There’s something about summer that makes me want to open all the windows, let the breeze in, and clear out every bit of clutter.
When the days get longer and hotter, I start craving simplicity, and that means it’s time to toss the stuff that’s just taking up space. Minimalists do this every season, and I’ve started making it a ritual too.
It’s not about being extreme, just intentional. If your home’s feeling a little heavy, now’s the perfect time to lighten things up.
1. Worn-out Beach Towels
Those frayed, faded beach towels taking up precious linen closet space? Time to say goodbye! Minimalists know that ratty towels with loose threads and permanent stains aren’t worth keeping around.
Consider repurposing salvageable pieces as cleaning rags or pet bedding. Animal shelters often welcome old towel donations too.
Replace only what you truly need with one quality towel per family member. Your bathroom will instantly feel more spa-like without that mountain of mismatched, threadbare beach gear.
2. Expired Sunscreen
Lurking in bathroom cabinets everywhere are half-empty bottles of sunscreen from seasons past. Not only do these take up valuable space, but expired sunscreen actually loses its protective properties.
Check the expiration dates on all your sun protection products. Most have a shelf life of about three years unopened, but much less once they’ve been exposed to heat.
Toss anything expired or bottles with changed consistency, smell, or color. Your skin deserves effective protection, not questionable lotion from 2019!
3. Chipped Or Unused Outdoor Dishes
Poolside meals don’t require seventeen mismatched plastic plates. Minimalists regularly audit their outdoor dining collection and purge the chipped, cracked, or rarely used pieces.
Those novelty margarita glasses you’ve used exactly once? The melamine plates with faded patterns? The wobbly serving tray? If they haven’t been used in the past year, they’re just creating cabinet clutter.
Keep only what you regularly use for your typical gathering size. A streamlined collection of durable, multipurpose pieces will serve you better than a hodgepodge of specialty items.
4. Old Flip-flops And Sandals
Summer footwear has a way of multiplying in our closets! Look at those flip-flops with the worn-down soles and stretched-out straps. Are you really going to wear them again?
Footwear that’s past its prime isn’t just unsightly—it can actually harm your feet by providing inadequate support. Minimalists know that keeping worn-out shoes leads to unnecessary clutter and potentially foot problems.
Keep only the pairs you’ve actually worn in the last year that still provide proper support. Your feet and your closet floor will thank you!
5. Broken Gardening Tools
That hose with multiple leaks isn’t going to magically fix itself in the shed. Minimalists know broken tools just create frustration and take up valuable storage space.
Rusted pruners, cracked pots, and spades with loose handles should all go. If you haven’t fixed that wobbly garden fork in two seasons, you probably never will.
Quality over quantity applies perfectly to gardening equipment. A few well-maintained tools will serve you better than a jumble of broken ones. Plus, your garden shed will suddenly feel spacious enough to actually work in!
6. Faded Patio Cushions
Nothing screams “neglected outdoor space” like sun-bleached, mildew-stained cushions. Those once-vibrant pillows now sporting mysterious stains and faded patterns aren’t adding anything to your outdoor oasis.
Weather takes a serious toll on fabric, breaking down fibers and creating perfect homes for mold. If your cushions smell musty even after cleaning, it’s definitely time for them to go.
Replace only what you need with quality outdoor fabric designed to withstand the elements. Your patio will instantly look refreshed, and you’ll actually want to lounge there again!
7. Unused Summer Decor
Those seashell-themed candle holders you haven’t displayed since 2015? The plastic flamingo collection gathering dust? Minimalists know that seasonal decor often becomes clutter rather than decoration.
Be ruthlessly honest about which items actually make it out of storage each year. If you consistently pass over certain pieces when decorating, they’re just taking up valuable space.
Keep only the summer decor that genuinely brings you joy and enhances your living space. A few carefully chosen items create more impact than dozens of forgotten trinkets crammed in storage bins.
8. Dried-up Pool Toys
Deflated unicorn floats and cracked noodles aren’t pool party essentials—they’re garage clutter! Pool toys deteriorate quickly when exposed to chlorine, sun, and improper storage.
Inflatable items with slow leaks or sticky vinyl should head straight to the trash. Foam noodles that have lost their buoyancy or developed mold spots aren’t worth keeping either.
Store only what’s in good condition and what your family actually uses. Your pool area will look more inviting without the sad toy graveyard, and you’ll have room to store the items you truly enjoy using.
9. Outdated Sunglasses
Minimalists know that sunglasses drawer overflowing with scratched lenses and bent frames isn’t protecting anyone’s eyes. Sunglasses with outdated prescriptions or insufficient UV protection are actually worse than wearing none at all.
Those trendy styles from five summers ago? If they’re collecting dust rather than compliments, it’s time to let them go. Scratched lenses strain your eyes and damaged frames just look shabby.
Keep one or two quality pairs that offer proper protection and actually flatter your face. Your eyes deserve better than damaged goods, and your drawer deserves the breathing room!
10. Half-burned Citronella Candles
The mosquito-fighting power of last year’s half-melted citronella collection is long gone! These waxy remnants are just collecting dust and taking up space in your outdoor storage.
Citronella candles lose their effectiveness over time as essential oils evaporate. Plus, that collection of mismatched candle holders with hardened wax drips isn’t exactly adding to your patio aesthetic.
Replace with just a few fresh candles when needed. Your outdoor entertaining area will look intentionally designed rather than cluttered with the ghosts of bug-repellents past.
11. Rusty Outdoor Furniture
That wobbly bistro set with flaking paint isn’t rustic charm—it’s a tetanus risk! Minimalists recognize when outdoor furniture has moved from weathered to downright dangerous.
Metal furniture with significant rust, wood pieces with rot, or plastic chairs with brittle, cracking parts should all be evaluated honestly. If you’re constantly apologizing to guests about that rickety chair, it’s time for it to go.
Quality outdoor furniture should last many seasons, but nothing lasts forever. Keep only pieces that are structurally sound and actually used regularly.
12. Duplicates Of Picnic Supplies
How many portable coolers and picnic blankets does one family actually need? Minimalists regularly assess their outdoor dining gear and eliminate unnecessary duplicates.
Those three nearly identical insulated bags cluttering your hall closet? The collection of plastic serving bowls you’ve accumulated from various sets? Keep only your favorites that serve different purposes.
A streamlined collection of multipurpose picnic supplies makes spontaneous outdoor meals more likely. You’ll actually use what you have when you can easily find it without digging through piles of rarely-used duplicates.
13. Worn Or Ill-fitting Swimsuits
Stretched-out swimwear with faded colors isn’t doing anyone any favors! Minimalists know that keeping swimsuits past their prime just creates unnecessary drawer clutter and pool-day disappointment.
Chlorine, sunscreen, and regular wear break down elastic and fabric over time. If your suit has thinning fabric, permanent stains, or has lost its shape, it’s time to say goodbye.
Keep only suits that fit well and make you feel confident. A few quality pieces you love wearing will serve you better than a drawer full of suits you avoid putting on.
14. Empty Plant Pots
That growing collection of empty terracotta pots isn’t a gardening resource—it’s a space-waster! Minimalists know the difference between useful supplies and aspirational clutter.
Be honest about your planting habits. If those pots have remained empty for multiple seasons, they’re just collecting dust and spiderwebs. Cracked or chipped pots that allow soil to leak out should definitely go.
Keep only containers you genuinely plan to use this season. Your garden shed or balcony will suddenly have usable space, and you’ll stop feeling guilty about all those unplanted container gardens.
15. Old Coolers That No Longer Work
That vintage cooler with the broken handle and mysterious smell isn’t retro—it’s just old! Minimalists regularly evaluate the functionality of their gear, not just its sentimental value.
Coolers with cracked lids, missing drain plugs, or those that no longer maintain temperature properly are just taking up garage space. If you’re constantly having to add more ice because it melts too quickly, the cooler isn’t doing its job.
Keep only cooling equipment that actually performs well. Your summer outings deserve reliable gear, and your storage spaces deserve to be filled only with functional items.
16. Summer Magazines And Catalogs From Last Year
Those “Summer Entertaining” magazines from 2022 aren’t vintage collectibles—they’re recycling bin fodder! Minimalists know that dated publications quickly become clutter rather than inspiration.
Last year’s garden catalogs, beach reading magazines, and summer sales flyers are full of outdated information and expired offers. If you haven’t referenced them since last season, you probably never will.
Keep only current publications or tear out specific pages you truly value. Your coffee table and magazine rack will look intentionally curated rather than like a waiting room time capsule.