3 things minimalists throw out every summer for a tidier home now – it will serve you next summer, too

Declutter these essentials before the end of the season

A bright and white carpeted minimalist bedroom with a large bed with white and beige bedding and green headboard, black circular bedside tables, red lamps with white lampshades, a framed gallery wall and a brown wicker chair.
(Image credit: Future / PAUL RAESIDE LTD)

If your home has become a bit chaotic recently, take a leaf out of a minimalist's playbook, with these three things they throw out every summer.

From sunscreen to swimwear, streamlining your space a little later in the summer season will ensure you don't declutter something you may need, while preparing your home for fall ahead of time.

Here, professional organizers share their top tips on eliminating some of the clutter minimalists never have after the summer.

3 things minimalists throw out every summer

1. Off‑season clothes

A cream and wood padded closet in a bedroom with a cream rug, wooden sideboard with vase of bright pink flowers, and grey chair.

Clear space in your closet for new seasonal pieces

(Image credit: Future)

When transitioning your wardrobe from winter to summer and vice versa, Tracy McCubbin, CEO and founder of dClutterfly says she 'loves' the 'seasonal swap' method, which involves rotating your wardrobe twice a year to keep only current-season clothes easily accessible.

She explains, 'Everything else gets boxed or stored. This not only declutters your closet but streamlines your morning routine. It's the perfect decluttering job at the end of the summer, cause if you didn’t wear them this summer or last summer, then you aren’t ever going to wear that item. It's time to declutter.'

Our rules for decluttering clothes make the process simple and painless, allowing you to create space in your closet for new pieces and fall in love with forgotten, older pieces all over again.

For any out-of-season pieces you do want to hang on to, we recommend using underbed storage, such as the bestselling Sterilite Large Storage Bin available at Walmart, to keep items neat and out of the way.

2. Sunscreen and bug spray

A white tiled bathroom with blue and white tiled flooring, a tiled bathtub, and a white cabinet with a white marble countertop and large mirror.

Expired products waste both precious storage space and money

(Image credit: Future / ALECIA NEO)

There's no denying that sunscreen and bug spray are absolutely summer essentials, but if you have cabinets filled with expired products, they're no use to you, and, more importantly, a complete waste of space.

That's why decluttering expired bathroom products when compiling your bathroom decluttering checklist and organizing a bathroom closet is so crucial.

'Let’s trim down duplicates of seasonal products – if you’ve got too many bottles of sunscreen or bug spray, toss the extras,' advises Tracy. 'Only keep what you’ll actually use this season, and remember sunscreen expires, so if you still have sunscreen from a year ago, it’s most likely not effective anymore.

'Remember that the first step to living a minimalist lifestyle is to not buy multiples. Buy one product, and use it all up before you buy another,' embracing the underconsumption trend and saving money at the same time.

3. Swimwear, pool and beach gear

A leafy and sunny outdoor pool area with light washed decking, sun loungers with a wicker basket filled with white towels behind, and a large seating area with pink and blue cushions under a covered canopy beneath the trees.

'Summer outdoor items can create clutter'

(Image credit: Future / MARK BOLTON)

Finally, while summer is the season for spending time outdoors, it's important to get rid of any items you won't use or don't need, as the weather transitions to fall.

'Everyone should declutter bathing suits, pool toys, beach towels – assessing which are worn, which are broken, and which are seldom used,' says Tracy. 'Pool toys and bathing suits are easy five-minute declutter targets for the end of summer.'

Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, agrees, adding, 'There is always a lot of plastic junk associated with outdoor fun, picnics, and beach trips.'

Therefore, don't forget about decluttering your backyard and summer gear when it comes to summer decluttering, too, from inflatables and gardening tools to patio cushions.

'Summer outdoor items can create clutter,' continues Tracy. 'Take the end of summer to evaluate outdoor summer gear, repairing or discarding broken pieces, and keeping only what serves your current lifestyle and that will be used and loved next summer.'

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our expert

A headshot of Tracy McCubbin
Tracy McCubbin

Tracy has been professionally decluttering and organizing since 2006, providing hands-on experience for over 20 years to clients and helping them embrace minimalism without compromising on lifestyle.


When streamlining don't forget to keep an eye out for signs you've taken minimalism too far.

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Ottilie joined Homes & Gardens last year, after finishing a Master's in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. With previous contributions in Livingetc and Motorsport Magazine, she produces content for the Solved section on the website, focusing on clever tips and tricks to keep your home beautiful, organized and clean. She also has a Master's degree in English Literature and History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, where she developed a love for inspiring interiors and architecture.

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