From hosting to tackling renovation projects, summer can be a busy time, so it's only natural for clutter to build up around the house. As the season slowly winds down, August is 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 organiser, systems expert and owner of This Organised Chaos.
A smart place to begin is in the areas of your home that see the most daily activity. Hallways, boot rooms, kitchen counters and other catch-all spaces where paperwork, shoes and miscellaneous items accumulate can quickly become overwhelming.
'The key is to organise 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, we've rounded up the items professional organisers recommend decluttering in August so your home feels calmer, more functional and ready for the season ahead.
1. Expired pantry items
As time passes, it's normal to find a few expired tins, condiments and snacks in your pantry. This is especially true after a busy summer entertaining. 'Toss anything expired, then regroup by category: sauce with sauces, snacks with snacks,' Louisa says. 'Contain them in labelled bins to restore order and visibility.'
Having an organised 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,' Trish says.
2. Worn-out summer gear
August is the perfect time to go through your swimming 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,' Trish 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,' Louisa says. 'Clear it out now so you can welcome next summer with a fresh start.'
3. Children's old school papers and projects
'The end of summer is the perfect moment to sort through last year’s schoolwork,' Louisa 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.'
4. Cellar or attic clutter
You want to prevent your cellar or attic 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 summer, these places are a great way to start.
'Carve out a weekend to take everything out, decide what to keep, donate and bin, then separate the items you're keeping into categories,' Trish says.
Louisa also suggests sorting your items by category to help 'maximise vertical space with mounted systems, and use labeled, stackable bins for long-term maintenance and easy access.'
Some categories she recommends are:
- Sports clothes
- Tools
- Seasonal decor
- Miscellaneous items
5. 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,' Trish says.
'All of this frees up space both physically and mentally, allowing you to head into the autumn 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 your playroom. 'Clear out the toys kids are no longer using to make room before the deluge of Christmas gifts enters your home,' Trish says.
Once you get rid of these things, keeping your spaces organised can prevent your declutter session from being too big the next time you’re in the mood. Louisa says three organising products are worth investing in to keep things neat:
- Labels: 'As routines resume, labelling 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.'
- Lazy Susans: 'Ideal for deep pantry shelves, awkward corners or even the refrigerator, a Lazy Susan brings instant access and visibility to the items you use daily but often lose track of.'
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