School’s Out! How to Clean out Kids’ Closets for the Summer

It’s hard to believe, but another school year is quickly coming to an end! As we get ready to welcome summer with open arms, it’s a great time to declutter and get organized for the busy season ahead.

Kids’ rooms can be one of the trickiest areas of the home to keep clean and organized. By scheduling an end-of-year cleanout session, you can give your kids a fresh start for summer and establish an organizing system that sets them up for success all year long. Here’s how to get started:

Backpacks from Goodwill

Unpack the backpacks

First things first: Empty your kids’ backpacks right away! You might be surprised at the number of items you find hidden away in pockets and pouches. Take everything out of the bag and decide what to keep or toss. Remember, school supplies such as crayons, pencils, and folders can be reused for the next school year. Then, clean out the bag with a damp cloth. Now, their backpack is ready to be used over the summer or stored for next year!

Kid’s tee shirts from Goodwill

Take inventory of clothes

Kids grow fast, which means they change clothing and shoe sizes often! Take inventory of their current clothing options, including any out-of-season clothes stored in boxes and bins. Make sure their clothes fit comfortably and organize their summer clothes, so they’re within reach. Any clothing or shoes that are too small can be donated to Goodwill, where they’ll be repurposed by another family! If you find that your children need some updated summer outfits, consider shopping at Goodwill while you’re there. At Goodwill, you can find incredible deals on children’s clothing, and you may even score items in new or like-new condition!

Evaluate artwork and crafts

Chances are that your kids bring home a lot of artwork throughout the school year. While it can be tempting to keep every single masterpiece your child creates, it’s not always easy to keep it all organized. Together with your child, sort through their projects and select a handful to keep in a special box. You could also think of creative ways to repurpose their art. For example, scan drawings to your computer, create a gallery wall with a few paintings, or choose one piece of artwork to display on the fridge each week before disposing of it.

Tidy up and donate to Goodwill!

Create a designated donation box

In addition to outgrowing clothes quickly, kids can also easily lose interest in toys, games, books, and other items in their rooms. To prevent unused clutter from piling up throughout the year, set up a designated Goodwill donation box or bin in your kids’ rooms. Children of all ages can benefit from learning about the importance of donating their gently-used belongings to others. Each week, ask your kids to look for things they no longer want or need to place into the box. When the box is full, take your kids to a local Goodwill donation center to drop off their donations.

Donating to Goodwill is also a good opportunity to teach your children about the importance of sharing and recycling to help others and the environment. Explain to your kids that Goodwill takes their gently-used ” stuff” and gives it a new life in our retail stores so other children can enjoy it. Tell them how Goodwill also turns their donations into special training and services so people in your community can get jobs and live better lives. Teach them that by choosing to donate instead of throwing away their reusable items, they’re also helping keep the planet beautiful for years to come!

Get organized with Goodwill!

It couldn’t be easier to donate to Goodwill in Cincinnati! Simply find a convenient donation center location near you and drop off your donations of clothes, shoes, books, toys, games, and more. Donating often will help you combat clutter in your home while encouraging your kids to keep their rooms clean and help others in their community. It’s a win-win!