We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
1Clean out the garage
imaginima / getty images'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 organiser Meghan Cocchiaro, the founder of Organized by Meg. Add an organising 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 organiser says.
2Organise kids' crafting, homework, and play zones
Olga Pankova / Getty ImagesWhile the kids are busy at clubs or playing outdoors, Frances Greene, the founder and lead organiser 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3Purge the pantry
harpazo_hope / Getty Images'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 organiser recommends purging, resetting, and deep cleaning the fridge, too.
4Streamline clothing
Daniela Duncan / Getty ImagesDon't overlook your wardrobe, says professional organiser 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 wardrobe will reduce decision fatigue so getting dressed is so much easier,' Potter says.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5Edit kids' wardrobes
Elena Zaretskaya / Getty Images'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 autumn 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.
6Declutter the garden shed
moodboard / Getty ImagesGarden 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 organise what you need and recycle, donate, or discard what is broken or no longer being used,' Potter adds.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Tackle the mudroom
PC Photography / Getty ImagesMudrooms 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 autumn, creating an even bigger mess,' Cocchiaro says. She suggests storing cold-weather accessories further away and bringing summer staples like sun hats, sunglasses, and suncream front and centre.
8Reset the entryway
Anthony Redpath / Getty ImagesEntry cupboards are typically due for an overhaul come summer. Potter recommends doing a seasonal swap and prioritising 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9Go through kids' rucksacks
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images'Sometimes kids' rucksacks 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 autumn,' Cocchiaro says. Take the pro's advice and clean out kids' rucksacks in the summer, so the only task to worry about in the autumn is buying new school supplies.
10Prep cold-weather clothing
Aleksandr Zubkov / Getty ImagesWinter 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.'
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below