Decluttering for the Holidays – 15 Things to Get Rid of Before Christmas
How to get rid of clutter fast before the holidays! Here are 15 things to get rid of before Christmas, so you won’t feel so overwhelmed by all the new stuff.
Every holiday season, I end up feeling overwhelmed by all the clutter.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. But it’s all the STUFF – the decor, the gifts, the food, etc. – that makes me feel like I’m drowning in excess.
I decided that it’s best to be proactive this year, and get rid of some things before the holiday season starts.
So I put together a list of the best things to declutter before Christmas, so we can all feel more organized!
Let’s take a little time to get rid of some unwanted things now. That way we won’t feel so overwhelmed by the clutter, post-Christmas.
We can do this!
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Decluttering for the Holidays – 15 Things to Get Rid of Before Christmas
1. Kids’ Toys
If you have children, you know they can accumulate a shocking amount of stuff.
And you also know that they’re about to get a whole lot more!
For older kids, ask them to choose some toys, books, and games to get rid of.
If they’re resistant, tell them that they’re just making room for the new toys they’re going to receive. And that they’re helping a less fortunate child by donating.
For younger children, sort out the toys that don’t get played with often. Or the ones that are broken, they’ve outgrown…or that annoy you.
(Maybe while they’re sleeping so they don’t fight you on it.)
You’ll be SO glad you did this!
2. Gift Wrap
This is the ideal time to sort through your gift wrap supplies.
Weed out those ugly ripped gift bags, smushed bows, and wrinkly tissue paper sheets.
Take a quick inventory of the holiday gift wrap you already have, and any supplies you’ll need to buy this year.
(Have you ever used one of these pop-up tape dispensers? They make gift wrapping so much easier!)
3. Home decor
Now is a great time to look over your home decor accessories.
They can go out of style, or your tastes can change from year to year.
Plan to donate the things that you no longer love, and add some ideas for what you would like to your Christmas wish list!
4. Pantry
Before stocking up on groceries you’ll need for the holidays, do a pantry cleanout.
Toss (or plan to eat) any food that’s about to expire. Take inventory of what you have, and make some meals out of it this week.
Consider doing a pantry challenge to use up excess ingredients. Or donate food you probably won’t eat – there are a lot of charity food drives this time of year.
Related:
- 10 Surprising Advantages of Doing a Pantry Challenge
- Create Quick & Cheap Meals with these 30 Pantry Staples
- 25 of the Best Pantry Staples to Stock Up on Around the Holidays
5. Kitchen
You’ll want to get your kitchen in order before all the holiday cooking and baking begins.
Do a quick sweep of your countertops, and remove anything you don’t use regularly.
Clear countertops just make a person feel more peaceful!
Some other things to declutter in the kitchen are:
- Storage containers
- Mugs
- Junk drawer
- Small appliances
- Dish towel
- Spices
- Cookbooks
It’s also a great time to clean and organize your fridge and freezer!
Related:
- How to Declutter Your Kitchen Fast (the exact action steps!)
- 10 Things You Need to Organize Your Messy Kitchen
6. Clothing
If you haven’t done it recently, now’s a great time to declutter your clothes.
Look over your wardrobe, and donate or toss anything that you haven’t worn since last Christmas.
Check out your “fancy” holiday party clothing, and take note of anything you might need to replace or buy this year.
Your cold weather gear (coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc.) is another smart area to declutter.
Related:
- How to Declutter Your Wardrobe Quickly (in 5 simple steps!)
- Get Your Closet Organized With These 10 Easy Tricks
7. Linens
Before the cold weather hits, check out your blankets and bedding.
If they could use a refresh, consider donating them – and asking for new ones for Christmas!
Or buy some new items yourself when you see an awesome Black Friday deal.
If you have guests visiting over the holiday season, make sure you have sheets and towels in good condition for them to use.
While you’re at it, consider giving your linen closet a quick declutter and organize.
8. Medicine cabinet
With the onset of cold and flu season, take inventory of your medicine cabinet.
Your medications from last year may have expired, or you might need to restock.
If you come across prescription medications that you no longer need, take them to the special drop-off locations at hospitals and police departments.
9. Holiday decor
It’s good to get a jumpstart on sorting through your holiday decor.
Most of us don’t feel like organizing it on decorating (or take-down) day. So start now!
Grab a bin sometime when you’re gonna sit down and watch TV. Take everything out of it, and only put back what you love and know you’ll use.
That way you’ll have a much easier time when you decorate, and you can donate your other items in time for someone else to use them.
10. Electronics
Electronics are CONSTANTLY changing, so there are always outdated ones lying around.
Since you (or other family members) will probably be receiving a new device or two as holiday gifts, it’s time to get rid of that clutter!
You could look into selling ones that are still in demand, or donate your phone easily to a program like this one.
Here are some common electronic items to declutter:
- Phones
- Game consoles
- Dvds
- Cds
- Video games
- Chargers
- Cords
- Earbuds and headphones
- Cases
11. Purse and wallet
It’s amazing how fast your purse and wallet can get cluttered!
All the receipts, gift cards, gum wrappers, coupons, and other randomness get out of control quickly.
Before you’re inundated with even more holiday shopping receipts, do a cleanout of your purse and wallet.
I love using this inexpensive purse organizer insert to keep everything looking nice and organized!
12. Paper clutter
Goodness, the paper clutter never ends. Between the junk mail, the bills, and the kids’ school projects, it can get quite overwhelming.
And you know that during the Christmas season, there will be even more catalogs, magazines, and holiday cards.
Wouldn’t it be nice to approach the holidays with less paper clutter?!
Whether you shred it, toss it, or take it to the recycle bin, getting rid of it all will make your home look a whole LOT better.
13. Beauty products
Makeup and other beauty products definitely need to be gone through about every 6 months.
Take inventory of what you have and like, and toss anything that doesn’t make you happy.
Even if you only used it once (and hated it), it’s not doing you any good sitting on your bathroom counter.
You’ll be seen more often than usual at holiday gatherings and parties, so be sure to keep on hand just what makes you feel good!
14. Gifts from last year
You know, the ones you didn’t really like? You had the best of intentions in keeping them, hoping you’d come around. But they’re still sitting there, taking up space.
If you haven’t used an item (and don’t love it), plan to re-gift or donate it.
That way someone else can and will actually use it!
15. Your obligations
While physical clutter can be draining in it’s own way, our mental clutter is what can really get us down.
That feeling that you need to do ‘all the things’ and create a picture-perfect Christmas for everyone.
Think over your priorities. Note the things that really make or break the holiday season. Then let all the other stuff fall off your never-ending to-do list.
You’re supposed to enjoy the holidays too, ya know?
Related reading:
- 5 Ways to Stay Sane this Holiday Season
- 12 Days of Christmas Self Care – How to Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays
Ready to declutter before Christmas?
I hope this list of things to get rid of the holidays has inspired you!
While it’s difficult to get excited about decluttering, you’ll set yourself up for a much more peaceful Christmas.
Plus, you’ll be that much further ahead at the end of the year!
Be sure to also check out:
- How to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas
- 19 Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for Christmas Early
- How to Create a Christmas Budget (and actually stick to it!)
Just be sure to donate those unwanted holiday items BEFORE the holidays, preferably before Thanksgiving. The nice young people at our local Teen Challenge thrift store tell me that come January they have to politely but firmly refuse to accept holiday decorations after their warehouse is full to the brim with glitter and slightly used reindeer.
GREAT callout, Mandy! We shouldn’t treat thrift store donations as dumping grounds for things we don’t want! It’s important to donate with intention, and keep in mind the process the store has to go through to resell our stuff. I’m glad to hear that your local store firmly refuses what won’t work for them!
Such a great idea. I find myself unhappy after the holidays and I always wondered why. Because there is so much clutter and things that we don’t need. I use to have my daughter clean out her toys before Christmas (her birthday is 2 days later) and have her donate them. I don’t know why I didn’t think about the rest of the house. Thank you so much for this. ***Mandy, you are also right. It’s best to donate holiday decor before the holidays so other people can enjoy them. Thanks for that also.
Hi Beth! Yes, the clutter can be SO overwhelming for me too. Hopefully this pre-declutter process will really help us this year!