The Ultimate Summer Decluttering Checklist (with step-by-step instructions)

The summertime is a great opportunity to declutter your home! Not only does it make your space feel more organized and refreshed, but it can also help you get rid of some of the excess stuff that’s been building up over the school year. In this blog post, I’ll provide you with my best tips plus a free printable summer decluttering checklist!

Looking for even more decluttering motivation? I’ve got you covered! Here are 5 decluttering mistakes to avoid. I also have decluttering checklists for other seasons available – go ahead and bookmark these so you are ready all year long! Here’s the fall decluttering checklist, spring decluttering checklist, and the winter decluttering checklist.

Why is summer a great time to declutter?

The summer is the perfect time to declutter your home! In fact, this may be the easiest season to get motivated in. Here’s why!

Warm Weather

For one, the warmer weather means that we’re spending more time outside and less time indoors. This gives us a chance to really assess what items in our home are actually being used and which ones can be donated or thrown away.

More Free Time

In addition, summer is typically a slower season for most families. With no school and fewer activities, we have more time on our hands to focus on projects like summer decluttering.

Get the Kids Involved

Summer is also a great time to get your kids involved in the decluttering process! Not only will it teach them about organizing and cleaning, but it will also give them a sense of ownership over their space. Plus, it can help set them up for a successful upcoming school year too!

items to start looking at for summer decluttering

What should I declutter in the summer?

Here are some suggestions of items to declutter in the summertime. I’ve got plenty more ideas in the free summer decluttering download below too!

To start with, purge:

Toys that your kids have outgrown
Clothing that no longer fits or is in style
Outdated electronics
Expired food from the pantry
Old magazines and school books

Of course, it’s also the perfect opportunity to take a good look at seasonal items that only come out in the summer months such as beach gear, flip flops, and swimwear!

ideas for summer decluttering: look at beach items, swimwear and flipflops

How do I declutter in the summer?

Now that you know what to declutter in the summer, it’s time to get started! Here are my step-by-step instructions for summer decluttering success:

Start with a plan: Before you start pulling everything out of your closets and cupboards, it’s important to have a plan. Otherwise, you’ll likely just end up feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. So take a few minutes to sit down and make a list of the areas in your home that you want to focus on. Or, even better, just grab my free checklist below!

Set a goal: Once you know which areas you want to declutter, it’s time to set a goal. How much stuff do you really want to get rid of? A good rule of thumb is to aim for purging about 20% of your belongings.

Create a sorting system: This is where those plastic bins come in handy! Label three bins with the following: “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Trash.” As you’re going through your things, sort them into these three categories.

Start small: Don’t try to declutter your entire house all at once! That’s a surefire way to get overwhelmed. Instead, start with one small area and work your way up. A good place to start is with your closet or dresser drawers.

Take it one step at a time: The key to summer decluttering success is to take it one step at a time. Dedicate 15-30 minutes each day to decluttering and you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done!

Set a deadline: summer is the perfect time to set a decluttering deadline for yourself. Whether it’s the end of summer break or before guests come to visit, having a timeline in mind can really help you meet your goals.

How do you use the free summer decluttering checklist printable?

Download the summer decluttering checklist using the information below, and print it out. Then, hang it somewhere noticeable like your family command center or fridge, and start tackling items one by one!

How to print your summer decluttering checklist

Simply click the image below, enter your email address, and it will be sent to your inbox for easy downloading and printing.

Get your Summer Decluttering Checklist by clicking the image below:

More Seasonal Decluttering Checklists

Looking for all four free printable seasonal decluttering checklists so you know which areas of your home to declutter throughout the year? Here you go!

By staying on top of clutter, it makes it so much easier to clean your home and find what you need, when you need it. Using this seasonal decluttering strategy, you can declutter and organize your home in seasonally specific ‘hot spots’ to prevent it from filling up with unnecessary and unwanted stuff.

Make sure to print all four of the seasonal decluttering checklists to stay one step ahead of clutter and make it easier to find space for what you truly need, use and love.