It’s that time of the year again, the days aren’t quite as hot and the air seems to feel a little crisper. Summer is coming to an end, and along with the end of the summer comes papers, backpacks, and books. The school year can get hectic and organization is the key to staying sane. 

The first issue to address is storing the summer equipment. Here are a few tips on where to store everything.

• Using wall space in your garage as storage: Wall space is a great way to keep things off the limited space on the ground. You can use hooks to hang up your gardening tools, Overhead storage racks for plastic totes, and shelf racks for storing sports equipment. 

• Adding garage cabinets: Using a garage cabinet is a great way to organize things that are more everyday items. During the fall and winter, garage cabinets can be used to store boots, sports equipment, and many other things. This is also a great place to store items that are mostly used during summer but occasionally get used during other seasons as well.

• Protecting outdoor furniture: Many people will store their outdoor furniture in their garage or basement. Before doing this be sure that the furniture is clean and dry. Read the manufacturers instructions for cleaning and check for any mold or mildew.

Now that you have summer stored away, its time to find a place for all those papers, backpacks, and shoes

• Have places for everything: When everything has a place it becomes easier for you and your children to stay organized. You can do this by using baskets or drawers that have clear labels telling what goes in them.

• Create a “Drop Zone”: Creating a specific place in your home for shoes, backpacks, and jackets will help keep your home clutter free. The best place to put this is by an entrance so it’s the first thing that your children do when home.

• Conquer the paper pile: Set up a basic home filing system to track school paper work, volunteer work, and household planning. 

Staying organized during the school year doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep things simple and easy to understand and you will be on your way to a great stress free year!

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