Fall Cleanup • Gather What You Need
Supplies, Simple Recipes & Helpful Extras
You do not need a shelf full of specialty products to get ready for winter. Start with what you already have, choose the project you are tackling today, and use the shopping links only when they are genuinely helpful.
Use what you have first.
This is a practical companion to the Fall Cleanup series—not a list of things you must buy. Each section includes ordinary tools, simple household ingredients, optional doTERRA products, and a useful recipe or method. If a bucket, brush and a little dish soap will handle the job, that is a perfectly good place to begin.
Product recommendations are included because they are products we use and teach about in everyday life. The cleaning directions still work when you decide not to purchase anything.
Project 1
Outdoor Furniture & Hard Surfaces
Brush off loose dirt first, then wash only as aggressively as the finish can handle. A hose and brush are often enough; spot-test anything stronger.
Ordinary tools
- Bucket and garden hose
- Soft- and medium-bristle brushes
- Microfiber cloths or old towels
- Finish-safe cleaning sponge
Natural basics
- Warm water
- Castile soap or mild dish soap
- White vinegar
- Baking soda for selected unfinished surfaces
Optional doTERRA choices
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- Tea Tree
- Clove or Thyme
Vinegar wash for washable surfaces
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 5 drops Tea Tree
- 5 drops Clove or Thyme
Mix in a bucket or spray bottle, spot-test, wash, and rinse or wipe as the surface requires. Skip vinegar on natural stone and other acid-sensitive finishes. Avoid citrus oils on painted, sealed or delicate finishes unless the manufacturer says they are compatible.
Want the doTERRA products used here?
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Sandy’s doTERRA shop. Sandy may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 2
Cushions, Fabrics & Outdoor Textiles
Always check the care label first. Vacuum or brush away dry soil before adding water, and make sure every cushion, cover, umbrella and hammock is completely dry before storage.
Ordinary tools
- Vacuum with upholstery tool
- Soft brush
- White cleaning cloths
- Drying rack or sunny, breezy space
Natural basics
- Mild laundry detergent
- Castile soap
- White vinegar
- Oxygen cleaner when fabric-safe
Optional doTERRA choices
- Abode laundry products
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- Tea Tree with Clove or Thyme
Small-area mildew wash
Use the same 3-cups-water, 1-cup-vinegar recipe with 5 drops Tea Tree and 5 drops Clove or Thyme. Test an inconspicuous area first. Work lightly rather than soaking the cushion, rinse or blot as appropriate, and dry all the way through before storing.
Optional laundry and oil choices
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Faith’s doTERRA shop. Faith may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 3
Decks, Porches & Patios
Clear the corners, sweep from the house outward, and choose a cleaner that matches the material beneath your feet. Wood, composite, concrete and natural stone do not all want the same treatment.
Ordinary tools
- Stiff broom and hand brush
- Bucket and hose
- Deck brush
- Putty knife for cracks and corners
Natural basics
- Warm water
- Mild dish soap or Castile soap
- White vinegar only on compatible surfaces
- Baking soda paste for small suitable areas
Optional doTERRA choices
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- Tea Tree
- Clove or Thyme for musty cleanup areas
Simple porch wash
Add a small amount of mild soap—or the label-directed amount of On Guard Cleaner Concentrate—to a bucket of warm water. Scrub a manageable area, do not let cleaner dry on the surface, and rinse well. Use a manufacturer-approved method for composite decking, sealed wood and natural stone.
Optional concentrated cleaner and oils
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Sandy’s doTERRA shop. Sandy may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 4
Outdoor Wood Furniture
Identify the wood and its existing finish before adding oil or sealer. Cleaning is only the beginning; the goal is to send sound, fully dry wood into winter with the right protection.
Ordinary tools
- Soft brush and cloths
- Sponge sanding block
- Drop cloth and gloves
- Breathable cover or sheltered storage
Finish options
- Product made for the existing finish
- Pure tung or appropriate linseed-oil finish when compatible
- Exterior wood sealer where needed
- Metal container with water for used oily rags
Optional doTERRA choices
- Arborvitae
- Cedarwood
- Use only in a compatible finish or storage application
There is no one-size-fits-all wood recipe
Clean gently, allow the wood to dry fully, sand only where needed, and follow the finish manufacturer’s directions. Arborvitae or Cedarwood can be considered as an optional aromatic addition only when compatible with the chosen product. Never leave oily rags crumpled together; follow the finish label’s fire-safe disposal directions.
Optional oils for wood-care projects
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Faith’s doTERRA shop. Faith may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 5
Grills, Smokers & Outdoor Cooking Areas
Work on a completely cool grill. Remove grease and food residue, check hoses and connections, and store the grill far enough from siding and other combustible surfaces that no one is tempted to cook with it in an unsafe location.
Ordinary tools
- Grill-safe scraper and brush
- Bucket, gloves and old cloths
- Shop vacuum for cold, dry debris
- Foil pan or liner if the grill uses one
Natural basics
- Hot soapy water
- Baking soda paste
- White vinegar for compatible exterior areas
- Fresh water for a thorough rinse
Optional doTERRA choices
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
- Lemon for compatible nonporous exterior cleanup
- Use label directions and rinse food-contact areas well
Baking soda grease paste
Mix baking soda with just enough water to form a spreadable paste. Apply to compatible cool surfaces, allow a short dwell time, scrub, and rinse completely. Do not use on surfaces the grill manufacturer warns against, and do not leave essential oils or cleaner residue on cooking grates.
Optional concentrated cleaner
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Sandy’s doTERRA shop. Sandy may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 6
Windows, Doors & Entry Areas
Do the inside, the outside, or simply the worst windows first. Tracks, screens, hard-water spots, muddy thresholds and weather stripping all count as progress.
Ordinary tools
- Squeegee and microfiber cloths
- Old toothbrush or track brush
- Vacuum crevice tool
- Magic eraser or 0000 steel wool only when glass-safe
Natural basics
- White vinegar
- Water and a drop of dish soap
- Rubbing alcohol for a fast-drying formula
- Boot tray and fresh weather stripping as needed
Optional doTERRA choices
- Lemon for sticky residue on compatible glass
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate for washable tracks and thresholds
Hard-water spot treatment
Start with equal parts white vinegar and warm water on plain, compatible glass. Let it sit briefly without drying, then wipe or gently work the spot with a glass-safe tool. Rinse and finish with your regular window cleaner. Keep vinegar away from natural-stone sills and acid-sensitive finishes.
Optional entry-cleaning choices
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Faith’s doTERRA shop. Faith may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 7
Tools, Hoses & Watering Supplies
A few minutes of cleaning, drying and checking small parts now can prevent cracked fittings, rust and frustrating surprises in spring.
Ordinary tools
- Stiff brush and rags
- Bucket and mild soap
- Lubricating oil appropriate for the tool
- Replacement hose washers and labels
Winter extras
- Hose bib socks
- Heat tape rated for the specific hydrant or pipe
- Hooks or reels for drained hoses
- Dry bin for nozzles and fittings
Optional doTERRA choices
- On Guard Cleaner Concentrate for washable tool surfaces
- Tea Tree for a fresh-smelling cleaning solution
Basic hand-tool cleanup
Brush off dry soil, wash only the parts designed to be washed, rinse, and dry immediately. Remove rust with a tool-appropriate method, sharpen if needed, and apply the correct protective oil to clean metal. Drain hoses fully before coiling them loosely for storage.
Optional cleaning choices
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Sandy’s doTERRA shop. Sandy may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Project 8
Clean, Dry & Store
The most important storage ingredient is time: give everything enough time to dry before it goes into a bin, shed or sheltered corner.
Ordinary supplies
- Breathable covers
- Clean, dry bins
- Labels and inventory list
- Desiccant packs where appropriate
Practical checks
- Keep fabric off damp floors
- Leave airflow around stored furniture
- Check for food, seed and nesting material
- Revisit the storage area during winter
Optional aromatic choices
- Cedarwood
- Peppermint
- Clove
- Use cautiously around children, pets and livestock
A simple storage-area freshener
Place a few drops of Cedarwood on a removable wooden tag or cotton pad and position it where it cannot contact fabric, finished surfaces, children or animals. Scent-based pest deterrence is a traditional household practice, not a guarantee; good sanitation, sealed access points and appropriate pest control matter more.
Optional oils for the storage area
Shopping disclosure: These links connect to Faith’s doTERRA shop. Faith may earn retail income from a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Shop Other doTERRA Products
Need something that is not listed above?
If you already work with Sandy or Faith, please use her shop. If you are new to both of us, either shop is a good choice. The product buttons above open the specific product information pages.
A little at a time. One area at a time. Before the snow starts flying.