Monthly Organizing Checklist September, 2018 The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and change can be a really good thing. Our NEW September 2018 Organizing Checklist will help you get and stay organized this month! Join our GON in Five Minutes Newsletter to be notified when the newest checklist is available. For a PRINTABLE VERSION, click here __ Sep 1 Switch out the bug lights around your yard for regular lights as the season changes. __ Sep 2 Get the oil and other fluids changed/refilled in all vehicles. This is very important to do after many weeks of long summer driving. __ Sep 3 Go through past Halloween decorations and toss or give away anything that is damaged or that you no longer want. Consider going shopping for a few new decorations. __ Sep 4 Get your tires rotated and aired up (and replaced if needed!). Don't forget to check your spare also. __ Sep 5 Catch up on that yard work. Finish all weeding and pruning. If you have a garden, get it winterized. Then, haul all the plant material to your local dump or put in your compost bin.  __ Sep 6 Have all of your heaters serviced so they'll be ready for winter use. Get your chimneys serviced and stock up on plenty of logs and kindling so you won't run out. .__ Sep 7 Check that all appliances and technology items are plugged into surge protectors before the power goes out in a storm. Purchase a few extra surge protectors if needed. __ Sep 8 Stock up your fridge and freezer with plenty of healthy after-school snack foods for those hungry kids. __ Sep 9 Go through your childrens' clothes. Toss anything that's worn out and put anything that doesn't fit in a bag to drop off at your nearest second hand store. __ Sep 10 Declutter a room or area of your home that has gotten messy over the summer. __ Sep 11 Clean up and gather all your summer clothing/accessories and switch it with your fall and winter wardrobe. This is a good time to replenish any needed outerwear, such as coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc. __ Sep 12 Catalog all of your summer photos with names, dates, locations, etc. so you won't forget those details. Then, either place photos in an acid-free box or save them in computer files for reference. __ Sep 13 Do some deep cleaning around your home. Pick an area that needs it the most. __ Sep 14 Get chains, window scrapers, and other winter car gear ready. Go shopping for anything you need to replace now, before winter weather arrives. __ Sep 15 Change your exercise plan to include more indoor activities, such as yoga, aerobics, or walking on the treadmill. Start doing more of these activities as the weather changes. __ Sep 16 Get all laundry caught up. Wash, dry, fold and pack away any remaining summer clothes. __ Sep 17 Gather up summer patio furniture, etc. Clean and store away for the year. Sweep or hose off your patio. __ Sep 18 Get flu shots for your whole family as soon as they become available where you live. __ Sep 19 Get your pets vaccinated and groomed as needed and stock up on pet supplies. __ Sep 20 Wash bedding for all beds and replace with heavier cold weather blankets. Store clean lighter blankets away for the year. __ Sep 21 If you have the freezer space, start cooking extra food for dinner and freezing the extra servings for those nights when you work late and are too exhausted to cook. __ Sep 22 Stock up on water bottles for the coming cold months to be prepared if your pipes freeze. __ Sep 23 Begin clearing items away from your heaters to get ready to use them. Rearrange any furniture if necessary. __ Sep 24 Go through your archived email messages and delete the ones that aren't pertinent. __ Sep 25 Gather up all of your hazardous waste items such as insect sprays, unused paint, and expired medicines. Call your local dump and get the date for their next collection event. Drop off your items then. __ Sep 26 Go through your recipes. Toss out any that you didn't care for and gather all your cold weather favorites to have them ready. __ Sep 27 Stock up on canned and packaged goods in case of blackouts. __ Sep 28 Shop for Halloween costumes now, while there is an excellent selection. If you're making your costumes, start shopping for the needed materials now and get to work! __ Sep 29 Check the weather stripping on all outer doors and replace if worn out or missing…before it starts getting cold. __ Sep 30 Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. You should have at least one smoke detector on every level of your home.