Back-to-school time is the perfect opportunity to get rid of all sorts of extra stuff that kids have brought into the home in years past, says #decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin. Toys that the kids no longer use, books they’ve read and won’t pick up again, clothing they’ve outgrown, equipment for sports they no longer play, and last year’s backpacks and bags are good targets for your seasonal purge. Bag or box these items and get them out of your house by scheduling a free #donation pickup from ClothingDonations.org. “Next year, think about doing this decluttering while the kids are at sleepaway camp,” the dClutterfly ounder adds.
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Conquering Back-to-School Clutter
Every year around the third week of August, “Where did the summer go?” is a common lament among parents of school-age children. Those big yellow buses will start to pick them up in next couple of weeks, if they haven’t already, and the three-day Labor Day weekend notwithstanding, the start of school is a transitional moment for familes.
As with many seasonal transitions, back-to-school time carries clutter with it. The kids will return home from school each day with new paperwork, books, instruments, sporting goods, electronics and other stuff — and will tend to toss it aside the second they enter the front door. Summer is nearing its end, and with it, your vacation from indoor clutter.
To get ready for the influx of new junk, sort through and get rid of anything your kids won’t need in the upcoming school year. Store summer items such as camping gear and swim goggles out of sight to make the transition less traumatic. This would also be a good time to file last year’s art projects that are still stuck to the fridge and send one to grandma.
This is also a fantastic time to take inventory of the clothing that does and doesn’t fit your kids; there is no reason to keep things that they have grown out of. Bag up the rejects and contact ClothingDonations.org for a free donation pickup of anything you won’t be using in the year ahead; somebody can use them! Plus, the proceeds from their resale will help fund veterans programs.
Once school starts, parents should model proper decluttering and organization skills, suggests Mindful Decluttering & Organizing. Work with kids to designate confined but comfortable workspaces; create storage systems for their school supplies and projects; and sort, file and/or trash old papers to keep the clutter from escalating.
Most of what kids learn in school is stored in their brains; it doesn’t need to be in overflowing bins and boxes that crowd the closets and attic. It’s perfectly fine to document your child’s growth and progress, but keep only the pictures, papers and other memorabilia that represent pivotal moments in their development.
Back-to-school time is bittersweet, since it represents the end of the relatively carefree summer months. To ease the transition and preserve the stress-free feeling of summer, stay organized as the weather gets colder and the leaves begin to fall.
Document Your Move in Pictures
A smartphone or other camera can be of great assistance when you’re moving, says Lifehack. Simply use it to snap pictures of the backs of your televisions, Wi-Fi routers, stereos and other electronic equipment, and you’ll be able to duplicate the setups in a new location quickly and easily. Pictures can also help you file an insurance claim if anything is lost or damaged in transit; simply take pictures of your more valuable items as you pack, and you’ll be able to demonstrate the items’ original condition should anything be scratched, dented, misplaced or stolen.
Moving? Start Packing in the Kitchen
With all of its specialized appliances and accoutrements, the kitchen is arguably the most time-intensive area of the house to pack up during a move. Start on it first, The Frugal Girls advise, and consider switching to disposable plates for the final weeks ahead of the zero hour. Speaking of disposable plates, you can use Styrofoam plates to pad your fragile, reusable dinnerware when packing—simply place a foam plate in-between pottery plates when stacking. And if you want everything to survive the move without damage, don’t skimp on the bubble wrap and shrinkwrap, they add.
How to Pack for a Move
To streamline the packing process before a move, U-Haul advised Denver Post writer Marni Jameson, make a little-used area of your old place into a packing station and stock it with flattened boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers and other supplies. Use small boxes for heavier items; not only will it save your back and your movers’, it will also be more secure for the contents. Use trash bags for soft items. If you are moving locally, take hanging clothing directly to your new closets. Finally, don’t move empty dressers and suitcases. Fill them with stuff to maximize truck space.