and clearing out your vents are advised. If you're not comfortable with these tasks, or you run into any issues along the way, don't hesitate to call in a professional for assistance.

Even if you think there's nothing wrong, walking your fence and giving it a visual inspection is a good idea ahead of the cooler, damper months. You want to catch small problems early before they turn into much larger, harder-to-fix issues. For wood fences, keep your eye out for warping, cracking, loose nails, or rotting. For metal fences, look out for even the smallest patch of rust or corrosion. If these issues aren't present, simply clean your fence to remove grime and debris. Finally, check for structural integrity — loose posts and creaky gates will only get worse with time.

For those in temperate climates, the end of summer brings with it the end of the outdoor swimming season. At the end of summer, before there are too many falling leaves and debris, you'll want to clean and close your outdoor pool. Different types of pools will have different requirements, but generally this process involves vacuuming the pool, lowering water levels, turning off the pump, adding winter chemicals, and covering the pool.

Whether you use a leaf blower or an old fashioned rake, dealing with your leaf piles in the fall can be annoying. Instead of burning or bagging the leaves, why not turn them into valuable compost? Take advantage of any free time you have at the end of summer and build a wooden box for your leaf composting station. You will want a box that can accommodate a pile of leaves roughly 3 feet high and wide. Tips like shredding your leaves and rotating them once a month will help you create better compost.

Clearing your gutters is a job for the late fall. That said, if you experienced plenty of heavy rainstorms this summer, it's a good idea to check your roof and gutters for any storm-induced damage. Look out for cracked, loose, sagging, or detached gutters and get them fixed before they cause larger issues later on.

Just because summer is wrapping up doesn't mean your garden has to. There are plenty of plants that you can put in the ground at the end of summer to create a lush, bountiful fall garden. Leafy greens like kale or spinach are a great example of this. Depending on where you live, early to mid-September is ideal for a fall spinach harvest.