We've all been there. Mom and dad come to pick you up from college, you shove everything you've collected over the school year into the car, and quickly say goodbye to your friends before any of you cry. You somehow manage to squeeze into the car and pray that you'll have the energy to unpack when you get back home for the long summer ahead of you.

Just as packing is different for everyone, so is unpacking. It's a personal preference and almost a ritual in a weird sort of way. What do I unpack first? Where will I put everything? What do I do with this? Some of us don't like anyone to help unload and organize, and others will take any volunteers on board that they can find. Here are some tips that come in handy when you have no idea where to start when it comes to unpacking your entire past year of school:

1. Pick a spot

Find a spot in your house that you can put a majority of your belongings that you don't need for the summer to store until you need it for the next school year. A basement is a great place since it is out of the way from your living space. Make sure it's a place that won't get in the way of anyone so that no one moves it around.

2. Play some music

Unpacking is a long, tiring, and draining process. Spice things up by playing your favorite playlist as loud as you want. If people are home, put your headphones in. Otherwise, blast your music throughout the house and make it a party.

3. Grab a couple trash bags

As we unpack, it's normal to find things that belong in the trash more than our own room. Also, making a pile of clothes that you no longer want or wear can be used to donate to charity. That way, you're clearing out what you no longer need and sending it to people who need them instead.

4. Clean out your drawers

Often times we are so eager to unpack that we forget about this step. In order to make it easier to put clothes and belongings in dresser drawers, they have to be cleaned out first. Sometimes siblings overtake our storage space since we've been gone the entire school year and forget that we will need it back for the summer. Make sure you have enough empty drawers to easily unload clothes into the dresser or closet.

5. Laundry

Yes, most likely all of us have dirty laundry from the last few days of school that has been put off until it's time to unpack. But it's also a good idea to wash the bed sheets, comforter, and towels that you used the entire year. Once they're clean, put them in sealed garbage bags or tightly sealed boxes so that the scent stays fresh for the summer. That way, when you go back to school in the fall, you will already have clean sheets and towels and most importantly, one less thing to worry about.