The mini home reset I do every June

Tiny tweaks for smoother summer days

Hi friend,

Around this time every year, I get the itch to reset a few key areas in our home—before the school year ends, the kids are home a whole lot more, and every flat surface becomes temporary storage for toys, swim goggles, soccer cards, craft projects… all the things.

Here are five spots I like to declutter every June for a smoother start to summer:

1. School papers and supplies

For weeks, the kids’ backpacks have been bursting with notebooks, workbooks, art projects—all the things they’ve made and worked on this year. I love it, but it’s also just a lot. Here’s a full breakdown of what to keep and what to toss—but in short, your kids will want the highlights, not the whole stack.

2. Last year’s summer gear

Now’s the time to toss the see-through swimsuits, too-small sandals, and beach towels that have seen better days. Replace anything you’ll need soon so you’re not scrambling before the first pool or beach day—I speak from experience!

3. The entryway

I love (love!) an entryway reset. Now’s the time to swap out last season’s gear and phase in the flip-flops, hats, and tote bags. In the summer, I also keep sunscreen, sunglasses, and extra hats in our entry bench. It cuts down on the last-minute scrambling and easily saves us five minutes every time we leave the house.

4. Outdoor toys

This year, the kids helped me sort through the broken sand toys, deflated floats, and outgrown roller skates and bikes we could let go of. Not only did we free up some space, but we made a little extra ice cream money in the process!

5. The car

Last weekend, we gave our car a pre-summer reset—washed it, cleared out the random trash, vacuumed the crumbs, and tucked sunscreen, baby wipes, and a couple of hats in the trunk. It took maybe 30 minutes, but now we’re ready for impromptu park stops and beach walks once school’s out.

Even one small reset can make a big difference. Choose one to tackle this week—I’d love to hear how it goes!