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Can you believe that the Fall is here already?  It doesn't feel like it here in NY.  It's been at least 90 degrees here the last couple of days, which is crazy for this time of year.  We know that the cold months are right around the corner though so we need to get full prepared for the feet of snow that are likely to grace our yard.  In order to get ready, I've put together some Outdoor Fall Cleaning Tips that will have you fully prepared for whatever mother nature brings to your area.

Outdoor Fall Cleaning Tips

Clean those toys.  I'm all about child labor when it comes to cleaning, which you might remember from my Family Cleaning Tips and Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms.   My girls love to feel like they are helping.  Although, I often spend the majority of the time trying to not get Avery to put the sponge or objects that we're cleaning into her mouth.  This stage has lasted much too long for my liking and I truly do not remember Riley doing this as long as Avery has.  To each their own though right?  I like to use natural cleaning products for this reason though.

Organize the storage.  We don't have a large outdoor area and we certainly do not have room for storage inside or outside of our house.  Some might look at this as a blessing, but for me it's difficult because I don't like to just throw things into a box or container.  Everything has to have it's own nook.  Luckily, Home Depot has fabulous deals on Rubbermaid Roughnecks Storage items that come in all shapes and sizes.  The 18 gallon storage tote was the perfect size for the girls sand and art supply toys.  I was even able to keep them in their separate areas of the tote so that we don't open the tote in the Spring and find sand toys covered in chalk.

Weed and cut back landscaped areas.  Our flowers were absolutely out of control, which seems to happen to Black-Eyes Susans every Fall, but it was so much worse this year.  We had an issue with gardener snakes this Summer.  Unfortunately when it comes to snakes, I'm a great big baby.  I don't care if they're tiny, which these were.  I don't want them in my yard.  The worst part about these snakes is that they liked to sun themselves on my front door mat.  Literally, I would open my front door and scan for snakes before letting the girls out.  Riley quickly learned that we don't meander out the front door.  We run out the door and let it slam behind us because mama is a scaredy cat and proud of it!  Nonetheless, we had a ton of pruning to do in the yard.  Thank goodness for Home Depot's Rubbermaid Roughnecks 32 gallon outdoor trash can.  It fit everything we needed and more.  On a side note, if you follow me on Instagram you might have seen how well Riley fits into the garbage can as well.  It's all about perspective!

Find an out of way area to store the tote and garbage can until you get through the winter, which in NY can often be April until we can see the grass again.  My favorite part about the Rubbermaid Roughnecks products are the tops!  They seal perfectly so no need to worry about any snakes slithering into them when you're not looking.   I know, I know.  Snakes can't climb, but I bet these ones could have.  So gross!  On a serious note though, the storage products are perfect to keep the weather conditions out because they seal perfectly.