Things to Declutter in September
And just like that, summer is over, and fall is knocking on your door. This is when we open our eyes and see our homes are a bit messy. If this sounds like you, this list of things to declutter in September is your fast fix!
How to declutter your home with a list that you can follow along to and make progress without freaking out.
Summer was a fun time of rest, relaxing, and enjoying your family, and because of that, keeping up with the mess was probably put on the back burner. Partner that with having your entire family home and underfoot; you may have a chaotic home staring at you right about now.
With the kids back in school, this is a great time to reset your home and start fresh for fall.
Things to Declutter in September
Just like with our other monthly lists, we have things broken down into rooms. This way, you can tackle one room at a time, bringing a sense of order back into it.
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Decluttering Checklist for September at the end of this article!
DM Pro Tip: Keep this list and all of our monthly checklists in a decluttering binder. This way you have a plan for each month of the year to refer to, keeping things from getting cluttered and messy going forward.
Clutter List for the Kitchen
Nothing can mess up a kitchen more than having the kids home all summer long. Let’s get this important room organized.
• Paper Plates – Make a stack of your plates and keep only the ones there are reasonable. If you have mismatched plates, ones that are bent, or torn, let them go.
• Vitamins – Go through your family’s vitamins. Toss the old and replace it with new. Label them clearly so you know who get’s what.
• Rugs – Take a look at the rugs on your floor. How do they look? Are they in bad shape? If so, replace them with new ones. Consider foam padded mats for easier standing.
• Foil, wrap, baggies – Gather up your entire collection and decide on an area to keep all these items together. You can keep them in a shallow drawer, on a shelf, or in your pantry.
Clutter List for the Bedroom
Your bedroom is an important area to keep neat and tidy. Clutter is loud, making it hard to get a good night’s rest, something you need to have for a better day.
• Papers – Make a new rule that all papers belong in another room. Papers can be such a visual eyesore, especially in a bedroom. Keep the papers in another space and bring tranquility to your room.
• Sheets/Linens – Cooler weather means warmer sheets and blankets. Go through your summer supply and let go of anything that is torn, stretched, or ratty.
• Electronics – Only keep in your room what you truly need to have. Once you eliminate the extras, you can use a stand to hold your tools more efficiently.
Clutter List for the Office
This is one of those areas that can get cluttered and chaotic if we don’t stay on top of things. If you do not have an office, use these tips for wherever you pay your bills and file your important papers.
• Old Magazines – Donate these to a local nursing home.
• Books – I love books, but that doesn’t mean I can’t declutter the ones I am not in love with anymore. Contact your local library or school to see if they are interested in taking them.
• Receipts – Walk your home and collect any receipts you see lying out. Put them all into an accordion file in the month that they occurred. This will help your end-of-year close-up be more efficient.
Clutter List for the Family Room
Pajama days and family movie nights might be on hold for the time being. Use this time to reset your family fun space.
• Pet toys – If your pet has more toys than needed, go through them and toss any that are old and damaged.
• Kids toys – After summer, you might find a collection of toys in your family room. Put away the good ones, donate the outgrown ones, and toss the broken ones.
• Games – Donate any board games your family has outgrown. Take time to fix any game boxes with heavy-duty duct tape.
• Remotes – We are not going to declutter the remotes but the batteries inside. Replace them with new ones so they work better.
Clutter List for the Outside
You might have a big collection of random stuff in your yard; this is a great Saturday project to get your entire family involved to help with.
• Summer toys – Pack away water toys, and donate what your family has outgrown.
• Yard games – Pack away yard games and donate the ones your family no longer loves.
• Car wash – Go through the supplies you use to wash your car. Toss any empty bottles, old rags, or misc trash.
• Storage – Invest in hangers for bikes, totes for toys, and shelving for storage in your garage.
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Clutter List for the Mudroom
Stop clutter at the door and keep it from taking over your entire home.
• Shoes – Donate any that no longer fit and toss any that are damaged.
• Coats – Donate any that no longer fit and toss any that are stained or damaged.
• Sports Gear – Store away summer gear so you can make room for school sports gear.
• Kids Area – Set up an area for kids to easily put their things away. Hooks for bookbags, baskets for their shoes, cubbies for their coats and hats. Read: How to Organize a Mudroom for more tips.
Clutter List for the Pantry
Oh my goodness, can summer and kids at home wreak havoc on our kitchen pantry! Let’s tackle this area next.
• Stale food – Go through any bags or boxes of snacks and cereal. Toss any that are stale.
• Pouches – Gather up all the pouches you have and put them into a basket so you can more easily see your selection.
• Organize Lunches – Put lunch supplies in a tote or bin and label it clearly. Encourage your kids to pack their own snacks from this container.
• Floor – Give your floor a good cleaning. Toss the trash, put away any fallen food, and use bins and baskets to hold what stays.
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I hope you found this list the tool you have been looking for, an easier and less stressful way to get some of the clutter out of your home for September.
Get all of our monthly checklists and give yourself a decluttering game plan you can stick with for the entire year!
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