'You'll thank yourself later,' say pros – 5 things I'm urgently organizing this September to prepare for fall and a busy hosting season

Wondering which things to organize this September? As the hours of natural light and temperatures contract, and we naturally spend more time indoors, sorting out your home now will ease you into fall with minimal mess and stress.

I'm organizing five key areas, including my wardrobe, and professional organizers agree there's no time like the present to get your home ready for the cooler seasons.

Here are all the things I'll be taking the time to tidy in September as part of my monthly home organizing tasks, and why you should too.

5 things I'm organizing in September

1. My wardrobe

The changing of the seasons marks the perfect time to put away my summer clothes for longer-term storage, bring out my thicker, heavier clothing and socks, and organize my closet for fall.

As Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, says, 'Cooler weather sneaks up fast in September, so it’s a great time to rotate clothes.

'Bring in the cozy layers and move out the shorts and tanks you won’t touch until next summer.' I tend to store these tucked away in underbed storage ideas, such as the Amazon Basics Under Bed Storage Container Bags available at Amazon.

'While you’re at it, donate (or sell) what no longer fits – especially kids’ clothes that they outgrow overnight,' adds Di.

Additionally, professional organizer, CEO and founder of dClutterfly, Tracy McCubbin, recommends paying special attention to organizing your coats, particularly if your assigned closet is already overflowing, like mine.

'Before the temperature drops, get rid of all the coats and jackets that you no longer want or need,' she advises. 'The ones that aren't warm, the ones with broken zippers, and the ones that don't fit. Your cold self will thank you when you need to grab a jacket next!'

2. Pool and outdoor toys

After a long summer spent outside, now that the season's coming to a close, it's a great time to declutter pool and outdoor toys, says Tracy, particularly the 'ones that are so well-loved that they have holes or are a different color from being out in the sun for so long.'

After all, they're things minimalists throw out every summer for good reason, so why not take their lead?

'Instead of throwing everything in the garage until next year, get rid of what you won't be using again,' she adds. Collect any broken items in easy-to-carry plastic crates, such as the Tribello Clear Plastic Storage Bins available at Amazon, which is what I always do to make it easy to take them to the dump.

Then, pop any remainders into a deck box, such as the bestselling lockable and waterproof Homall Outdoor Storage Box available at Walmart.

3. My garage

It's a place that's tempting to shove all manner of objects over a busy summer, so I won't forget to organize my garage. Consider doing the same, and if you don't have a garage, spend some time this September organizing the contents of any other outdoor storage spots this September, says Di.

'September is the perfect in-between month – summer fun is winding down and fall chores are picking up,' she explains. 'Organize sprinklers and beach gear, and pull out rakes, leaf bags, and other fall tools. You'll thank yourself later when the first leaf piles appear.'

For these tools, I'm taking inspiration from how professional gardeners store gardening tools properly in fall to protect them from rust, adverse weather, and any buildup of grime. Using this StoreYourBoard BLAT Tool Storage Rack available at Walmart is a clever space-saving way to use vertical storage, for example.

4. Hosting essentials

There are plenty of exciting reasons to celebrate with friends in fall and beyond – from Halloween and Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year's Eve. So, says Julie Peak, a professional organizer and owner of The Precise Place in Charlotte NC, it pays to be prepared and get a kitchen ready for hosting.

'Whether it’s a casual gathering or a big family dinner, serving pieces can pile up and cause stress if they’re not organized,' Julie warns. 'Take some time this month to group items by type, like plates, platters, bowls, and serving utensils.'

This Extra Large Expandable Silverware Organizer, available at Amazon, is brilliant for your cutlery, too.

5. My mudroom

Your entryway is the very first thing guests see when they enter your home, so I'm making sure that and my mudroom are ready, too.

In fact, professional organizers deem this the one area to organize before fall, so it looks like I'm on the right track with my September organizing checklist.

'September is the perfect time to organize your mudroom or entryway,' says Kielyn Simonson, professional organizer and founder of OrgaNice. 'This space sees a lot of action during the school year, so it’s critical to clear out what doesn’t belong and set up systems that keep things tidy and efficient

'For example, take out summer toys and swim gear, and create a place for each child’s backpack and coat. Give each activity its own bag, like a soccer bag with cleats, guards, and water bottle, and designate a landing spot for schoolwork and papers.

'I love the 1Thrive THE BROOKE Wall Organizer available at 1Thrive for managing paper clutter and family schedules, and a shoe cabinet near the entryway works wonders for keeping shoes from piling up by the door.'

For this, Kielyn recommends the STÄLL Shoe cabinet available at IKEA, and the Latitude Run Shoe Storage Cabinet available at Wayfair is our top pick.

September organizing essentials

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the experts

Di Ter Avest

After becoming a wife and a mother, Di quickly learned the importance of organization and regular decluttering. Since then, she has helped hundreds of clients rethink their relationship with clutter and knows better than anyone what to organize and why, each month.

Tracy McCubbin

Tracy has been professionally decluttering and organizing since 2006, providing hands-on experience for over 20 years to clients. She's been featured in The New York Times, Forbes,The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, and more.

Julie Peak

Julia is a professional home organizer in Charlotte, NC, where she loves helping her clients clear out their clutter. 'For some, organizing is just putting an item back where it belongs,' she says. 'But for me, it is much more than that – it is about restoring people’s lives.' 

Kielyn Simonson

Kielyn is a professional organizer and founder of OrgaNice, serving families across the Twin Cities metro. She's passionate about helping people create practical systems that keep homes running smoothly, especially during busy seasons like back-to-school.

Once you've finished organizing, these are the things to clean in September that I'll be tackling this month.