4 min readWith the kids home for summer break and family schedules filled with vacations, pool days, and backyard barbecues, it's only natural for clutter to build up around the house. Beach bags, towels, sports gear, and other outdoor essentials often end up scattered indoors, making August an ideal time to take stock of what's accumulated and clear out anything you no longer need.
“We all make resolutions in January, but August is a great time to start thinking ahead before the hustle and bustle of fall and then the holiday season wears us out,” says Trish Johnson, professional organizer, systems expert, and owner of This Organized Chaos.
A smart place to begin is in the areas of your home that see the most daily activity. Entryways, mudrooms, kitchen counters, and other catchall spaces where mail, school papers, shoes, and miscellaneous items collect can quickly become overwhelming.
“The key is to organize during transitional seasons so your system adapts and your home works harder for you when life speeds up,” says Louisa Roberts, owner of NEAT Method NYC.
To help you get ahead of the back-to-school rush, we've rounded up the items professional organizers recommend decluttering in August so your home feels calmer, more functional, and ready for the season ahead.
Expired Pantry Items
As time passes, it’s normal to find a few expired cans, condiments, and snacks in your pantry. This is especially true after a busy summer of cookouts and hosting.
“Toss anything expired, then regroup by category: Sauce with sauces, snacks with snacks,” Roberts says. “Contain them in labeled bins to restore order and visibility.”
Having an organized pantry can make busy nights before school and work a breeze, too. It will save you time and money “because you’re not overbuying, food isn’t hitting its expiration date because it’s buried in the back of a cabinet, and meal prep is easy because you know what you have on hand,” Johnson says.
Worn-Out Summer Gear
August is the perfect time to go through your pool and beach necessities before putting them into storage (or retiring them).
“You just finished using everything for the season, so take a look at summer-specific items and clean out old, broken, or past-their-useful-life items for the beach and pool,” Johnson says. “Don’t waste your time and energy cleaning and storing things that should be tossed. Old towels can be donated to your local animal shelter.”
A good rule of thumb is to look at whether the item works or is unable to be refreshed. “If it’s faded, cracked, or hasn’t been used all season, it doesn’t need to take up valuable storage space,” Roberts says. “Clear it out now so you can welcome next summer with a fresh start.”
Kids’ Old School Papers and Projects
“The end of summer is the perfect moment to sort through last year’s schoolwork,” Roberts says. “Keep only truly meaningful pieces—think artwork or standout writing—and store them in a single memory bin per child. A defined limit keeps sentimental clutter in check.”
Garage Clutter
You want to prevent your garage from becoming the “junk drawer” of your home. While it provides that “out of sight, out of mind” place for keeping your interiors neat for company, the overflow can get out of hand quickly.
“After a busy summer, the garage is a great space to refresh. Carve out a weekend to take everything out, decide what to keep, donate, and trash, then separate the items you're keeping into categories,” Johnson says.
Roberts also suggests sorting your items by category to help “maximize vertical space with mounted systems, and use labeled, stackable bins for long-term maintenance and easy access.”
Some categories she recommends are:
- Sports gear
- Tools
- Seasonal decor
- Miscellaneous items
Unused Items Around the House
“Take a look around your home and donate or discard items you truly no longer use or love. Resist the urge to add more seasonal decor before you take inventory of what you already have packed away from last year,” Johnson says. “All of this frees up space both physically and mentally, allowing you to head into the fall season with less clutter and more clear spaces in your head and your home.”
The number of toys your children have can also easily add up. If you’re looking to declutter ahead of the new school year, take a look at the playroom. “Clear out the toys kids are no longer using to make room before the deluge of holiday gifts enters your home,” Johnson says.
Once you get rid of these things, keeping your spaces organized can prevent your declutter session from being too big the next time you’re in the mood. Roberts says three organizing products are worth investing in to keep things neat:
- Labels: “As routines resume, labeling is essential. It removes the guesswork, helps systems stick, and elevates the visual clarity of any space.”
- Bins: “Make the most of your closet shelves and contain items within bins. Containers like these make it easy to restock lunch supplies, snacks, and household essentials for the season ahead.”
- Turntables: “Ideal for deep pantry shelves, awkward corners, or even the refrigerator, a turntable brings instant access and visibility to the items you use daily but often lose track of.”
