All the best fall essentials

We have officially made it to fall, folks, and quite honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. I've spent the year counting down the days until the leaves change color, college football is back, and I can grab my favorite autumn-themed coffee. (It’s a salted maple latte, BTW.) We have lots of tips, tricks and ideas to help you enjoy this fall season, so let’s get to planning.

Before you pull out your pumpkin decor, you need to get your house in order. Our experts say you should clean these things each autumn, so go ahead and make your fall cleaning list. You’ll also have to switch up your yard maintenance as more leaves start to fall. If your rake isn’t up to par or is lost in the abyss of your garage, pick up the best one we’ve ever tested. Just make sure you’re doing your fall lawn care right or you’ll end up with more work for yourself in the long run.

There’s so much to cook and bake during fall, so double check that you have the tools you need. Our favorite affordable Dutch oven is a staple in our kitchens during soup season, as are these slow cookers. And if you’re planning on hosting a s’mores night, take a peek at our favorite fire pits. We recommend this smokeless one if you’re avoiding that post-bonfire smokey smell.

One last thing from me: We have a whole bunch of exclusive self care deals happening now through the end of the month, and several of them can make the coziest fall nights even cozier. Get 30% off a super-soft robe from Cozy Earth when you use our code REVIEWED, grab our favorite diffuser for less with the code DIFFUSERS15 or treat yourself to a new weighted blanket from Gravity Blanket with the code SELFCARE25.

Have the most autumnal of afternoons,

— Sara Beth Bolin, Newsletter Writer

Reviewed, part of the USA Today Network