Day 2 of 12 Days of Back-to-School Prep: 5 Things I Replace Every Back-to-School Season
Posted on August 31, 2026
Hi friends! Welcome back to Day 2 of our 12 Days of Back-to-School Prep series. If you missed Day 1, we started things off with a full fridge clean-out — my very first step every single year before the “official” back-to-school prep even begins. Today we’re moving into something a little different: my yearly refresh list!
Day 2 of 12 Days of Back-to-School Prep: 5 Things I Replace Every Back-to-School Season
At the end of every Summer, without fail, I go through the same little ritual. It’s not glamorous, and it’s honestly a bit random when you look at the full list, but it’s become such a habit at this point that back-to-school doesn’t feel official until I’ve done it. I like to think of it as a mini reset — not just for the kids, but for our whole house!
Why I Do a Yearly Refresh
With three boys in the house, things get used hard. Between sports, sweat, spills, and just the general wear and tear of an entire school year, certain items in our home quietly wear out, break down, or run out — and I’d honestly rather replace them proactively in August than get caught off guard in October wondering why nothing seems to be working the way it should.
So every year, before the first day of school, I go through this same short list. Some of it is obvious. Some of it might surprise you. But every single item makes a real difference once the school year gets rolling!
The 5 Things I Replace Every Single Year
1. Socks
This one is non-negotiable in our house. Between three boys and a full school year of gym class, recess, sports practices, and just everyday wear, socks disappear and develop holes faster than I can keep track of. Every August, I buy a completely fresh pack for each of my boys. It sounds so small, but starting the year with socks that are actually intact (and actually still a matching pair) is a small win I look forward to every year.
2. Ice Packs
Lunchbox ice packs are one of those things that quietly stop working over time — they lose their ability to freeze properly, and suddenly you’re sending your kid off with a lukewarm lunch and not even realizing it until it’s too late. So every year, I grab a fresh set. It’s a small investment that makes a real difference in making sure lunches actually stay cold and safe all day.
Here are the ones we use!:
3. Bath Towels, Hand Towels & Washcloths
This is a bigger one for us. We go all in on oversized, antimicrobial bath towels in black — all three of my boys use them, and honestly, they love them, which in this house is basically a miracle. I replace these every year alongside our hand towels and washcloths, since those get gross so much faster than people realize, especially once the school year ramps up hand-washing and germ season kicks in. And I’ll be honest — the washcloths are partly for me too. A little self-care disguised as a household refresh.
Straws get gross. Lids wear out. And after a full school year of daily use, our Owala water bottles are just done. So every year, it’s new bottles across the board, no exceptions. It’s such a simple swap, but starting the year with water bottles that actually seal properly (and don’t taste a little off) makes a real difference for staying hydrated once the busy season hits.
5. Charging Cords, Blocks & Batteries
This is the random one — and it gets me every single year. Somehow, by the time school rolls around, our charging cords are frayed, our blocks have gone missing, and our batteries are dead in half the remotes and devices in the house. It’s not glamorous, but it’s genuinely one of the most useful resets I do, because there’s nothing worse than a dead device on a busy school morning when you needed it charged the night before.
That’s the List
That’s my list — nothing fancy, just five small swaps that make a real difference once July hits [I know! So early here in Arizona!]. Is it weird that a fresh pack of socks and a working phone charger genuinely feels like a win by the end of Summer? Boy mom life will do that to you!
Shop My Back-to-School Refresh Picks
Click on any of the thumbnail images in the gallery below to shop the exact items on my yearly refresh list — from our favorite towels to the water bottles and chargers we swear by!
This is Day 2 of our 12 Days of Back-to-School Prep series! Follow along @thisisourbliss for the rest of the series, plus everyday boy mom life, style, and family adventures.
No Comments