10 Things You Can Ignore Till Fall

Not every chore needs to be tackled in the heat of summer. Some things are better off waiting till the weather cools down—when there’s less sweat, fewer bugs, and more energy to handle them. If your to-do list feels a little too long right now, here are the jobs you can confidently push off without feeling guilty. You’ve got better things to do in July.

Cleaning Behind the Fridge

It’s a pain to move, it’s hot back there, and unless something’s leaking or crawling out from under it, it can wait. Fall is a better time to pull it out, vacuum the coils, and deal with whatever mystery crumbs are hiding underneath.

Right now, focus on keeping the inside organized and wipe up any visible spills. The deep clean can wait till it’s not 90 degrees in your kitchen.

Washing Windows Inside and Out

Summer heat makes cleaner dry way too fast, which leaves streaks and spots behind. If you want truly clear windows, wait for a cool, overcast day—like the kind you’re more likely to get in fall.

If your windows are really bad, sure, give them a quick wipe. But if you’re aiming for that squeaky clean, fall’s your best bet for doing it right without the frustration.

Deep Cleaning the Oven

No one wants to crank up the oven—or stand in front of it—when it’s already blazing outside. Self-cleaning cycles produce a lot of heat, and scrubbing baked-on messes feels miserable in summer.

Unless you’ve had a major spill, skip it for now. Do a surface wipe when needed and plan for a deeper clean once the temps drop and you’re using the oven more often anyway.

Clearing Out the Garage

Garages trap heat fast, and unless it’s early morning, cleaning one out in summer is borderline miserable. You’ll sweat, the tools will be hot, and you’ll probably quit halfway through.

Instead, wait until fall. Cooler weather makes it easier to lift, sort, and reorganize without overheating. Bonus: you can prep your garage for winter storage at the same time.

Shampooing the Carpets

Unless you’ve got a major spill, deep cleaning the carpets isn’t urgent. Summer humidity can make carpets dry slower, which can lead to that musty smell you were trying to avoid in the first place.

Hold off until the air’s drier and cooler. In the meantime, vacuum regularly and spot clean anything that needs attention. Your carpet will survive till fall.

Organizing Seasonal Decor

There’s no real reason to dig into holiday bins or closet boxes in the middle of July. Summer isn’t when you’re reaching for pumpkins or Christmas lights, so there’s no rush to get it all in order.

Save it for a weekend in September or October, when it makes sense to take stock of what you have and toss what you don’t want anymore. Right now, it’s just taking up attic heat.

Cleaning Out Closets

Closet organizing sounds productive—until you’re knee-deep in piles of clothes and too hot to finish. If you’re not swapping seasonal items or purging back-to-school stuff, it can wait.

You’ll be more motivated to get it done when you’re actually wearing layers again. Wait until cooler weather rolls in, then tackle it with a fan on and a mug of something warm.

Power Washing the House

Pressure washing in the middle of summer can bake water spots onto siding, and hot surfaces make it hard to rinse properly. Not to mention it’s exhausting in the heat.

Unless your house is covered in visible grime or you’re painting soon, it’s fine to wait. Fall is a great time to power wash and get everything fresh before winter weather rolls in.

Flipping Mattresses

Yes, you should flip or rotate your mattress every so often—but it’s not something you have to do during the hottest part of the year. If your mattress feels fine, it can wait.

Put it on your fall reset list. When you’re changing out your sheets and adding blankets, give the mattress a flip or a spin and vacuum it while you’re at it.

Cleaning Light Fixtures

Bugs might collect inside the ceiling lights, but unless one burns out or smells weird, it’s not an urgent fix. Summer isn’t the time to haul out the ladder and start scrubbing globes.

Save it for fall when you’re already dusting and resetting the house. Then you can knock them out all at once—without dripping sweat while standing on a step stool.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.