---
title: "10 “Must Do” Home Projects for October"
description: "October's projects aim to keep the home warm, insulated, and pest-free. Outdoors, we're shutting down spigots and rain barrels before frosty temps hit."
date: "2026-09-24"
modified: "2026-09-24"
authors:
  - name: "BobVila.com Staff"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila-staff.md"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/diy/october-must-do-projects/"
categories:
  - "DIY"
  - "Easy DIY Projects"
tags:
  - "Monthly Must-Dos"
  - "News"
---

# 10 “Must Do” Home Projects for October

![Happy woman making a fall banner out of leaves.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/decorating-for-autumn.jpeg>)
*Photo: Konstantin Yuganov via Adobe Stock*

In most parts of the U.S., we are past the point at which we can spend all day puttering around outside. It's just too darned chilly. Many of our to-do projects this month are indoors and have to do with preparing the home for cold weather; those that are outdoors can be done relatively quicly. Because October is Fire Safety Month, smoke detector maintenance is also on our agenda.

## 1. Patch Cracking Concrete

![Construction worker leveling concrete pavement outdoors.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/iStock-688387280.jpg>)
*Photo: iStock*

Cracks in concrete driveways, walkways, and foundations will only worsen over the winter, and when that happens fixing the damage will cost you big time. Make repairs now before the weather takes a turn and you'll save time, money—and you'll probably have fewer pests indoors to show for it.

To [fix cracks in concrete,](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-fix-cracks-in-concrete.md>) remove loose debris first. Apply repair material with a trowel or float, and let the mixture cure. Our [expert-tested guide to the best concrete crack fillers](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-concrete-crack-filler.md>) will help you select the right product for your project.

## 2. Insulate the Attic

![Man in beanie cap and white coat insulating the attic with glass wool.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/insulating-attic.jpeg>)
*Photo: Eduard Goricev via Adobe Stock*

Much of a home's energy is lost through leaks in the attic. Prepare your attic for winter by installing loose fill or batt [attic insulation](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-attic-insulation.md>) before the cold weather hits.

## 3. Update the Mudroom

![Natural wood bench and cubbies with baskets is a designer's dream](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/iStock-1358703273.jpg>)
*Photo: iStock*

October is the time to pull out boots and heavy jackets, but you'd better have a place to store them first. If you have a [mudroom](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/17-design-inspirations-for-mudrooms-and-entryways-14692.md>), update it with a fresh coat of paint or new wicker baskets. If you don't have a mudroom, consider placing a boot rack in the entryway and cleaning out the hall closet so there's plenty of room for coats. Cold-weather dwellers should consider [Peet electric shoe and boot dryer](<https://www.amazon.com/PEET-Original-Boot-Shoe-Dryer/dp/B001J4HQ76/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1OMSSE502BDP6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qGo4UdLwOGSV1oV-byEff4RTfrqU0QWD9cawCkWSB02PHq0it33VMXdZLKD5Xm9hiLKMXrKcyMJ3HrDvbUXt_NiOG4ndb9O-sAkZHrrJxXPqmnTbkvRLx_50QJh3BxTeaPlP2Nmo0NVb45xzdzhzqG_ZwFxYavuI2PSBXu-r5ZnjExwv1BjDkZ3ihIrnByr8oM_Jswm06Q3tznHVxQ3xpvk465w21PfrkemfeRbV-jvyTFSG8uVabSznn5vS2js2gFXtWbvT--0dv-xZSYxMaYq0ZSoC6E76I5LlvV4on_g.QKBugjLqsR153dVoT843yiSPRkwfouzyVL9EAxSCBjA&dib_tag=se&keywords=boot%2Bdryer&qid=1790190875&sprefix=boot%2Bdryer%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-6&th=1>), a splurge you'll be especially grateful for come January and February.

## 4. Winterize the Lawn

![Woman spreads grass seed using a handheld seed spreader.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/seeding-lawn.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Tending to your lawn before it goes dormant for the winter will have it growing better than ever in spring: Spread a thin layer of fertilizer, and fill in thin patches with cool-season [grass seed](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-grass-seed.md>). Be sure to aerate your lawn to prevent thatch build up and keep air, moisture, and nutrients flowing to your lawn's roots. The [Yard Butler manual coring aerator](<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOMCJD6/>), one of the top picks from our editors' [tested guide to the best lawn aerators](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-lawn-aerator/>), can help you get the job done without spending a bundle.

## 5. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

![cropped shot of female hand pull switch of ceiling fan with lamp on white background with copy space, room cooling and ventilation concept](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pulling-fan-cord.jpeg>)
*Photo: Oleksandr Kondriianenko via Adobe Stock*

Heat rises, which is why it's a good idea to [change the direction of your ceiling fan](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ceiling-fan-direction.md>) in the fall. You want it to spin clockwise now, which will push hot air down and help it circulate throughout the room. This change is easy to make on newer [ceiling fans](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-ceiling-fans/>), which usually have a switch that reverses the blade direction.

## 6. Disconnect the Garden Hose

![Outdoor water spigot connected to a green garden hose, grey vinyl siding in the background.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/outdoor-spigot-1.jpg>)
*Photo: Catherine McQueen / Getty Images*

As gardening season comes to an end, so does the need to water our plots. While you're outside fertilizing and aerating the lawn this month, be sure to disconnect your [garden hose](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-garden-hose/>) from the exterior spigot. Forgetting to do so can cause any water left in the hose to expand, freeze, and damage the spigot, and perhaps even damage the walls and pipes it's attached to.

## 7. Seal the House

![Woman uses a putty knife to apply weather stripping to a front door. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/weather-strip-door.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

It costs more to heat a drafty house than a weatherproofed one. That's why it's a good idea to deal with drafts before you even switch on the furnace. Inspect window frames and door jambs, both inside and out, for holes, cracks, or crumbling caulk. Install weatherstripping to fill gaps in door frames and windows, and apply fresh [exterior caulk](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-exterior-caulk/>) where needed to seal up your home. In a few months' time, you'll be glad you took the time to keep whistling winter winds at bay.

## 8. Check the Smoke Detectors

![Woman holding screwdriver is about to attach smoke detector to the mounting bracket on the wall.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/smoke-detector-install.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

October is [National Fire Prevention Month,](<https://fasny.com/news/fasny-october-is-national-fire-prevention-month/>) so take the time to review your home safety plan. Do you have [smoke detectors](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-smoke-detector/>) installed in every bedroom, and outside sleeping areas? How about in the basement? Install additional smoke detectors if needed, and then make sure they're always fully powered by checking batteries monthly. (Of course, you'll also want [fire extinguishers](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/types-of-fire-extinguishers.md>) at the ready on every floor of the house.)

## 9. Ready the Fireplace

![Man cleans ashes from the fireplace with fireplace tools.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/clean-out-fireplace.jpg>)
*Photo: glebchik / Shutterstock*

Chances are pretty good that your fireplace wasn't used much during the summer, so give it a thorough [maintenance checkup](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/fireplace-ready-for-winter.md>) before you light the season's first fire. First, assess the chimney from the outside. Chips, cracks, or corrosion are signs that you'll need to call a repairman. Inside, check the flue for soot buildup, and ensure the damper closes and opens with ease. If ash and creosote are present, [cleaning the fireplace](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-fireplace.md>) will ensure that your fire burns safely.

## 10. Empty the Rain Barrel

![Rainwater draining into a plastic barrel in autumn.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/rain-barrel-fall.jpg>)
*Photo: Egorov Igor via Shutterstock Egorov Igor*

Word to the wise: Don't put off [emptying and winterizing your rain barrel](<https://www.bobvila.com/diy/winterize-exterior-water-fixtures.md>). Most rain barrels hold 50 or so gallons of water, and emptying that much water is not easily done all at once. After you drain the barrel, disconnect it from the gutter, and clean the inside with bleach or vinegar. The last thing you want is a 50-gallon barrel of water that expands and cracks during the first fall freeze. Ask us how we know...