Pro Organizers Say You Should Get Rid of These 11 Things in August

Kids grow so fast, which means you likely have a good amount of clothes and shoes that your children have outgrown. It's a good time to donate or pass them along to loved ones. "Only keep what fits and what your child will actually wear," says Naeemah Ford Goldson of Restore Order Professional Organizing. "That’ll help save time on rushed mornings when everyone is trying to get out the house."

We put together a full list of places where you can donate clothes and sneakers.

GET THE FULL LIST: Here's Where to Donate Clothes to Give Them a Second Life

Of course, this is a given. Your child's backpack will be part of their daily routine once again, so now's the time to make sure it's in good condition. Don't forget about their lunchbox and water bottle, too. "Say goodbye to outgrown school accessories, while reusing as much as you can from the prior year," says Melissa Klug of Home By Eleven. "But if that backpack is outgrown — let it go."

There are plenty of places, including Goodwill, that will take lightly used items. Some organizations only accept new supplies, but you might want to check in with them if your item is almost like new to see if you can still donate it.

Don't feel pressured to hold onto all the goodies from fairs and carnivals your family enjoyed over the summer. Jennifer Du Bois of Home with Jen D recommends discarding any broken plastic toys, dead glow sticks, inflatable hammers and deflated balloon animals. "They all served a purpose when they made everyone happy at the time," Du Bois says. "Keeping broken items does not preserve the memory."

"Heading off to college is the ultimate reset," Rosenthal says. "Have your student part with clothes they never wear, old tech or tangled cords, dorm decor they’ve outgrown and high school keepsakes they’re ready to leave behind."

When they have fewer items, it'll be much easier to pack at the end of the summer and have a fresh start for the new school year.

"August is a good month to go through and toss all the items you purchased to keep the kids busy all summer," Du Bois says. Whether your child never got around to using the item, they never completed it or it's broken, there's no reason to keep it. "The kids will be busy with back-to-school activities soon, and you need to make space for the holiday influx of new things," she adds.

Luckily, craft supplies, games and workbooks can often be donated to charities, your local library (just call first to confirm!) and other community organizations.

Once you've painted a room, upgraded your outdoor space or assembled a piece of furniture, don't keep the supplies around the house. Part ways with any user manuals, tiny Allen wrenches and paint samples you won't use again. "It’s always good to save a master copy of each of these supplies in your home, but we don’t need multiples of any of them," says Maeve Richmond of Maeve's Method. "I maintain a manual drawer in my home for quick reference to manuals for major appliances, but I toss manuals for smaller items like fans and dehumidifiers, as they're easy to locate online."

If a local organization won't accept the supplies, Habitat for Humanity ReStores collects used and new materials.

Even if you change your makeup routine from season to season, get into the habit of checking your products' expiration dates regularly. "Keep in mind that some products, like mascara and liquid eyeliner, should be tossed quicker than others," says Laura Cattano. "They really only last three months after opening, as they dry out and worse, bacteria builds up and can cause infection."

"Do a quick sweep of your bathroom and travel bags—chuck the expired sunscreen, melted chapstick, bug spray that lost its punch and half-used mini toiletries," Rosenthal adds.

Your coat closet is probably one of the most overlooked spaces in your home. Consider donating coats you no longer wear. "While [organizations] may be reluctant to take coats in warm weather months, they do love them when the weather cools, as that’s when good quality, warm fall and winter coats come back into demand," Richmond says.

Just remember to check the pockets for any belongings you'd like to keep and look out for any stains or tears. "If the coat is in good condition but needs a fast wash or an even faster trip to the dry cleaner for a stitch-up, please consider doing so, even if it costs a bit for the repair," she says. "An upcycled coat is a true treasure to those in need, and your kindness will go a long way this winter."

Fall is likely the time when you tend to start burning most of your candles. Before the season arrives, check the condition of your collection. If any have an unpleasant smell or broken vessels, it's time to say goodbye. "You can reuse nice candle glasses for storage, especially in the bathroom cabinet for beauty tools, lip glosses, makeup pencils and tools," Cattano says.