If your home has become a bit chaotic recently, take a leaf out of a minimalist's playbook, with these three things they throw out every summer.
From sunscreen to swimwear, streamlining your space a little later in the summer season will ensure you don't declutter something you may need, while preparing your home for fall ahead of time.
Here, professional organizers share their top tips on eliminating some of the clutter minimalists never have after the summer.
3 things minimalists throw out every summer
1. Off‑season clothes
When transitioning your wardrobe from winter to summer and vice versa, Tracy McCubbin, CEO and founder of dClutterfly says she 'loves' the 'seasonal swap' method, which involves rotating your wardrobe twice a year to keep only current-season clothes easily accessible.
She explains, 'Everything else gets boxed or stored. This not only declutters your closet but streamlines your morning routine. It's the perfect decluttering job at the end of the summer, cause if you didn’t wear them this summer or last summer, then you aren’t ever going to wear that item. It's time to declutter.'
Our rules for decluttering clothes make the process simple and painless, allowing you to create space in your closet for new pieces and fall in love with forgotten, older pieces all over again.
For any out-of-season pieces you do want to hang on to, we recommend using underbed storage, such as the bestselling Sterilite Large Storage Bin available at Walmart, to keep items neat and out of the way.
2. Sunscreen and bug spray
There's no denying that sunscreen and bug spray are absolutely summer essentials, but if you have cabinets filled with expired products, they're no use to you, and, more importantly, a complete waste of space.
That's why decluttering expired bathroom products when compiling your bathroom decluttering checklist and organizing a bathroom closet is so crucial.
'Let’s trim down duplicates of seasonal products – if you’ve got too many bottles of sunscreen or bug spray, toss the extras,' advises Tracy. 'Only keep what you’ll actually use this season, and remember sunscreen expires, so if you still have sunscreen from a year ago, it’s most likely not effective anymore.
'Remember that the first step to living a minimalist lifestyle is to not buy multiples. Buy one product, and use it all up before you buy another,' embracing the underconsumption trend and saving money at the same time.
3. Swimwear, pool and beach gear
Finally, while summer is the season for spending time outdoors, it's important to get rid of any items you won't use or don't need, as the weather transitions to fall.
'Everyone should declutter bathing suits, pool toys, beach towels – assessing which are worn, which are broken, and which are seldom used,' says Tracy. 'Pool toys and bathing suits are easy five-minute declutter targets for the end of summer.'
Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, agrees, adding, 'There is always a lot of plastic junk associated with outdoor fun, picnics, and beach trips.'
Therefore, don't forget about decluttering your backyard and summer gear when it comes to summer decluttering, too, from inflatables and gardening tools to patio cushions.
'Summer outdoor items can create clutter,' continues Tracy. 'Take the end of summer to evaluate outdoor summer gear, repairing or discarding broken pieces, and keeping only what serves your current lifestyle and that will be used and loved next summer.'
What to shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
For outdoor gear you do want to keep, this durable storage box is spacious and crafted from resin that's resistant to weather, water, rusting, leaking, mildew, and UV fading.
This underbed storage bag is ideal for storing blankets, linens, clothing and more, with a secure zipper and clear PEVA plastic top.
Organize your swimwear ready for next summer with these closet storage boxes, which feature a durable, functional and easy-to-clean design.
This hanging outdoor pool float organizer is heavy-duty, built to handle bigger and heavier floats, holding up to 30 lbs, with an adaptable inner-support system to prevent sagging.
Keep your sunscreen neat, organized, and out of the way until next summer, with this perforated basket to prevent moisture build-up.
These swimsuit bags are ideal for the pool, beach or storage, with reinforced sides and reclosable zippers.
Meet our expert
When streamlining don't forget to keep an eye out for signs you've taken minimalism too far.
