As every school year begins, I want to do a big purge of my house. It is nice to get anything we don’t need out of our spaces before the hustle and bustle of school starts (and all the paperwork, backpacks, shoes, and stuff comes piling in!). It gives us more space to mentally “breathe”. Here are some tips as we head into the fall to give you a head start on de-cluttering.
SOURCE: PEXELS.COM
Get the kids involved. I know, it sounds like it will take even longer with kids helping, but if your children are older than 5, they can help! They can also be more invested in keeping their own spaces clean and clutter-free if they feel involved in the process. Some jobs you can give older kids include: cleaning out trash cans and replacing trash bags, packing up donations for Goodwill, sorting out their stuffed animals, or folding clothes.
Don’t forget to change out the seasonal clothes: One thing that is really helpful when organizing is to rotate out clothes for the upcoming season. It means there is less clothing in the closets and dressers, and therefore less to keep tidy. Large or bulky items like hats and ski coats can be stored in large plastic totes in the garage, and then you can put warm weather items in the totes (think swimsuits, beach bags, sun hats) on the opposite season.
Go through the school supplies and art materials: Since your kiddos will likely be getting new school supplies, it’s good to take stock of what you already have at home, too. Watercolors, crayons, colored pencils, construction paper, and acrylic paints can dry out and break. We recommend tossing any broken or dried-out supplies, and sorting them into an art caddy or plastic drawers, and replacing what’s missing as needed.
Tackle any space that makes you feel overwhelmed: Often, messes or too much clutter can impact our mental health and cause anxiety or overwhelmed feelings. Think of the spaces that feel most stressful to you (an overflowing spice cupboard, a corner that has tons of paperwork or mail, or a kid’s closet that’s bursting at the seams), and set aside a day or two to get it done. You’ll be surprised with how good that makes you feel!