By Maria de Leon of Windcrest Studio

With summer at our doorstep and daily schedules easing into a slower pace (at least for the kids, am I right?!), here are 3 areas of your home you can tackle this season to set you and your family up for success.

  1. Sporting Gear – Warmer weather and longer days means summer is the perfect time to tackle that gym bag, sporting section in the garage etc. Start by decluttering. Get rid of gear that will no longer fit or is no longer needed and deep clean sporting gear that you want or need to keep. Time to wash that hockey bag, sanitize those baseball gloves, deep clean those helmets, you get the idea. Since most sporting gear needs to be air dried, capitalize on those warmer, longer days for washing/sanitizing/wiping gear as directed. Controlled sunlight exposure has been proven to inactivate many microorganisms and prevent health complications that arise from continuous exposure to dirty gear. Sure, cleaning out and decluttering may take a few days depending on how many athletes and sports are a part of your family life. However, putting clean gear back in a clean bag won’t feel as overwhelming as opening one that was left to breed and marinate all summer. Your athlete’s skin and everyone’s nose will thank you as you’re getting back into the busy extracurricular fall schedule or rushing to head out the door for that first practice!
  2. Outdoor Gear – Heading out on an exciting adventure this summer? Excellent! If time allows, use packing for that first trip outdoors as an opportunity to go through your gear. Find those items that are no longer useful, those that can be donated, and which ones are in excellent shape and can stay with you for a few more seasons. Not suggesting you go spend a fortune on new gear, but being aware of the items that may need replacing will help you keep an eye out for outdoor gear sales and opportunities to upgrade! Doing this at the beginning of the season will help you stay prepared and ready to leave at a moment’s notice! Repeat this process once summer is winding down and after the last of your outdoor adventures. Things break, pieces go missing so take this opportunity to only put away items that will be useful next season. And don’t forget those items you can deep clean and air out before putting them away. Doing this every season will keep you gear organized and in tip top shape, your expenses low, and preparing for those trips stress free. Everyone wins!!!
  3. The Entryway – Whether you only have a small shelving unit, a tiny entry closet, or a huge mudroom, this space is often the last stop before heading out and the first when returning home. As June comes to a close, things that need to go out or come back end up scattered around in the midst of the chaos. If you can look past the end of school year mess, whether big or small, you can easily pin point the shoes that are too small, those suitable for younger siblings, the ones to donate, and those that will be the family’s go-to pairs for the summer (I’m looking at you Native shoes). Same as the other two categories mentioned above, the summer weeks are perfect for shoe deep cleaning and some seasonal oriented re organizing. Those white sneakers could probably use a wash and those rain-boots could probably be stored elsewhere or pushed to a less accessible shelf to make room for camp ready footwear for example. Start by pulling shoe racks out and deep clean the area. Putting everything back in a clean space is a great way to get ahead of those long days at the park, water filled playdates and cool activity camps. School backpacks, jackets, seasonal accessories (toques, gloves, sun hats), health and wellness related products (lip balms, sunscreen, band aids, first aid kits) all fall into the same category. Take a few minutes to evaluate what you wish to keep in the mix and find a home to store it. Before you know it, you’ll be navigating your entry way like a pro, and know exactly where everything is. Making packing for a picnic or heading out in your kayak an easier and more enjoyable process.

So, in a nutshell, longer summer days gift many of us a slower pace and a chance to tackle some long overdue projects. Checking these three off the list will set you and your family up for a less chaotic summer, more prepared days spent outside, and an easier transition back to school and work routines come September. Happy decluttering!

You can contact Maria for all your organizing needs at www.windcreststudio.ca