August Cleaning Checklist: 15 Things to Clean Before Fall

1. Turn the Entryway Into a Back-to-School Launch Pad

Your entryway has been absorbing summer for months. Pull out everything in the drop zone that doesn’t need to be there:

• Shoes and sandals
• Bags and hats
  
• Sports equipment
  
• Beach gear
  
• Dog-walking supplies
  
• Random objects abandoned on their way somewhere else
  

Then set it up for fall. Give each person one hook for a backpack or work bag, one spot for shoes, and a basket or tray for keys, sunglasses and permission slips. If it lives by the door, it gets out the door.

Sweep or vacuum, shake out the mat, and wipe the door and light switch. You’re not decorating the entryway. You’re restoring traffic flow.

2. Round Up the Summer Gear

3. Wash and Store the Beach Towels

4. Get the Car Carpool-Ready

5. Reset the Fridge and Pantry for School Lunches

Summer eating leaves the fridge crowded with half-used condiments, drinks, leftovers and produce with unrealized potential. Toss anything spoiled and leftovers older than three or four days. Combine duplicate bottles of the same condiment, wipe the shelves and drawers with warm, soapy water, and put the foods you use most front and center.

Then do the pantry and snack shelf:

• Toss stale crackers, chips and cereal.

• Sniff nuts, oils and whole-wheat flour. If they smell like paint or crayons, they’ve gone rancid.

• Remember that “best by” dates are about quality, not safety. Unopened canned and boxed foods are usually fine past the date if the package is in good shape.

• Toss swollen, rusted or deeply dented cans.

• Combine the three open boxes of the same pasta.

• Group like with like, and wipe the shelves.
  

If kids pack their own lunches or grab their own snacks, give them one bin or shelf they can reach. Don’t turn the pantry into a container showroom. The food needs to be organized. The crackers do not require architecture. For more, see our kitchen food storage tips.

6. Clean the Lunch Boxes and Water Bottles

7. Reset Kids’ Rooms

If you have kids at home, August is the time to reset their rooms before schedules get busier. Start with the obvious:

• Trash
• Dishes
  
• Dirty laundry
  
• Clothes on the floor
  
• Outgrown clothes
  
• Broken items
• Toys and games no longer used
  
• School papers from a previous era
  

Don’t attempt a sentimental excavation of childhood. Concentrate on making the room work. For a bigger project, see our Tips for Organizing Kids’ Rooms.

8. Check Everyone’s Clothes for Fit and Wear

Kids aren’t the only ones who need their closets sorted. Pull anything that:

• Doesn’t fit

• Is badly worn, stained or stretched out
  
• Isn’t comfortable

• Nobody has worn in a year
  

Donate the clothes that are still in good shape. Take worn-out ones to a textile recycling bin. Many thrift stores and clothing retailers have them. Don’t pull out every fall garment yet unless your weather calls for it. You’re creating space, not forcing a season change. For more help, see our How to Organize Clothes Guide.

9. Reset the Home Office or Homework Area

August is an excellent time to reclaim the desk. Remove old papers, empty cups, expired calendars, mystery cords, and anything else that has settled in. Then:

• Dust the desk and wipe it down with a damp cloth.

• Wipe the keyboard and mouse with an alcohol wipe.

• Empty the trash.

• Check basic supplies.

• Put the papers you use most in one tray.

• Make sure chargers and electronics are within reach.
  

Don’t begin by shopping for office supplies. First, find out what you already own. There is an excellent chance you have pens. For a bigger reset, visit our Home Office Organization Guide.

10. Deal With the Paper Pile

Summer is surprisingly good at producing paper. Receipts. Camp information. Travel documents. Schedules. Mail. Forms. Lists. Things you put somewhere “safe.”

Gather the loose paper from your main living areas. Recycle what you don’t need. Shred anything with account numbers or your Social Security number. File what should be kept, and act on anything that needs action.

If something has no purpose and no reason to be saved, paper recycling has been waiting patiently for this moment. For a complete system, visit our How to Organize Paperwork Guide.

11. Give the Bathroom a Late-Summer Reset

Summer means more showers, more sunscreen, more towels and more people moving through the bathroom. Give the busiest one a thorough clean: sink, faucet, counter, mirror, toilet, tub or shower, and floor. Wash the bath mats in hot water and hang them to dry.

Then look at the products:

• Recycle the empty bottles.

• Toss sunscreen past its expiration date, or more than three years old if it isn’t dated.

• Get rid of the products nobody uses.
  

You may discover the shower is much larger than you thought.

12. Clean the Washing Machine

A summer of beach towels, swimsuits and sweaty sports clothes is hard on a washer. If it smells musty, it’s time.

1. Run an empty hot cycle with a washer-cleaning tablet or 1 cup of bleach.
2. On a front-loader, wipe inside the rubber door gasket, where gunk and mildew hide. Check for lost socks.
   
3. Pull out the detergent dispenser drawer and wash it in the sink.
   
4. Leave the door open between loads so the drum can dry.
   

Do this once a month or every 30 loads. While you’re there, clean the dryer lint screen, which should happen after every load. For step-by-step help, see our washing machine cleaning tips.

13. Clean the Fans and Check the AC

August can still be hot, so don’t retire your cooling equipment yet. It has been working all summer. This is its performance review.

• Ceiling fans: Turn them off and slide an old pillowcase over each blade to catch the dust.

• Portable fans: Unplug them, pop off the grille, and wash the grille and blades in warm, soapy water. Dry them completely.

• AC filter: Hold it up to the light. If you can’t see through it, replace it. ENERGY STAR says to check it monthly and change it at least every three months.

• Vents: Vacuum them with the brush attachment.
  

14. Spend 30 Minutes Outside: Patio and Garage

By August, the patio doesn’t need preparation. It needs recovery. Sweep it, wipe the table and chairs, put away toys and gardening tools, and pull out dead plants. Don’t pack everything away yet. There’s still summer left.

Then set a timer for 30 minutes in the garage and focus on the obvious problems:

• Empty boxes

• Trash

• Sports equipment and beach gear

• Gardening supplies and tools left out

• Things blocking walkways

• Donations that never actually got donated
  

Put like items together. Clear the walking paths. Get the donations into the car. Do not open the mysterious boxes at the back. This is August. We have plans.

For more, visit our Backyard & Garden Guide and Garage Cleaning & Organizing Guide.

15. Restart the 15-Minute Home Reset

Summer loosens routines. That’s fine. August is a good time to restart one simple routine. Set a timer for 15 minutes and move through the main living areas, dealing with:

• Trash

• Dishes

• Shoes and bags

• Mail

• Clothing

• Toys

• Things belonging elsewhere
  

Don’t deep-clean. Don’t reorganize. Don’t stop to make difficult decisions. Just restore the house to a reasonable starting point. Then do it again tomorrow, or often enough that the mess stops getting ahead of you.

Your Quick August Cleaning Checklist

Save or print this version:

•      ☐ Set up an entryway launch pad

•      ☐ Sort the summer gear

•      ☐ Wash and store the beach towels

•      ☐ Get the car carpool-ready

•      ☐ Reset the fridge and pantry

•      ☐ Clean lunch boxes and water bottles

•      ☐ Reset kids’ rooms

•      ☐ Check clothes for fit and wear

•      ☐ Reset the desk or homework area

•      ☐ Deal with the paper pile

•      ☐ Reset the busiest bathroom

•      ☐ Clean the washing machine

•      ☐ Clean the fans and check the AC

•      ☐ Spend 30 minutes on the patio and garage

•      ☐ Restart the 15-minute daily reset

If You Only Have One Hour

You can still accomplish quite a lot:

Done. You’ve started the seasonal transition without turning the house upside down.

August Is About Getting Back to Normal

Summer disrupts the house in mostly enjoyable ways. Trips. Visitors. Outdoor meals. Kids home. Longer days. Schedules that bear little resemblance to the rest of the year.

August is when you start putting the household back into a rhythm. Not a perfect rhythm. Just enough structure that September doesn’t arrive and find the beach towels in the car, last year’s school papers on the desk, and six pairs of sandals blocking the front door.

Clear the summer buildup. Restore a few systems. Then stop. Fall will bring its own checklist soon enough.

August Cleaning FAQ

What should I clean in August?

Focus on the late-summer reset: summer gear and towels, the car, the fridge and pantry, lunch boxes and water bottles, kids’ rooms and closets, the desk and paper piles, and the washing machine. Then restart a 15-minute daily pickup.

How do I get my house ready for back-to-school?

Set up an entryway launch pad with a hook for each backpack, clean out last year’s lunch gear, reset the fridge and snack shelf, sort outgrown clothes, clear the homework area, and take inventory of school supplies before you shop.

How do I clean a smelly lunch box?

Wash it with warm, soapy water, wipe the inside with a baking soda and water paste, rinse, and let it air-dry with the lid open. Wash water bottle lids, gaskets and straws separately with a bottle brush.

Is pantry food safe after the “best by” date?

Usually, yes. “Best by” dates are about quality, not safety. Unopened canned and boxed foods are generally fine past the date as long as the package is in good shape. Toss swollen, leaking, rusted or deeply dented cans, and anything that smells off.

How do I get the musty smell out of my washing machine?

Run an empty hot cycle with a washer-cleaning tablet or 1 cup of bleach, wipe the rubber door gasket, wash the detergent drawer, and leave the door open between loads. Repeat monthly.

Should I start fall cleaning in August?

Not yet. August is for clearing out summer and restarting routines. Save windows, décor and winter prep for September and October.

Keep Going

Get ready for the new season with these related guides:

• July Cleaning Checklist: Catch up on July’s mid-summer jobs, from the cooler to the vacation reset.

• Easy Fall Cleaning Checklist: What’s coming next, once summer is officially over.

• Kids’ School Lunch Ideas: Fill those clean lunch boxes with something they’ll actually eat.

• House Chores for Kids by Age: Start the school year with everyone pitching in.

• Kitchen Chores for Kids by Age: Kids who can pack their own lunches, at every age.

• How to Wash Towels: Get the summer smell out of beach and bath towels.

• How to Sort Clothes: Make back-to-school laundry go faster.

• Laundry Tips for Jeans: Keep the new school jeans looking new.
  

Too Much Stuff? Not Enough Space? Clear the clutter, let go of the guilt, and reclaim your home, one room at a time. Discover Room by Room by Tara Aronson.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.