Inside: Wondering what to declutter in June? If you’re slow decluttering or doing maintenance decluttering, this “Declutter in a Year’ series is for you! This month we’re tackling outdoorsy spaces and end of the school year clutter.
At the time of this writing, it’s a rainy forty degree day in late May. I’m simultaneously shivering and fretting about a bleak, potentially AI-dominated future.
Will the environment survive the AI revolution? Will there be enough water? What about electricity? What about jobs for the next generation? What about MY job?
For context, this is not some far removed problem for our family. We are currently fighting off a data center that wants to build fifteen minutes down the road from us.
The little town in the Poconos that once felt like a guaranteed haven tucked away from the world’s chaotic future now feels precariously uncertain, especially after Congresswoman AOC showed that jar of dirty well water from a Georgia home situated right next door to a massive new Meta data center.
AI has also dramatically affected the online world, and my blogging income has taken a hit with the AI revolution. Thanks, AI.
Why am I telling you this? Because you probably have big worries, too. They might not be data centers and AI, but something else.
And whenever I’m worried about big problems, I remind myself that one of the best things I can do for my mental health is focus on things I can control. And one of the things I can definitely control is clutter.
What to Declutter in June
You have a lot of control over how much stuff is in your home, over how much “inventory” you have to manage day in and day out.
So if you’re also feeling overwhelmed by the big problems of the world that are mostly out of your control, I encourage you to focus on clearing the clutter, getting your home in order and keeping it that way. It helps – promise!
This month, we’re primarily focused on outdoor clutter and post-school year clutter. Let’s dive into this month’s categories.
1. All Bags (Travel, School, Etc.)
After the school year ends and before travel starts is the perfect time to declutter bags!
Bring all the bags together in one place – suitcases, overnight bags, purses, backpacks. Empty backpacks completely if you haven’t already.
Start by throwing away bags that are completely worn out. The handle or straps are broken beyond duct tape’s ability to repair? The suitcase no longer rolls or the zippers are broken? Time to go!
Next, decide how many bags you actually need.
If you rarely travel, how many would you need for that short trip you take once a year? Could you pack like a minimalist and fit all the kids’ stuff in one suitcase?
What about purses? How many do you actually need? Is it time to downsize your giant mommy backpack for a smaller crossbody bag?
2. Homeschool/School Items
I imagine that if you have kids in school, teachers send home a crap ton of school papers at the end of the year. Either that, or you’ve slowly accumulated a giant stack at home.
It’s time to declutter that stack! I have not met one millennial who was thrilled to find out their parents kept their third grade artwork. Not one.
Set a container limit and stick to it. Maybe one file folder per year per kid for standard sized papers? And for larger things like art, you could keep one art box per kid total.
Clean out those backpacks and lunch boxes. You don’t want science experiments growing in there over the summer.
If you homeschool, I just wrote a post specifically to help you clear the homeschool clutter! It can be a huge problem for homeschooling families.
Get the five questions I use to declutter our homeschool supplies and materials HERE.
3. Garage
This can be an overwhelming task if you’ve never tackled the garage before now.
If you have time and help from your partner or kids, you can declutter your garage in a weekend. If not, focus on one section this month, such as…
- Tools
- Discarded Furniture
- Yard Tools
- Kids’ Bikes & Scooters
- Sports Items
Remember, throw away anything that’s obviously worn out. For kids’ items, ask yourself if they still use them (just because you keep bikes doesn’t mean they will bike) or if they’ve outgrown them.
For tools, ask yourself if you have something else that can do the same job, or if you will ever use said tool. Declutter damaged yard tools and unnecessary duplicates.
If you have items you’re getting rid of that are in decent shape, on a sunny day set them at the end of your driveway with a “free” sign. Then put a curb alert up on FB marketplace.
(That’s where some of these bikes and an old but working lawn mower will be going this weekend.)
4. Gardening Supplies
Tis the time to garden, or it is if you have a green thumb, anyway. So it’s a good time to declutter your gardening supplies.
Pare down your gardening tools. Do you really need four hand trowels? Really?
As someone who doesn’t really garden, I like THIS post that shares the top 10 gardening tools you truly need.
Declutter seeds and bulbs, too. Be honest: are you actually going to plant beets this year? Do you even eat beets? Have you had those bulbs for a few years now? Either plant them or give them to someone who will.
Do you have more planting containers than you will ever use? Give them away to your fellow gardeners!
5. Paint & Supplies
Having painted over the winter, I now know that I much prefer painting during the warmer months, when I can open windows for ventilation.
June is a great time to clean out your paint stash! Set aside paint for projects you will actually complete this year, and schedule a time to get ‘er done.
If there are paint colors you know you will never use again for whatever reason, you can fill ¼ full cans with cat litter so it can dry and be thrown away. You could offer ½ full or more paint cans in Buy Nothing groups or for free on FB marketplace, and Habitat Restores do take donations of full, unopened cans of latex paint.
See THIS guide for more paint disposal and storage tips.
If you want to remember the colors, make sure to write down color names and brands before you toss the original cans.
Give away duplicate paint rollers, trays and dropcloths. You only need so many in one house, even if you paint all the time.
You Might Also Like: Peel and Stick Tile Tips & Tricks for Beginners
Give Your June Decluttering a Clear Focus
The end of June marks the year’s halfway point. After completing this month’s decluttering, you’ll be halfway through the “declutter in a year” series. Go you!
In addition to decluttering, don’t forget to get outside, move your body, drink water, read a book and/or watch a favorite show, and breathe.
We will get through whatever the future holds together, in our decluttered homes. Community is more important than ever (online AND in person), and it will see us through.
You’ve got this!
(If you missed last month’s decluttering list, check out what to declutter in May HERE.)
Read Next: 7 Rules for Decluttering Toys for Quick & Easy Decisions
