After one long, hot Summer 2026 – the hottest on record in the contiguous United States – many of us spent the last few months focused on keeping that heat OUTSIDE. In doing so, we may have spent less time outdoors, limiting our regular connections with nature. Now that Fall has officially arrived on the calendar, the temperatures will soon begin falling along with the changing leaves. As that happens, your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful encourage you to reconnect with nature whenever and wherever you can… take a stroll through one of our award-winning parks, take part in an Adopt-A-Stream workshop, conduct a roadside cleanup, become a Stormwater Protector, establish your Fall garden, and so much more. You can also bring the outdoors IN with these three easy, breezy tips…
Open Your Windows and Let the Fresh Air In
We’ve all heard (and likely uttered) the phrase: “I need to get some fresh air,” but there are genuine benefits to doing just that. After months of your home’s inhabitants breathing in and out all that air conditioning, your home likely has a fair amount of carbon dioxide buildup. Opening your windows lets in fresh oxygen and improves indoor air quality by flushing out pollutants like Volatile Organic Compounds from wall paint and cleaning products, plus allergens found in dust and pet dander. Drier outdoor air can also help balance indoor humidity, remove odors, improve mood and sleep quality, and deter pests like silverfish and cockroaches. Equally important, it may limit your reliance on your HVAC unit, giving it a well-deserved break after running endlessly for months. This move may even save you some money on your energy bills!
Create an Indoor Forest
Not all of us are blessed with green thumbs – thus the rising popularity of faux plants. If you know your way around potting soil, sunlight, and a watering can, you may want to skip the artificial greenery and opt for the real stuff instead. Houseplants and trees can improve indoor air quality by scrubbing contaminants from the atmosphere through phytoremediation – which is a fancy term for removing, degrading, or stabilizing pollutants from the air. Outdoor trees that thrive indoors include Dragon Trees, Fiddle Leaf Figs, Banana Trees, Yucca Trees, European Olive Trees, Weeping Figs, Norfolk Island Pine Trees, Rubber Trees, and even Bamboo!
As for plants that excel at phytoremediation and are non-toxic to pets, look for:
- A variety of palms – including Lady Palm, Ponytail Palm, Parlor Palm, and Areca Palm
- A variety of ferns – including Boston Fern and Birds Nest Fern
- Lucky Bamboo
- Aloe Vera
- Calathea
- Prayer Plant
- Spider Plant
- Devil’s Ivy
- Christmas Cactus
- Yucca Plant
- African Violet
Tending your “indoor forest” will help scratch that gardening itch during the winter months when most outdoor plants go dormant.
Use Natural Elements to Enhance Your Fall Décor
From pumpkins and squash in varying shades to pinecones, acorns, corn stalks, fall leaves, and tree branches, the great outdoors is ripe for the picking! You can create a wide variety of arrangements for your mantle, tabletop, countertops, entry hall, and front door to infuse gorgeous Fall vibes throughout your home. GREAT TIP: Pick brightly colored, fresh Fall leaves during an Autumn stroll. Once you get them home, wash them in cool water and pat dry, then place them in a flat layer on a paper towel or parchment paper on a microwave-safe dish. Set your microwave to medium or low power, and start with short intervals of 20 to 30 seconds to dry them. When they’re done, they will feel fairly dry and brittle, but should still retain some color. You can then seal them with beeswax to make them last through Thanksgiving!
From all of us here at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, we wish you an AWESOME AUTUMN! For other seasonal tips, be sure to bookmark our blog at https://gwinnettcb.org/blog/.