The Back-to-School Bag Reset: How to Declutter & Organize Your Mom Bag

The school year is here, and if you’re like most moms, your bag has turned into a black hole of snack wrappers (I'm looking at you fruit snacks), crayons, receipts, and half-empty sanitizer bottles. The back-to-school season is the perfect time for a bag reset — a quick routine that will save you time, sanity, and countless “Where’s my _____?!” moments.

Step 1: Dump It Out & Declutter

Start fresh. Empty your entire bag onto a table. Toss old receipts, broken crayons, empty snack packs, and expired coupons. If you’re short on time, set a 5-minute timer and speed declutter.

What We Suggest→ Do this once a month to prevent “mom bag buildup.” I make it fun. I whip up my favorite mocktail and jam to early 2000's hits (because you cannot tell me that 2004 and 2005 didn't have anything but hits.The old Kanye, Sean Paul, Gwen Stefani, Green Day….) 

Step 2: Create Simple Categories

Think in categories:

* Mom Essentials (wallet, keys, phone, hand sanitizer, chapstick)

* Kid Essentials (snacks, wipes, band-aids, small toy/book)

* On-the-Go Lifesavers (pens, tissues, hair ties, earbuds)

Keeping categories in mind makes repacking simple.

Step 3: Use Pouches to Contain the Chaos

Instead of letting everything float loose in your bag, use small pouches to separate items. One for you, one for the kids, one for “emergencies.”

Shameless (but not really) plug →This is where the Momma Bundle Pouch comes in handy — it’s stylish enough for your tote, but functional enough to hold all those essentials you don’t want to dig for.

Step 4: Add Personality & Fun

School mornings are stressful enough — so why not make your bag (or your kid’s backpack) a little more fun? Add a **bag charm** to your tote or their school bag. It’s a simple way to add personality and make bags easier to spot in the school pile.

 Step 5: Set a Reset Routine

Pick one day a week (Sunday night, for example) to do a 2-minute bag reset. Toss trash, restock snacks, and swap anything you need for the week ahead. Put a weekly reminder on your calendar to reset your bag. Make it a whole event by prepping a drink– coffee, evening cocktail or cocktail. Make it fun!! 

This tiny habit makes mornings smoother and keeps you from the dreaded bag clutter spiral.

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to mean chaos. With a quick reset routine and the right tools, your bag can go from “black hole” to “mom command center.”

 Ready to simplify your school mornings? Shop the Momma Bundle Pouch and Bag Charms today to make your back-to-school bag both organized and stylish.