The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and, often, a whirlwind of activity. As you prepare to welcome friends and family, it’s the perfect opportunity to declutter and refresh your living space. Clearing out unnecessary items not only creates a more inviting environment but also sets the stage for a stress-free and organized holiday season. Here are 15 things you should consider tossing before the holidays to achieve a clean slate and make room for new memories!
Old Clothes and Accessories
Your closet is a treasure trove of fashion history, but it can quickly become overwhelmed with items you no longer wear or love. Holding onto outdated styles, ill-fitting garments, or accessories that no longer suit your taste can create unnecessary clutter and make getting dressed a chore rather than a pleasure.
Why Toss It: Removing old clothes frees up space for your favorite pieces and reduces decision fatigue when selecting outfits. It also allows you to donate items that are still in good condition to those in need, spreading holiday cheer beyond your home.
How to Handle It: Sort your wardrobe into categories: keep, donate, and toss. Be honest about what you truly wear and love. Donate gently used clothing to local shelters, thrift stores, or charity organizations. For items beyond repair, recycle them responsibly to minimize environmental impact.
Expired Food and Pantry Items
Holiday cooking and baking often lead to an abundance of pantry staples, but it’s easy to lose track of expiration dates. Keeping expired food can pose health risks and take up valuable kitchen space, making meal preparation less enjoyable.
Why Toss It: Discarding expired items ensures that your holiday meals are safe and delicious. It also declutters your pantry, making it easier to organize and find what you need for festive recipes.
How to Handle It: Conduct a thorough pantry clean-out, checking expiration dates on all items. Dispose of anything that has passed its prime and consider donating non-perishable goods that are still within their shelf life to local food banks or shelters.
Unused Kitchen Gadgets
Your kitchen is a hub of creativity, especially during the holidays, but it can become cluttered with gadgets and appliances that see little to no use. From single-serving mixers to obsolete coffee makers, these items can crowd your countertops and drawers.
Why Toss It: Removing unused kitchen gadgets simplifies your cooking space, making it more efficient and enjoyable to prepare holiday feasts. It also reduces the time spent searching for tools you rarely use.
How to Handle It: Evaluate each gadget’s frequency of use. Donate or sell appliances that are in good working condition but no longer serve a purpose in your kitchen. Recycle broken or outdated items responsibly to keep your space streamlined and functional.
Old Electronics and Cables
In today’s tech-driven world, electronics and their accompanying cables can quickly pile up. Old phones, outdated chargers, and obsolete devices not only take up space but also pose environmental hazards if not disposed of properly.
Why Toss It: Clearing out old electronics reduces clutter and minimizes the risk of accidents, such as tripping over tangled cables. It also contributes to environmental sustainability by ensuring electronics are recycled correctly.
How to Handle It: Gather all outdated or unused electronics and assess their condition. Donate functional items to schools, nonprofits, or community centers. For non-functional electronics, find a certified e-waste recycler to ensure they are disposed of safely and sustainably.
Broken or Unused Furniture
Holiday gatherings often require rearranging your living space, but broken or unused furniture can be more of a hindrance than a help. Whether it’s an old chair with a wobbly leg or a bulky sofa that no one sits on, these items can clutter your home and create safety hazards.
Why Toss It: Removing broken or unused furniture frees up space, making your home more comfortable and safer for guests. It also provides an opportunity to update your decor with pieces that better suit your current style and needs.
How to Handle It: Assess each piece of furniture for repairability. Donate items in good condition to local charities or sell them through online marketplaces. For furniture that’s beyond repair, contact your local waste disposal service for proper removal.
Outdated Decorations
Your holiday decorations bring joy and festivity to your home, but outdated or broken decorations can detract from the overall aesthetic and create unnecessary clutter. Holding onto old ornaments, damaged lights, or mismatched decor can make your holiday setup feel disorganized.
Why Toss It: Streamlining your decorations allows you to focus on the pieces that truly bring you joy and enhance your holiday ambiance. It also makes decorating for the season more efficient and enjoyable.
How to Handle It: Sort through your decorations, keeping only those that are in good condition and hold sentimental value. Donate extra or gently used decorations to friends, family, or local community centers. Repair any damaged items if possible, or recycle them responsibly if they’re beyond repair.
Expired Beauty and Personal Care Products
Personal care products like makeup, skincare, and haircare items have expiration dates for a reason. Using expired products can lead to skin irritation, infections, and reduced effectiveness, compromising your self-care routine.
Why Toss It: Discarding expired beauty and personal care products ensures that your regimen remains safe and effective. It also declutters your bathroom and storage spaces, making it easier to find and use your favorite items.
How to Handle It: Go through your beauty and personal care products, checking expiration dates and signs of spoilage. Safely dispose of expired items and consider donating unopened products to shelters or organizations that accept beauty donations.
Old Magazines and Books
Stacks of old magazines and books can accumulate over time, taking up valuable space and creating unnecessary clutter. While they can be a source of information and entertainment, outdated publications may no longer be relevant or useful.
Why Toss It: Clearing out old magazines and books makes room for new reading material and reduces clutter in your home. It also allows you to share your favorites with others who might enjoy them.
How to Handle It: Sort through your magazines and books, keeping only those you love and plan to read again. Donate gently used items to libraries, schools, or charitable organizations. Recycle magazines and books that are no longer usable to minimize environmental impact.
Unused Toys and Games
In homes with children, toys and games can quickly multiply, leading to clutter and disorganization. Unused or broken toys not only take up space but can also pose safety risks.
Why Toss It: Removing unused toys and games creates a more organized and safe environment for children. It also makes playtime more enjoyable by ensuring that only beloved and functional items are available.
How to Handle It: Involve your children in the decluttering process, deciding which toys and games to keep, donate, or toss. Donate gently used toys to local shelters, hospitals, or community centers. Recycle or dispose of broken toys responsibly to maintain a tidy and safe home.
Old Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies are essential for maintaining a tidy home, but over time, products can expire or become ineffective. Holding onto old or unused cleaning supplies can clutter your storage areas and pose safety hazards.
Why Toss It: Discarding expired or unused cleaning supplies ensures that your cleaning routine remains safe and effective. It also frees up space for current and more efficient products.
How to Handle It: Check expiration dates on all cleaning products and dispose of any that have expired or are no longer usable. Recycle empty containers where possible and consider replacing outdated supplies with eco-friendly alternatives for a healthier home environment.
Expired Prescriptions and Medications
Medications have expiration dates for safety and efficacy reasons. Keeping expired prescriptions and medications not only takes up space but can also be dangerous if accidentally used.
Why Toss It: Disposing of expired medications prevents accidental ingestion and ensures that you have safe and effective prescriptions on hand. It also declutters your medicine cabinet, making it easier to find and manage current medications.
How to Handle It: Safely dispose of expired or unused medications by utilizing local take-back programs or following specific disposal guidelines. Do not flush medications down the toilet unless instructed to do so, as this can contaminate water supplies. Store remaining medications in a clean, organized space to avoid confusion and ensure easy access to necessary prescriptions.
Unused Holiday Items
As the holidays come to an end, it’s tempting to store away decorations, gift wrap, and other seasonal items. However, keeping everything can lead to clutter and make next year’s setup more overwhelming.
Why Toss It: Streamlining your holiday items after the season prevents clutter and makes future decorating more manageable. It also gives you a chance to refresh your collection with new and meaningful pieces.
How to Handle It: Sort through your holiday items, keeping only the decorations and supplies you truly love and use. Donate extra or gently used items to friends, family, or charitable organizations. Recycle or dispose of decorations that are broken or no longer in good condition to maintain an organized and festive home.
Unused Office Supplies
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, office supplies can easily accumulate in your workspace. Holding onto unused or outdated supplies not only creates clutter but can also make it difficult to find the items you need when you do need them.
Why Toss It: Clearing out unused office supplies creates a more organized and efficient workspace, making it easier to tackle holiday tasks and projects. It also reduces clutter, allowing you to focus better and work more effectively.
How to Handle It: Assess your office supplies, keeping only the items you regularly use and need for the upcoming holiday season. Donate extra supplies to schools, community centers, or nonprofits that can benefit from them. Recycle or dispose of outdated or broken supplies responsibly, ensuring your workspace remains clean and functional for the holidays ahead.
