While it might be hard to say goodbye to summer, the weeks between the hottest days of the year and the arrival of cooler weather are the perfect time to tackle home maintenance projects. Take advantage of the comfortable temperatures to get ahead of fall cleanup, improve curb appeal, prepare your property for seasonal storms, and knock out the small repairs that often get pushed aside during a busy summer. The right tools can help you check these tasks off your list faster, leaving more time to enjoy the changing season.
Clear Summer Debris and Prepare Your Yard for Fall
Late fall isn’t the only time debris piles up. Throughout the summer, grass clippings, pine needles, twigs, seed pods, acorns, spent blossoms, and even fallen fruit can collect on lawns, patios, walkways, and driveways. Getting them all cleared before the heavier leaves drop in just a few weeks is a maintenance must.
RYOBI ONE+ HP Brushless Leaf Blower
The RYOBI ONE+ HP Brushless Leaf Blower is built for exactly this type of cleanup. Lightweight and cordless, it’s easy to carry around the property. With a 6Ah battery, it provides more than 1 hour of clearing grass clippings, pine needles, twigs, and early-falling leaves from sidewalks, patios, landscaping beds, and driveways. It delivers plenty of power (up to 130 MPH) without the hassle of mixing fuel, pulling a starter cord, or dragging an extension cord behind you.
More Tools for Debris
You can make short work of most of the clean-up with a cordless leaf blower. Blow all of the debris into piles before loading them into compost bins or contractor bags. Pair the leafblower with a good set of work gloves, a sturdy rake, and a small shovel to make picking up those debris piles faster and easier.
Wash Away Summer Dirt and Grime
Dirt, pollen, algae, mildew, and other grime build up everywhere, from your siding to your patio furniture and everything in between. A good cleaning before the cooler weather arrives helps keep your property looking its best and prevents permanent stains or corrosion.
RYOBI’s ONE+ Cordless Pressure Washer
While you can tackle these jobs with a scrub brush and bucket, a pressure washer can clean large outdoor surfaces in a fraction of the time. RYOBI’s ONE+ Cordless Pressure Washer is a handheld, compact design for nimble handling. It easily cuts through dirt from concrete, decks, fences, siding, and outdoor furniture, allowing you to get your outdoor spaces looking their best before fall entertaining. It also comes with its own hose attachment and offers up to 25 minutes of runtime on a 4Ah battery (not included).
More Tools for Dirt and Grime
Make sure you have a quality garden hose and exterior cleaning solution (non-toxic, if possible) designed for the surfaces you’re washing. Large driveways and patios might need a surface cleaner attachment to speed up the job.
Trim Landscaping Before Fall Growth Slows
Once the summer growing season begins to wind down, you’ll probably have some tidying up to do around the property. While many species are better trimmed in late winter or early spring, overgrowth, dead or diseased limbs, and storm-damaged growth may need pruning before the cold weather.
Ryobi Landscaping Tools
Luckily, RYOBI has just about everything you’ll need for the job. The RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Hedge Trimmer is ideal for trimming and shaping hedges and shrubs, while the ONE+ Cordless Pruner slices cleanly through thicker branches. There’s even the RYOBI 40V Expand-It String Trimmer, which works with the Expand-It ecosystem of swappable attachments for trimming, edging, pruning, and other work.
More Landscaping Tools and Accessories
Keep safety glasses and durable work gloves on hand while trimming, and use paper yard bags or contractor bags to collect branches and clippings for disposal according to your local yard waste program.
Take Care of Small Repairs Before Cooler Weather Arrives
If you’ve been spending your summer free time at the lake, on the course, or at the ballpark, you might be shocked to see how many small repairs you’ve been overlooking. Loose deck boards, wobbly railings, sagging gates, loose latches and knobs, and other small issues can add up, and they don’t fix themselves. Taking care of them before cooler temperatures roll in helps prevent additional wear and ensures they’re ready for another season of use.
RYOBI 18V Drill/Driver Kit
The one tool you’ll want to keep on hand for most of these jobs is a cordless drill/driver. The RYOBI 18V Drill/Driver Kit can handle everything from tightening loose fasteners to assembling garage shelving and installing new gate hardware. It comes with a 1.5 Ah battery and charger, giving you cordless portability for repairs throughout the property.
More Toolbox Essentials
Stock your toolbox with a variety of exterior-rated screws, drill bits, and driver bits, so you’re ready for just about anything. And, while you’re tackling these repairs, be sure to inspect weatherstripping and exterior caulk around doors and windows. Replace or repair any issues before your home’s energy efficiency takes a hit.
Clean and Organize Your Garage
Be honest with yourself: There’s no way your garage is as clean as it was after spring cleaning. Sawdust, grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and other debris collect and pile up quickly. Extension cords, power tools, and lawn equipment rarely make it back to where they belong. Before it’s time to bring all your summer gear and furniture inside, get your garage back in order.
RYOBI’s ONE+ 18V Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum
Your go-to partner in garage cleaning is a reliable, powerful wet/dry vacuum. RYOBI’s ONE+ 18V Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum has the power to clean up sawdust after woodworking or construction projects, vacuum grass clippings from lawn equipment, remove dirt from vehicle interiors, or clean up accidental spills and leaks. It’s also available in 1-, 3-, 4.75-, 5-, or 6-gallon sizes.
Other Items to Keep in Your Garage
It’s not just about cleaning, though. Take the time to organize your tools and equipment and store seasonal gear in labeled storage bins so it’s easy to find when you need it again. Wall-mounted shelving, storage hooks, and organizers can also help free up floor space in your garage while still keeping the tools you use most often within reach.
Check Tires and Outdoor Equipment
Changing temperatures can affect tire pressure, making late summer and early fall a good time to check the tires on everything around your property. Your vehicles are the obvious place to start, but don’t forget about wheelbarrows, garden carts, utility trailers, lawn tractors, bicycles, and even sports equipment. Properly inflated tires and equipment perform better, wear more evenly, and are generally safer to use.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Inflator
A portable inflator makes these quick maintenance checks easy. The RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Inflator is compact enough to keep in a drawer in your garage or the trunk of a vehicle while providing the air pressure needed for tires (up to 160 PSI), recreational equipment, and other inflatables around the house. Instead of making a trip to the gas station every time a tire looks low, you can top it off in your own driveway.
More Tire Maintenance Tools
To make routine tire maintenance even easier, keep a tire pressure gauge and a few replacement valve stem caps in your toolbox. They’re inexpensive items that can help protect valve stems from dirt and moisture while ensuring you always know when it’s time to add a little air.
Conclusion: Stay Ahead of Seasonal Maintenance
You don’t have to tackle every project in a single weekend, but getting a head start before cooler weather arrives can make a noticeable difference. A little cleanup, a few small repairs, and some routine maintenance now can help protect your home, improve curb appeal, and save time once fall is in full swing. With a handful of versatile tools and a little planning, you’ll be ready to enjoy the season instead of catching up on chores.
