12 Aug 2026 5 To-Dos You Can Put Off Until After Labor Day (and No One Will Notice)
Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Robb Caster
From last-minute urgent tasks to life’s daily to-dos, “current you” has quite a bit on their plate as summer comes to a close. Instead of heaping more on and wearing yourself out, consider which household tasks can not only wait until September, but actually make more sense to push off. Next month offers a nice lull right after the rush of back-to-school but before the holiday season kicks off, so lighten your load now by skipping these chores until after Labor Day.
Washing the Windows
Did you know there’s a right time of year to wash your windows? That time is either in the fall or spring when temperatures are lower, and streaking is less likely to occur. When done in the autumn, it allows you to remove dust and debris that’s accumulated during the summer months.
“In the summer, there are more insects and pollen, as well as sprinkler spray and summer storms,” notes Robin Murphy, house cleaning expert and founder of Maid Brigade. “And if you keep your windows open, dirt collects on the screens, tracks, and sills.”
By September, a lot of the messy pollen and rain is over. Plus, because the days are shorter, you’ll want to have nice clean glass so the natural light can shine in.
Heavy Dusting
From the baseboards to ceiling fans, heavy dusting is another chore to skip until September. In the summer, there are plenty of particles in the air, including pollen and dust, notes Kathryn Emery, home improvement expert at Be the Best Home. “Doing a heavy dusting now is a lot of energy for something you’ll need to repeat shortly after.”
Once temperatures drop and pollen levels lower, you can tackle this big chore. Meanwhile, do light dusting as needed and run a HEPA air purifier.
Cleaning Rugs & Upholstery
Curtains, carpet, rugs, and upholstery all need a deep clean every once in a while, but you can postpone this big chore until autumn. “Soft surfaces are still collecting the dust, pollen, and dirt from windows being open and people going in and outside more frequently in the summer,” Murphy explains. “Cleaning them in September removes the buildup from the summer before we spend the next few months inside the house.”
She recommends vacuuming everything thoroughly before using water or a cleaning agent—otherwise you’re turning loose dirt into damp dirt and will push it further into the fabric.
Lawn and Garden Cleanup
In August’s peak temperatures, trees, grass, and flowers struggle to flourish. While it’s important to water them, you can hold back on tasks like trimming and pruning until temperatures cool. Emery explains that plants need to put their energy into enduring the heat versus producing new growth (which is what pruning is meant to help with).
“Sit back and enjoy the view of your luscious garden for the month and get ready to trim once the weather mellows,” she says. “At that time, the weather is cooler so you can actually complete the job without overheating. Also, your plants are just trying to survive the heat, so let them alone until they make it through the hottest months.”
Deep Cleaning the Garage
Your garage does the most in the summer, allowing you to take beach chairs, gardening tools, coolers, sports equipment, and camping gear in and out as needed. It’s also apt to stay consistently dirty for this reason, so cleaning it now is a bit premature.
“A full cleaning now will likely be undone before summer is over,” Murphy notes. “By September, you can put away the summer gear, clear out anything you did not use, and make room for fall tools, school equipment, and eventually, winter supplies.”
Not to mention, it’s much easier to clean the garage when temperatures aren’t as sweltering. When you’re ready, Murphy says to take everything out by category instead of emptying the entire garage at once. That keeps the project from turning into a driveway-sized disaster.