Your Ultimate Summer Declutter Guide for What to Clean Out

Inside: A list of 18 summer declutter categories to transition into the hot season and tips on how to organize summer essentials.

Summer is here!  Cue the fireworks, warm nights and lazy days.  While summer is a welcome change, the thing about a new season is that you need a different set of essentials for daily activities and life around the house.

Maybe you are going on vacation, spending more time outdoors, hosting out-of-town guests or cooking different types of meals.  Before shifting over to the summer season and rushing out to buy new items, take some time to do a summer declutter to truly be prepared. 

Below is a list of commonly used summer goods you can easily declutter for smooth sailing this season.  And possibly save yourself some money in the process (by not buying what you already own).

18 Areas To Do a Summer Declutter at Home

Sunscreen

Spend a few minutes going through your sunscreen supply.  I keep our families’ sunscreen in a handy Dollar Store bin in the laundry room so everyone knows exactly where it is.  Take a quick look to see what bottles are expired, empty or just super gross after long days in the bottom of your beach bag. 

Pool and Beach Towels

Yes, those colorful Turkish towels at Target are so cute.  But wait.  Don’t buy a new set of beach or pool towels until you know for sure you need them.  Declutter worn, threadbare towels or those that are too juvenile for your kids (i.e., the Paw Patrol towel is no longer of interest to my 12-year-old, lol).  

Only keep enough towels you need, two per family member should be plenty.  If you have a backyard pool and host guests, 4-6 extras are a good amount to keep on hand for guests.

Swimsuits

No summer declutter is complete without a review of every family member’s swimsuits.  Kids especially seem to wear swimsuits out.  Remove any suits that are sagging, pilled or no longer fit.  

Pool Toys

Does your family spend time a lot of time at the pool or have one in your backyard?  Declutter your pool toy selection before inviting friends over or hitting up your neighborhood spot.  Remove any flotation toys that have holes or are too weak to be fun and supportive.  Take a look through it all…swim goggles, water guns, diving sticks.  Keep only what you and your family actually use and are still in good condition.  

Any safety devices, such as lifejackets, need to be inspected carefully to be sure they fit properly and are in reliable working condition.  

Beach Toys and Equipment

Do you live near the coast or frequent the beach during the summer?  Living in San Diego our family goes to the beach a fair amount.  I review our beach gear each summer to be sure we are well stocked for what we need and to see if anything needs to find another home.  

This list may include:

• Sand toys (shovels, buckets, castle molds)
• Beach chairs 
• Beach wagon
• Coolers 
• Beach bag 
• Boogie boards
• Wetsuits and rash guards
• Umbrella or sun shade

Outdoor Furniture and Accessories

One of the best things about summer is outdoor lounging and eating.  Take a close look at your patio furniture and outdoor accessories to see what is still in good condition, needs repair or needs to be replaced.  

This list may include:

• String lights
• Lanterns
• Cushions
• Rugs
• Throw pillows

Outdoor Tableware

If you enjoy alfresco dining, do a summer declutter of your outdoor tableware.  Only keep what you need based on the size of your family, if you entertain and how often you eat outdoors.  Get rid of old or never used plates, platters, serving ware, wine glasses, and utensils.  

Outdoor Games

Love playing in the outdoors?  Take stock of your sporting equipment for summertime games such as tennis, pickleball, baseball, cornhole, beach games, sidewalk chalk, etc.  Declutter what your family no longer plays with, is broken or in terrible shape.

Garden and Lawn Supplies

If you garden or spend time in your yard during the summer, do a review of your lawn and garden supplies.  This includes your lawn mower, weed eater, etc. Have equipment repaired if need be.  If you no longer need items for this type of work but they are still in good working condition, donate or resell them to free up space in your garage. 

Camping Gear

Are you a camping family?  My husband has camped a ton with our boys as part of a father / son camping club. Camping gear can collect very quickly and all of a sudden you have every camping gadget or piece of equipment in your garage for the one time a year you go!  Be honest about your summer camping goals and declutter anything that’s in poor condition (and is unrepairable) or never gets used.

School Supplies

School’s out!  Do a summer declutter of the school supplies, papers and artwork that was brought home the last year of school. 

This list may include:

• Worn out notebooks and folders
• Artwork that is simply not that great (only keep the good stuff)
• Worksheets, permission slips, and notes that are outdated
• Worn down pencils and crayons
• Dried out markers
• Stretched out or broken headphones 
• Books they are past the reading level for (donate to library or give to friends)
• Projects that are too difficult to store (if really special take a photo to keep)

Water Bottles

We use refillable water bottles year-round and they seem to accumulate during the school year.  This is a good time for a water bottle declutter if they are taking over one of your kitchen cabinets (as mine start to do!).  Each family member should have 1 quality water bottle they use daily and possibly a back-up.  I prefer the same type of water bottle for everyone so they are all easy to clean together and fit nicely in a cabinet.  

Pantry Items / Summer Foods

Summertime often means different types of eating and cooking (i.e., outdoor grilling).  Having children home from school during the summer may involve a change in meal planning (especially college kids back in the house).  

Before your next big grocery shop, declutter your pantry and fridge.  Get rid of expired foods or pantry goods you’ve had forever that no one will ever eat (i.e., the can of chickpeas for homemade hummus or canned pumpkin puree from two Thanksgivings ago). 

Summer Shoes

Review summer shoes to see what still fits (especially for kids) and is in good condition for another season of summer fun.  This includes flip flops, sandals (casual and dressy), water shoes, and hiking boots.  

Summer Wardrobe Accessories

During the summer we wear different types of accessories as part of our wardrobes.  Declutter hats, sunglasses, swim coverups, hair accessories in poor condition or that you no longer use. Take it a step further and do a full closet cleanout of the summer clothing you no longer wear.

Summer Makeup and Beauty Products

If you adjust your beauty routine by season, do a summer declutter of your makeup and skincare products.  Get rid of colors that don’t flatter, too many duplicates of the same type of item and expired makeup.  This includes brushes and sponges too.  Skincare needs change during the hotter months.  Review your routine and remove anything that no longer works for you (and won’t save until winter).

Summer Home Decor

If you love to decorate your home for different seasons, take a look at your summer decor. Be honest about what you truly love and want to display as part of your home decor.  This declutter list may include home signs, candles, photo frames, knick-knacks, decorative pillows or throw blankets.  If you don’t love it, don’t put it out; only display what brings you joy.

Linens and Bedding

As part of your summer declutter go through the linen closet and remove any worn, threadbare summer sheets and comforters or duvets.  Review lightweight blankets and decorative throw pillows and only keep what is in good condition and worth having.

Tips for How to Organize After Your Summer Declutter

After you’ve done your summer declutter (which could be any or all of the above — even 10 minutes of decluttering is worth it);

quick tips on keeping your summer gear organized:

• Keep like items with like – sunscreen in one basket, swimwear in the same drawer
• Keep sunscreen in a basket in a location where everyone knows it is (i.e., the laundry room or downstairs bathroom)
• Store beach and pool towels separate from bath towels so they don’t get mixed up
• Utilize hooks and racks for wet swimsuits and towels (an over-the-door hook or command hooks in the laundry room or bathroom)
• Keep a pool bag at the ready with pool toys, the pool key, etc. so you aren’t searching for these things every time you go swim
• Use an outdoor storage chest for pool and swim toys

Summer Declutter Checklist FREE Printable

Want a hard copy of the ultimate list of summer items to declutter?  Get your free printable with the form below.