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10 Home Organizing Projects Experts Say to Tackle This Summer

Summer's slower pace makes it the ideal time to reset your home.

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Warmer weather and a slower pace make summer the ideal time to tackle home organizing projects that get put off throughout the year. Fall is busy with holiday prep, winter is too cold and dark to organize certain areas, and spring tends to fill up with activities. The result? Clutter buildup—everywhere.

The good news is, summer is a great period to reset your home. "Longer daylight hours make it easier to take on larger organizing projects," says professional organizer Marie Potter. If you live with kids, summer break also serves as a natural transition. "Kids are home more in the summer, so it's a good time to clean out stuff from the school year's routines and welcome the summer routines," says professional organizer Meghan Cocchiaro, the founder of Organized by Meg.

Here are the 10 home organizing projects pros say you should tackle this summer—take their advice and you'll thank yourself come fall!

1

Clean out the Garage

clean and organized garage interior
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"Garages get put off all year because the year is busy, and it's usually too cold to get in there and work," says professional organizer Meghan Cocchiaro, the founder of Organized by Meg. Add an organizing session to your to-do list. "It's a great time to pull everything out, use the driveway, sort, and purge the entire space from the year-round buildup," the organizer says.

RELATED: 11 Items You Should Never Keep in Your Garage

2

Organize Kids' Crafting, Homework, and Play Zones

colorful kids table and chair with games and crafting supplies on it
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While the kids are busy at camp or playing outdoors, Frances Greene, the founder and lead organizer at Grit & Honey Home Organizing, suggests giving their crafting, homework, and play zones a hard reset. "Summer is an excellent time to reset: recycle, donate, or trash items no longer needed—don't forget to recycle pens, pencils, crayons, markers, backpacks, and binders at Staples," Greene shares.

RELATED: Expert-Approved Tips for Decluttering Toys Fast

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3

Purge the Pantry

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"The entire pantry should be reset, pulling out expired goods, bags left open, food you no longer like—or just never ate and likely never will," Cocchiaro says. While you're at it, the organizer recommends purging, resetting, and deep cleaning the refrigerator, too.

RELATED: 10 Genius Fridge Organization Hacks Pros Swear By

4

Streamline Clothing

organized closet with bags hanging up, shoes on shelves, and clothes on hanging rails
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Don't overlook your wardrobe, says professional organizer Marie Potter. She suggests taking an honest look at what fits, what you love wearing, and what can be donated.

"This helps ensure your wardrobe is working for your lifestyle, not the one you had years ago, and streamlining your closet will reduce decision fatigue so getting dressed is so much easier," Potter says.

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5

Edit Kids' Closets

kids' clothes inside a closet hanging on a rail and folded on a shelf underneath
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"Go through all the kids' clothing and pull out sizes that no longer fit," Greene advises. Additionally, she suggests starting a list of clothing they'll need for cooler fall weather, since by mid-August, jeans, fleeces, and back-to-school sales start showing up. "It's really helpful to get ahead of this game," Greene says.

6

Declutter the Backyard Shed

gardening equipment on workbench in potting shed
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Backyard sheds collect clutter throughout the year. "Summer is the perfect time to empty the space, sweep out the dirt and cobwebs, and regroup items by category," Potter says.

Her tip is to use buckets or bins to corral similar items like trowels, snippers, and gloves so you can easily find what you need. "It’s a great opportunity to organize what you need and recycle, donate, or discard what is broken or no longer being used," Potter adds.

RELATED: Organizers Want You to Toss These Backyard Shed Items

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7

Tackle the Mudroom

mudroom with white built ins, wicker baskets, a throw pillow and a bag and scarf hanging up
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Mudrooms are prime candidates for a summer refresh. "These spaces need to transition from cold to warm weather, but spring can be very busy for families so summer is a good time to catch up, especially before the season turns yet again to fall, creating an even bigger mess," Cocchiaro says. She suggests storing cold-weather accessories further away and bringing summer staples like sun hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen front and center.

RELATED: Organizers Say You Should Get Rid of These 10 Mudroom Items

8

Reset the Entry Closet

open closet with coats hanging up, shoes on a shelf and a cane in front of the closet
Anthony Redpath / Getty Images

Entry closets are typically due for an overhaul come summer. Potter recommends doing a seasonal swap and prioritizing the space for lightweight outerwear and quick-grab items for summer living, such as beach bags and picnic gear. "When everything is easy to access, leaving the house is a breeze," Potter notes.

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9

Go Through Kids' Backpacks

animal themed backpacks hanging on hooks
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"Sometimes kids' backpacks and end-of-year supply bags come home at the end of spring but get shoved in the corner for the summer months, creating an unpleasant task come fall," Cocchiaro says. Take the pro's advice and clean out kids' backpacks in the summer, so the only task to worry about in the fall is buying new school supplies.

10

Prep Cold-Weather Clothing

a person holding a stack of colorful folded sweaters
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Winter may seem far away, but Greene recommends taking a glance at winter clothing. "Wash jackets, donate items that won't fit in the next season, and you guessed it—make a list of what you'll need to keep an eye out for come October," she says. Greene's pro tip: "I like to send myself an email with all the lists and then snooze the email until late-August or early-October."

Headshot of Maria Sabella

Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle. 

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