End of the School Year Reset

By the time the school year wraps up, your home has been through a lot. You’ve printed your last day of school signs, attended parties and awards, it’s exhausting! Backpacks, papers, sports gear, and daily routines can leave things feeling cluttered and a little out of control.

An end of the school year reset is a simple way to clear the mess and start fresh for summer. It doesn’t have to take days to make a difference, just a few focused steps can help your home feel calm and manageable again.

Let’s walk through an easy way to clean, organize, and declutter after the school year.

(Print the checklist below at the bottom of this page.)

Start with Backpacks and School Bags

Backpacks tend to collect everything by the end of the year.

Empty them out completely and sort through what’s inside. Toss or recycle old papers, broken pencils, and anything that’s no longer useful. Store reusable items like markers and pens in a labeled organizing bin for next school year (no more wasting money purchasing things you already have!)

Wipe down the inside and outside of the bags so they’re clean and ready to store or reuse next year.

Sort Through Papers and Schoolwork

Paper clutter adds up fast during the school year.

Go through folders, binders, and stacks of papers and decide what’s worth keeping. Save special projects, report cards, or anything meaningful in a memory box. For everything else, recycle it and clear the space.

Declutter Clothes and Shoes

Kids grow quickly, and the end of the school year is a great time to reassess what still fits.

Go through closets and drawers and pull out anything that’s too small, worn out, or no longer being worn.

Create a donate pile and a discard pile so you can reset the closet and clear out space for summer clothes.

Reset Your Entryway or Drop Zone

If your entryway has become a catch-all during the school year, now is the time to reset it.

Clear out shoes, bags, and random items that have piled up. Wipe down surfaces and create simple systems for what stays.

A basket for shoes or a hook for bags can make a big difference in keeping things tidy moving forward.

Clean Out Lunchboxes and Water Bottles

Lunchboxes and water bottles get daily use and are easy to forget about and we don’t want to find a month-old lunchbox in the middle of summer!

Empty them out, give them a thorough wash, and check for anything that needs to be replaced.

Let everything dry completely before storing so it’s fresh and ready for the next school year.

Tidy Up Homework and Craft Areas

If you had a designated homework or craft space, it likely needs a reset. Sort through supplies, toss dried-out markers or broken crayons, and organize what’s left.

Wipe down surfaces and simplify the space so it’s ready for summer activities or a fresh start in the fall.

Set Up for a Smoother Summer

This is also a great time to think ahead to summer routines. Print your summer screentime rules checklist to keep screen time under control. Create a spot for outdoor gear, pool items, or summer activities so everything has a place.

It’s also a good idea to go through your summer calendar and mark any camps, events, trips, or special dates you will need to plan around. A little planning now can help keep things from getting out of control again once summer is in full swing.

Keep It Simple Going Forward

The goal of this reset isn’t perfection, it’s making your home easier to live in.

A quick weekly reset can help keep clutter from building back up. Even a few minutes here and there can make a big difference.

Starting summer with a clean, organized home just feels better, and it sets the tone for a more relaxed season ahead.