6 Things Minimalists Toss Each Summer That’ll Help You Next Year Too
Summer’s here and my designer instincts are tingling! It’s time for that glorious seasonal purge that keeps my space fresh and my mind clearer.
Nothing beats the satisfaction of letting go of things that no longer serve you. Ready to channel your inner minimalist? Here are six things I always toss during summer that might inspire your own decluttering journey.
1. Worn-Out Beach Gear
How many faded beach towels are lurking in your linen closet? Those threadbare items with fraying edges aren’t bringing joy anymore.
Beach gear takes serious abuse from sand, sun, and saltwater. I assess my collection annually, replacing items that look tired or damaged.
The bonus? Shopping for replacements during end-of-season sales saves serious cash compared to spring prices when everyone’s scrambling for new gear.
2. Last Season’s Sunscreen
Did you know expired sunscreen loses its protective powers? Those half-empty bottles from last year might not shield your skin properly anymore. Sunscreen efficacy diminishes over time, especially when exposed to heat.
I gather all those scattered bottles from beach bags, car consoles, and bathroom drawers each summer. This habit ensures I’m always protected with fresh products while preventing bathroom clutter from building up year after year.
3. Underused Garden Tools
Those specialized gardening gadgets seemed essential in the catalog, didn’t they? Yet that asparagus harvester has been collecting dust for three seasons. Garden tool collections have a mysterious way of multiplying.
I evaluate which tools actually earned their keep each summer. The pruners and trowel stay, while one-trick items find new homes.
This prevents shed overcrowding and focuses my collection on versatile workhorses that serve multiple purposes in the garden.
4. Plastic Food Storage Chaos
Where do all these mismatched containers come from? The summer picnic season inevitably reveals the truth about my food storage situation.
Warped containers, missing lids, and stained plastic pieces need to go. I ruthlessly match every container with its lid and discard the orphans.
This simple act transforms chaotic cabinet avalanches into organized storage systems. Plus, fewer containers mean less time spent searching for the right size when packing lunches or storing leftovers.
5. Excess Summer Clothing
If you haven’t worn it in two summers, you probably never will. Summer wardrobes often become bloated with impulse buys and “maybe someday” pieces. Clothing should earn its valuable closet real estate.
I use the hanger trick to identify neglected items, turning hangers backward at season’s start, then noting which remain untouched. This visual system makes decisions objectively rather than emotionally.
Your future self will thank you for the breathing room and simplified morning routine.
6. Outdated Entertaining Supplies
Though those novelty paper plates seemed perfect for last summer’s BBQ, they’re just collecting dust now. Summer entertaining often leaves us with party supplies that don’t align with our current aesthetic or needs.
I review my entertaining arsenal annually, keeping only versatile pieces that work for multiple occasions. The chipped serving platters and themed paper goods get donated or recycled. This creates space for quality items that truly enhance gatherings rather than contributing to visual noise.
