Summer can sometimes drone on with days running into each other without purpose.  Maybe that’s why I get the itch to clean and organize over this time.  The kids are playing outside or doing their own thing and I’m at home kind of bored.  I like to be up and doing things throughout the day.  I guess you could say nervous energy.

A friend of mine told me she does a lot of cleaning over the summer too!  She’s a teacher so this is the perfect time for her to get stuff done.  She gave me this idea!

I think we all can declutter our entire home in 25 days (or less if you are super motivated with lots of free time).

If I can just give you one piece of advice when tackling a big project….DON’T THINK OF IT AS A BIG PROJECT.  Think of it as chipping off a little at a time, or checking off a list one at a time.  If you think of something in it’s entirety you’ll become super over-whelmed and shut down.  Instead, think of it as accomplishing something each day.

So, I have this broken down into conquering a set of tasks each day to declutter your home in 25 days.

Download your printable copy here!

You can do this in 25 days straight or just weekdays it’s up to you!  Either way, you’ll have your house organized by Fall.

So, here goes:

Prep:

-Get Goodwill boxes ready. Keep them in your garage when full or not in use.
-Make sure you have trash bags big and small.

Day 1: Playroom or toys

-Go through and get rid of anything out in the open that needs to go to the dumpster. That includes broken toys that can’t be donated.
-While you’re doing this put donated items in Goodwill box.

Day 2: Playroom or toys

-Go through drawers, closed cabinets and closets and get rid of anything that needs to go.
–Purchase needed containers.

Day 3: Playroom or toys

-Organize according to toy. Label containers.

Day 4: Kids Room 1

-Go through and get rid of anything out in the open that needs to go to the dumpster. That includes broken toys that can’t be donated.
-While you’re doing this put toys worth donating in Goodwill box.
-Go through clothes in closet for donated items. Stained clothes go in trash. Determine if need closet organizers. If so, purchase.
-Go through clothes in drawers. Consider if need to move clothes around to other drawers or purchasing drawer dividers.

Day 5: Kids Room 1

-Organize toys in room. Determine if they need to be moved to another room such as a playroom. If they haven’t been played with, store or donate if not age appropriate anymore.
-Organize clothes in closet. Put out of season clothes toward the back. Organize according to sleeve length and bottoms (skirts, shorts, pants). Closet dividers help.

Day 6: Kids Room 2

-Go through and get rid of anything out in the open that needs to go to the dumpster. That includes broken toys that can’t be donated.
-While you’re doing this put toys worth donating in Goodwill box.
-Go through clothes in closet for donated items. Stained clothes go in trash. Determine if need closet organizers. If so, purchase.
-Go through clothes in drawers. Consider if need to move clothes around to other drawers or purchasing drawer dividers.

Day 7: Kids Room 2

-Organize toys in room. Determine if they need to be moved to another room such as a playroom. If they haven’t been played with, store or donate if not age appropriate anymore.
-Organize clothes in closet. Put out of season clothes toward the back. Organize according to sleeve length and bottoms (skirts, shorts, pants).

Day 8: Kids Room 3 (or guest room)

-Look at closets to see what’s been dumped in there. Keep keepsakes. Get rid of the rest. Same with chest of drawers and the guest bath. Keep things that guests can use such as shampoo or blowdryer.

Day 9: Master Bedroom & Closet

-The bedroom should be easy since most of us keep this room pretty sparkling.
-Go through hanging clothes and throw in boxes which to donate.

Day 10: Master Bedroom & Closet

-Go through clothes in drawers & shelves
-Organize hanging clothes

Day 11: Master Bedroom & Closet

-Organize clothes in drawers & shelves
-Go through accessories such as scarves, hats, gloves, socks and shoes

Day 12: Pantry

-Throw away foods not used in pantry
–Organize pantry

Day 13: Kitchen

-Go through storage containers such as Tupperware, ceramic and glass. Make sure everything has it’s lid, if not toss it.
-Organize containers with lids nearby.

Day 14: Kitchen

-Go through utensils.

Day 15: Kitchen

-Go through other drawers in kitchen (excluding junk drawer)
-Purchase drawer organizers or find a vase to hold the utensils used most, such as wooden spoons or spatulas.

Day 16: Kitchen

-Go through and organize serving platters.

-Consider storing plates in a deep drawer with dividers.

Day 17: Kitchen

-Junk Drawer! Make it into not a junk drawer. Get a drawer organizer and keep things you will actually use in the kitchen in the drawer and put everything else in a place it makes sense (i.e., batteries in the home office)

Day 18: Laundry Room

-Toss any old cleaners you’ve been holding onto with good intention.
-Go through every cabinet, toss what you don’t need.

Day 19: Master Bath

-Go through your facial cosmetics. Toss if you haven’t used in 3 months.
-Go through hair products. Throw out what you haven’t used in 3 months.

Day 20: Master Bath

-Makeup—Toss what you don’t use on a regular basis.
-Go through prescriptions. Get rid of anything expired. Dispose properly.

Day 21: Paperwork

-Go through all paperwork and make 3 piles: Keep, shred, toss
-Toss the toss
-Purchase any needed folders for filing

Day 22: Paperwork

-File away the paperwork you’re keeping.
-Shred the shred pile

Day 23: Kids Bathroom(s)

-Go through and throw away old crusty hair products and soaps.
-Throw out old medicines and unneeded things they don’t need anymore (i.e.—a 10 year old doesn’t need a nasal syringe)
-For older kids, put only what they use on a daily basis all in one easy to reach spot, such as a designated drawer or shelf.
-Purchase and install decanters for shampoo and conditioner in the showers (will save you money in the long run. No more spilled shampoo).

Day 24: Linen Closet

-Pull everything out and separate out anything unused to be donated.
-Sort according to size (twin, full, queen, king).
-Fold and slip into pillow cases.
-Designate a shelf for each size and label the shelves.  Can use cute metal labels that stick on.
-Put blankets, pillows and sleeping bags on the bottom shelf and/or floor of closet.
-Store any blankets the kids like to use frequently somewhere else such as a living room cabinet.

Day 25: Living Room/Media

-Go through any old dvd’s, video games etc. Donate.

YOU’RE DONE!  Congratulations.  Now you’ll have some sanity this Fall and as school approaches you can feel more at peace in your newly organized home!

xo-Megan

P.S. — I’m putting my money where my mouth is.   I’m doing this too!  With all this blogging, I feel like my own home could use another go through!  Happy Summer!