The end of summer brings back-to-school shopping. It’s also a time for back to school cleaning. By cleaning and organizing now, you can help ensure the start of the school year is a successful one. We’ve pulled together a list of the top spots to focus on that back-to-school deep clean.

Kitchen/Pantry:
Cleaning out the fridge and pantry will make it easier to find snacks and pack lunches. Decide on a place for lunchboxes to go so they can be emptied and cleaned after school. Organize containers so matching lids are easier to find. Getting things ready now will make prep time a breeze going into the school year.

Entryway/Mudroom:
Have hooks and baskets ready for things like shoes, jackets and backpacks. Plan for where things like sports equipment, instruments and the like will go. To get you ready, we have an after-school cleaning checklist and our backpack cleaning guide can help get that school gear ready.

High-Traffic Areas:
The start of the school year coincides with the beginning of cold and flu season. Getting in the habit of cleaning frequently-touched surfaces now can help prevent these illnesses going into the winter. Check out our guide on which spots should get extra attention for illness prevention.

Kids’ Rooms:
This is a good time to go through and check clothes for wear and tear or stains. Make sure kids are aware of what they are responsible for in terms of putting dirty clothes into hampers and putting clean clothes away. Get them involved in cleaning off their desk space to have a place for schoolwork. We have a room cleaning guide for kids to help.