The 7-Day Spruce Up: Get Back-to-School Ready (2024)

Welcome to the 7-Day Spruce Up: Get Back-to-School Ready!

From savoring the last days of summer, to shopping for all of those back-to-school essentials, consider this your ultimate cleaning and organizing guide to getting ready for the new school year. Whether you're a parent, guardian, or student, these tips will make you more back-to-school ready than ever before—all in just seven days.

Day 1: Savor the Last of Summer

The last days of summer are here, but there's still plenty of time left to make the most of it. Whether you're throwing one last summer party, or looking for ways to keep your outdoor space organized in these final weeks, we've got you covered so you can be sure you're savoring summer.

• 5 Tips for Easy Outdoor Cleanup After Summer Parties, Straight From Pros
• The 9 Best Outdoor Storage Solutions
• How to Clean Teak Wood Furniture
  
• How to Manage All the Summer Laundry, According to a Pro
• The Best Pool Toy Storage Organizers to Tidy Up Your Deck Right Now
• 6 Ways to Keep Your Outdoor Space Looking Tidy As Ever, According to Pros
  

Day 2: Get Organized and Orderly

Kicking off the school year on the right foot means starting with some upfront organizing tips and tricks. Before the first day of school even arrives, get what you need to organize everything from the entryway (no more rogue shoes going missing) to the pantry (snacks should always be easy to find).

• 13 DIY Ways to Get Organized for Back-to-School Season
• 25 Dorm Room Organization Ideas That'll Elevate Your Space
• The 10 Best Under-Bed Storage Organizers to Tuck Everything Away
• We Tested 30 Shoe Racks, and These 9 Are the Best
• Keep Small Spaces Organized With These 15 Storage Solutions
  
• 10 Space-Saving Snack Organizing Items to Order on Amazon
• This Affordable Item Is the Secret to Back-to-School Organizing

Day 3: Craft a Study Space

You wouldn't be back-to-school ready without the perfect study space. Whether you're a parent setting up your child's new study area, or a college student looking for ways to make a space more productive, these pro tips and top-rated product picks will get you started.

• 3 Pro Tips to Create the Perfect Study Space, Just in Time for Back-to-School
• How to Organize Your Desk the Right Way
• 11 Beautiful Home Offices That Are Neat and Organized
• The 9 Best Desk Organizers of 2023
• 11 Functional and Stylish Desks for Your Space
• The 9 Easiest Ways to Deal With All Your Paper Clutter

Day 4: Enroll in Laundry 101

Once summer is over and those routines start falling back into place, the last thing you want to do is have to worry about or spend more time doing laundry than you need to. But with the right laundry products and a few hacks from the pros, both parents and students will be ready to tackle laundry once again.

• 9 College Laundry Essentials to Order on Amazon Right Now
• How to Stay on Top of Laundry Like a Pro Once School Starts
• 9 Organizational Hacks to Stay on Top of Laundry
• We Tested 30 Laundry Baskets, and These 8 Are the Best
• The 8 Most Convenient Laundry Detergent Pods
• The 12 Best Laundry Stain Removers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
• Keep Delicate Clothes Protected in the Wash With Laundry Bags

Day 5: Shop Smarter for School Supplies

Back-to-school shopping shouldn't be a hassle—and it shouldn't cost a fortune, either. Whatever your budget or supply needs, from wall calendars to backpacks and smart notebooks, these school supplies and tips won't break the bank.

• Make Back-to-School Shopping Easier at These 8 Retailers
• 8 Backpacks That'll Take You From Freshman Year Through Graduation
  
• 5 Tips for Back-to-School Shopping on a Budget, According to a Pro
• Digitize Your Class Notes With a Smart Notebook
• 12 "Back-to-School" Items for Adults Who Love School Supplies
• The Best Notebooks for Writing (or Doodling) to Your Heart's Content
• Plan Ahead With These 9 Wall Calendars

Day 6: Ace Your Routine

Summer has a way of throwing off our routines, and whether back-to-school season is a reality for you or not, it's still helpful to get back into a rhythm, all with some help from weekly cleaning schedules and reliable alarm clocks.

• 6 Easy Ways to Get Back Into a Routine After Summer, According to a Pro
• A Realistic Weekly Cleaning Schedule to Get You Started
• The Best Chore Charts for Every Household and Budget
• Brighten Your Morning With a Sunrise Alarm Clock
• The 9 Most Reliable and Easy to Read Alarm Clocks

Day 7: Stay on Schedule for a Successful School Year

Schedules and routines are great, but they won't do you any good if you don't stick to them. So make sure the whole school year goes off without a hitch with these clutter-clearing tricks, entryway shoe storage ideas, and a few handy organizing tips from a very special expert.

• Dylan Dreyer Spills Her Top Organizing Hacks for Back-to-School Season
• Organize Your To-Dos and Goals With One of These 13 Planners
• How to Keep Kids' Clutter Concealed Without a Mudroom
• 16 Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas
• 41 Mudroom Ideas Complete With Creative Storage Solutions
• 11 Ideas for Clutter-Free Home