The “Clear the Porch” Guide: A Low-Energy Way to Prep for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is right around the corner, and that means lots of fun festivities, from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas! Before the decorating and the gatherings begin, I wanted to share a simple, low-energy way to prepare your home. This guide focuses on tackling one of the busiest spots in the house: the porch! Clearing and cleaning your porch is a great way to create a welcoming space. Remember, you don’t have to get this all done in one day. You can spread these steps out over a few days if you need to!

Step 1: Empty Your Porch

Take everything off of the porch—and if you have multiple porches, take everything off of them, too! This can seem like a big job, but getting everything out of the way is the first and most important step to a clean slate.

Step 2: Clean Your Porch

Now that the space is empty, it’s time to scrub! Grab a broom and sweep everything away. Then, scrub the porch with your preferred cleaner. While you’re waiting for it to dry, it’s the perfect time to tackle the next step.

Step 3: Declutter the “Stuff”

Go ahead and sift through everything you took off the porch. Throw out what isn’t needed or wanted. The goal is to make your porch(es) less cluttered. Only put back what you truly want to keep and what you have a place for. This is a great chance to get rid of old decorations, broken pots, or anything that doesn’t bring you joy. Also, now is a goof time to make a list of any repairs that need to be made during the spring.

Step 4: The Final Touches

Once the porch is dry, you can bring your favorite items back. Replace doormats if needed. Clean off the doors, inspect any outdoor lighting, clean if needed, and replace bulbs. This final step is all about making the space feel refreshed, clean, and welcoming for the upcoming holiday season.