You know how everyone always talks about the importance of spring-cleaning? Of freshening up your home and welcoming in the summer? Well, we believe that there’s such a thing as fall cleaning, and (newsflash!), it’s just as important as its spring counterpart. Here’s our reasoning: summer is all about relaxation. Something about the heat makes us all move a little slower, linger a little longer by the pool, sit outside on the patio for dinners that seem to last for hours…and then fall comes along, and it’s back to business. It’s no surprise, given the relaxed pace of the summer months, that once the cooler air of autumn starts to creep back in, we need a little time to get back in the groove of our regular routines. It’s no fun, is it? Lucky for you, we’ve got a few ideas to make the early fall months a little bit more enjoyable, and to help you get your fall cleanup taken care of.

1. Clean your gutters

Okay, we’ll admit it. This one isn’t exactly fun. But the next few options are, we promise! Cleaning your gutters might not be the most exciting chore on the list, but it’s an important one. After all, fall brings with it a bit more precipitation, and before you know it, it’ll be winter, and you need to ensure that all that snow doesn’t pile up in your gutters and have nowhere to go! Clearing out the debris from summer storms and ensuring that any upcoming precipitation has a place to go is an important step in the fall cleanup process.

2. Give your patio furniture a makeover

Once the temperatures drop, it’s time to put the patio furniture away for the season. After all, no one wants to enjoy an outdoor dinner when it’s freezing outside! But why not have a little fun with your furniture before you put it to bed for the season? Spray paints have come a long way in the past few years, and companies like Krylon make a variety of beautiful, durable colors that will take like moths to the flame to your plastic patio furniture. Why not go for a fun shade of bright, fire engine red for your chairs and table?

Insider’s tip: Got a patterned umbrella? Pick one of your favorite shades from the fabric, and match your spray paint to that. With a fresh count of matching spray paint, your patio furniture will look like a custom set!

Make sure you use spray paint outside – throw down a cheap tarp or old sheet on the driveway, spray one coat of color, then allow to dry fully before you add a second coat. Once that second coat is dry, you can store your furniture and have it ready to go (and like new!) for the next season.

3. Turn your patio into a four-season party spot

Don’t have the ability to turn your porch into a four-season room? Don’t fret. There’s a fun and easy way to make your outdoor patio bearable into the fall months. Head over to your nearest big box store and grab a few sets of globe lights – you can plug these into the nearest outdoor outlets (make sure you’ve got weather resistant covers on your outlets while you’re at it!). While you’re there, invest in a portable fire pit. There’s no need to do any heavy construction at home to get this amazing party-ready perk. All you have to do is purchase a fire pit, grab some wood, and bring that baby on home!

Put the fire pit in the middle of your patio, hang the globe lights from nearby trees, stash a few cozy blankets in a wicker basket by the door for cooler nights, and voila! You’ve got yourself a four-season party spot. When the going gets cold, simply crank up the fire pit, and go a little campfire crazy. We’ll bring the marshmallows!