As May comes, many folks find themselves deep in spring cleaning mode ready to refresh their place. This is the perfect time actually, to turbocharge those efforts and make a big impact on clutter you might’ve kept from last year or even just winter months. Setting up homes for a nice, simple summer ahead starts now, tackling important areas makes all the differences. Getting stuff organized really doesn’t have to feel so much overwhelming. Lucky for us, pro organizers shared their best, easy-to-use tips just for this time of year. They highlight a simple decluttering checklist made to feel manageable—short and sweet, yet hitting essential stuff before the busy summer cranks up.
This way helps clear what’s unneeded and freshens your home perfect for warmer weather. By focusing on these certain spots, you can create a real sense of order and feeling ready. It’s about making room, literally speaking and in your head, for those unplanned springtime fun things and planned summer getaways that are coming. Let’s jump into the seven key areas these experts say we should tackle this May to make a better organized and peaceful home.
1. **Clear out the last of your winter wardrobe** May means winter weather is ending in lots of places, showing it’s prime time to deal with heavier clothes that did their job for the season. Organizers say to hit up closets all over the house, including places people forget like the entryway and mudroom, where thick coats and boots might still be hanging around. This careful method makes sure no winter hiding spots get missed. Getting precise with what needs leaving is kinda key. Audra George, a professional organizer, suggests decluttering anything you haven’t worn in the last six months, anything you no longer like, or anything you’ve worn out.
This simple rule gives a clear way to decide. Dana Reder adds that warmer weather means you won’t be grabbing heavy layers anymore, so if something sat untouched all winter, chances are you won’t miss it next year, making it good for removal. Once items are identified, donating or selling them great way to free up space and help others or get some cash back. For things you keep but store, like vacuum seal bags offer big space savings. These go in wheeled under-bed storage bags to keep out of the way till the weather gets cold again, using space often unused effectively. It’s not just grown-up closets needing care; kids’ bedrooms are important also.
Meghan Cocchiaro stresses it’s time to swap seasonal clothes for kids and importantly, check sizes of clothes and shoes. This is really true as the school year nears end and you expect growth spurts over the summer. Punteha van Terheyden shared how she does it, saying any warm clothes bought recently for her daughter go into a special winter box under her bed, while anything that’s too small by winter gets donated to friends or charity. Specific products like IRIS Plastic Storage Bins are useful for this, sliding easily under the carpet and showing what’s inside quickly.
2. **School projects and papers** As the school year gets close to ending in many states, a common issue for families is the sure pile-up of schoolwork, art stuff, and paper. Dana Reder points out nobody needs a huge mountain of these things on the last school day. Getting this sorted now, she thinks, is crucial to not ending up with a giant pile come June. Working together with kids on this task may be valuable. The goal is to declutter and clear out what’s built up over the year, making needed room for special end-of-year keepsakes.
When deciding what to keep, pick a few truly meaningful pieces and label them clearly with the child’s name plus date. These special items can be stored safely in a keepsake box like the IRIS clear project case. For most of what’s piled up, there are good ways to handle it without keeping physical copies of everything. Taking pictures of the rest lets you save the memory digitally while you can recycle the actual paper and projects without guilt. Products like Wiedeman Kids Art frames give another smart way to manage art, featuring fronts that open and bands to show and keep lots of pieces without needing big cabinet space. Besides the art and paper itself, Meghan Cocchiaro reminds us that kids’ backpacks are key spots to declutter as school ends.
3. **Deal with outdoor spaces** With the weather getting better, lots of people spending more time outside, making May the perfect time to get these places fixed. If the weather just turned nice where you are, your yard, patio, or deck might still be recovering from winter and could use some serious organizing and decluttering.
A neat outdoor area is one you’re more likely to enjoy. Pro organizer Audra suggests a close look at your yard’s fun stuff and outdoor sports essentials. The idea is to make sure you still need everything you stored outside. Also time to spot worn-out stuff that needs replacing, whether it’s a deflated ball, broken garden tool, or faded cushion outside. The same idea goes for any pool things or outdoor kitchen gear you might have.
Simple core advice is: get rid of anything that is not helping you, then tidy up what’s left. As you go through these outdoor items, remember to check over your outdoor furniture. Winter weather takes a toll, any old furniture that’s seen better days should be on your list to replace. Dealing with big stuff like furniture feels daunting, but disposal companies often pick it up for a small fee, convenient if you can’t move it. Once decluttering is done, think about storing things like cushions and soft outdoor items.
4. **Check over summer essentials** May’s a good chance to dive into the bathroom and specifically look at toiletries used lots more during the summer months. Organizer Audra points out that managing your summer-specific toiletries is key, items usually include sun lotion, after-sun lotions, and bug spray. Getting these organized now means you’ll be all ready when peak sun and bugs hit. The main thing here is to do an expiration sweep.
Sunscreens, for example, lose how well they work overtime, using old stuff isn’t best for skin protection. Go through your stock, check the expiration dates, and declutter getting rid of those past their prime. Expired items cleared out, you make a list of needs and buy new ones. This way when the first hot, sunny day comes or when mosquitoes arrive, you have fresh, good stuff ready.
Beyond sun and bug stuff, May is also the perfect time to organize your medicine cabinet with summer health in mind. Before pollen gets bad, check for things like inhalers and hay fever medicine. Make sure they are not expired and you have plenty on hand to manage seasonal allergies early. If kids, grandkids, or pets are in your house, adding extra safety is a good idea. Getting a small lock box for medicine helps keep possibly harmful items safe and away, giving peace of mind through summer when windows and doors open more and curious hands or paws can explore.
5. **Bath and beach towels** Summer is near, thoughts go to things like going to the beach or pool.
This makes May an especially good time to sort out your household linens, focusing on bath and beach towels. These items people often forget can get worn or stained over time, managing your collection now makes sure you have fresh, useful towels for home and unplanned summer trips. Pro organizer Dana says to sort through both bath and beach ones with a close eye. Items that are worn thin are donated to animal shelters maybe, giving them a second life by helping out.
Stained or smelly towels, on the other hand, are tossed if can’t be saved, they aren’t nice or clean to use anymore. Once you take out the worn or damaged items, organize what’s left so they are easy to grab when needed. To figure out how many towels are really needed, Dana offers a simple rule: try having about two bath towels per person living there. For beach towels, having one to two each is usually fine, though she adds need more if often hosts guests or has a big family. Maximizing convenience, beach towels are stored in a grab bag, such as an ultra-tough tote bag, kept by the front door or even in the car.
This makes them ready for spontaneous days out. Bath towels are filed neatly and stored in bins like stacking mesh ones. These bins are effective cause they not only keep towels neat and easy to access but also let them breathe, which helps stop that musty bathroom smell in stored linens.
6. **Clean out cleaning supplies** By May, many homes finished their main spring cleaning tasks, which means you likely know your cleaning supplies well. You used them lately, giving a clear idea of what works well, what doesn’t meet your needs, which ones you truly like compared to dislike, and the ones you ran out completely. This recent using makes May an excellent window of chance. Professional organizer and home stager Barbara Brock says this perfect time to declutter your cleaning stuff and then restock anything needed. Products can expire or lose strength, aerosol cans run out of propellant leaving liquid, and sometimes you just find a product isn’t right for your needs or what you like. Clearing out these unusable or unwanted items frees up precious storage space and ensures you aren’t keeping ineffective supplies.
The key organizing tip once you decluttered is to keep cleaning products organized where they are needed most. Storing bathroom cleaners in the bathroom, mudroom things in the mudroom, and garage cleaning items in the garage ensures they are ready to go fast. This simple plan makes cleaning smoother and helps you tackle messes quicker, making normal cleaning stuff more efficient and less frustrating through the months coming. Having a well-organized collection of supplies, right there where you use them, really supports keeping a clean and tidy home.
7. **Sort through spring/summer decor** If you haven’t changed your home’s decor for spring and summer yet, May works as the ideal last day to do so.
This change often means putting away heavier fabrics and things from earlier in the year, like any Easter decor still out. It’s a chance to make your home feel lighter and brighter to match longer days and warmer weather. As you do the process of decorating for spring and summer, organizer Audra recommends using this time to declutter your existing spring decor before you even think about shopping for any new stuff. Looking at decor you already own allows assess what actually used and liked this year, and what pieces don’t fit your style or needs anymore. This proactive step of decluttering your current collection first is super important.
Choosing to declutter decor as you switch helps limit piling up unneeded items, reducing clutter and waste too. It also often has a nice bonus saving you money, as you realize don’t need to buy new things if you have plenty of decor still love and wanna use. For seasonal decor items you’re keeping but putting away till next year, remember decor, like other seasonal things, is better if cleaned before storing. Cleaning them before packing away helps keep them safe and in good shape, and makes sure they are fresh and ready to show again when the season is coming next time.
Doing steps to declutter your home is good. Whether it’s small tasks or getting professional help. It can change your living spaces for the better. It also helps how peaceful you feel. An organized home is not just about neat shelves you see. It’s about making a place that supports how you live. It makes space for what matters most. If tackling clutter seems hard like climbing a mountain. Remember that expert help is out there waiting for you. They are dedicated services to help you through the process. They will turn your home into the peaceful place you deserve. It will be ready for all the joy summer brings you.
