# Back-to-School Decluttering: What to Clear Out Before the First Bell

URL: https://thejunkiez.com/back-to-school-decluttering-checklist/
Summary: Late August is when kids rooms, garages and closets finally get sorted before the school year starts. Here is what actually gets cleared out, and where it should go.
Contact: 323-547-5879 — info@thejunkiez.com
Last updated: 2026-08-28

**The two weeks before school starts are when most Southern California families finally deal with the room, garage or closet that has been piling up all summer.** Here is what typically needs to go, and the fastest way to actually clear it before the first bell rings.

### What usually gets cleared this time of year

- **Outgrown clothes and shoes** from a summer growth spurt, plus last year’s backpack and lunchbox.

- **Broken or outgrown toys** that have been sitting in a bin since spring cleaning got interrupted.

- **Old school supplies and paperwork** from the previous year — folders, worksheets, art projects that will not be missed.

- **A garage that became summer storage** for pool toys, camping gear and everything that did not have another home.

- **Furniture from a bedroom reshuffle** — a lot of families move kids between rooms or upgrade a bed right before the school year, and the old piece needs to go somewhere.

### The order that actually works

Start with the garage or the biggest single pile, not the smallest drawer. Clearing the large, visible mess first is what makes a space feel usable again, and it is what generates the volume that is worth scheduling a pickup for. Sort as you go into three piles — keep, donate, gone — and resist a fourth “maybe” pile, which is where clutter always ends up living permanently.

### Where it should go

Clothes and toys in good condition go to donation, not landfill — plenty of Southern California charities take both, and if the load also includes furniture or larger items we can route everything donatable to a charity partner in the same trip. Broken toys, worn-out furniture and general household junk are what actually need a hauler. Paper and cardboard from old school projects can usually go in a standard recycling bin unless the volume is large enough to be worth including in a bigger load.

### If the timeline is tight

We book same-day in most of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, so a garage that needs to be usable again before Monday is a realistic ask if you call or text a photo early in the day. A firm price is quoted on site before anything is loaded, so there is no guessing what the job will cost before you commit.