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7 Tips for Decluttering Before Christmas

How to Declutter Before Christmas: 7 Simple Decluttering Tips + What to Declutter

Here are easy tips for decluttering before Christmas, plus things you need to declutter to make your house look tidy and more organized during the Christmas holidays!

Decluttering before Christmas should always be an annual event. I know there is so much to do before the holiday that decluttering may be the last thing on your mind.

Planning for the Christmas holiday can be stressful, and since decluttering is also an extensive and engaging activity, it is easy to see how this can be challenging.

But before you dismiss it, think of all the friends and family you may be entertaining during this period. Think of all the gifts you anticipate getting during this period and the new things you will buy during this holiday shopping season. Don’t you want to create space for them?

This is the perfect time to get rid of the clutter in your house. Since this is the season of giving, you will also be teaching your kids a life skill – the value of sharing. What is worthless to you might be valuable to another person. Declutter, enjoy clean, ample spaces, and spread the wonders of Christmas cheer.

Here are tips for decluttering before Christmas, plus pre Christmas declutter list.

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Related Decluttering Articles:

7 Easy Tips for Decluttering before Christmas

#1. Declutter with the Christmas Holiday in Mind

Chances are that you have a good idea of the kind of gifts to expect from friends and family members.

For instance, you know that kids love toys. Declutter the toys they already have to make room for the ones they will/might get as gifts during the Christmas holiday. And don’t forget about the new stuff you will be buying during this shopping season.

Here is a pre holiday 30 day decluttering challenge you can use to make decluttering before Christmas easier for you and your family.

#2. Only Keep What You Use Around the House

If you have not touched or used something for over a year, you probably will never get to use them. Get rid of these items to make space for the things you and your family need.

#3. Make Piles to Help You Organize

When decluttering, create three piles;

  • A keep pile – Keep items you think you might need in the future/ items that have a sentimental value to you.
  • A donation/sell pile – Donate items you think someone else will find valuable or you can sell some of the decluttered items for cash.
  • A trash pile – This is for the items that are too damaged or destroyed to be of any value to anybody.

#4. Focus on One Category/Room/Space at a Time

By focusing on one room/space/category at a time, you can do a more thorough job than someone looking to declutter everything at once. For instance, you could probably decide to focus on decluttering one item (such as books) before moving on to the next category in your list. 

Go through every room in your house looking for books. Put them in the 3 piles we have highlighted above and then move on to another category and repeat the process. 

#5. Do Not be Afraid to Move with Your Changing Style

As life happens, you will find that something you loved two years ago is no longer attractive. Stuff accumulated over time might be good but now you feel that you want to change things a bit.

Instead of keeping the old stuff, find out if you can make some money by selling them or donating it to your friends and family members. 

#6. Get the Items Out of the House

Do not keep the items you have sorted for donation and trash inside the house. You may be tempted to dig back in to get that particular supply you hope to use one day. Get rid of these items as soon as possible. 

#7. Engage Your Family Members

Decluttering is a time-consuming process. At this time of the year, you are also thinking of how to prepare for the Christmas holiday. Avoid being overwhelmed by getting your family members to help you declutter.

Things to Declutter Before the Holidays

Clothing and Shoes You no Longer Wear

Clothing and other unwanted wearables can take up a lot of space in our homes. You can get rid of unwanted clothing and wearables in different ways. (You are going to buy new clothes and shoes for the holidays anyway, so make room for the new ones).

Give the decluttered clothing and shoes to other family members, donate them, or flip them in a thrifty store to make some money. 

Old Holiday Décor

You can’t declutter for the holidays without decluttering old holiday decorations. This is the best time to declutter holiday decorations because most donation centers will not accept decorations after this period has lapsed.

If you are still holding onto holiday decor you purchased two years ago chances are that you may never use them

Old Books and Newspapers

You will never notice when these old magazines and newspapers start piling up. Unless you have classics that you want to read again in the future, you are keeping clutter in your house.

Many people have boxes of old newspapers, magazines, and books stacked in their garages. It is time to get rid of them before Christmas. There are several decluttering apps you can easily use to sell those used books.

Kitchen Appliances, Tools, and Items You Do Not Use

What do you do with the kitchen appliances, pots, and pans you no longer use? Do you still keep them ‘lingering’ around the kitchen and taking up space? If you have something with sentimental value but unusable, keep it in a different space/room to help declutter the kitchen. 

Get rid of:

  • Paper bags
  • Glass jars
  • Take-out menus
  • Serving dishes you no longer use
  • Fridge magnets
  • Plastic cutlery
  • Plastic cups
  • Plastic mugs
  • Plastic plates
  • Chipped and/or broken dishes
  • Containers without lids
  • Unused cookbooks
  • Unused water bottles
  • Ketchup packets
  • Soy sauce packets
  • Expired milk packets
  • Torn oven mitts
  • Torn/stained kitchen towels

Go to the pantry and get rid of:

  • Any expired canned food
  • Expired boxed food
  • Any food that has gone bad
  • Any unwanted food (food you know you will never cook)
  • Expired herbs and spices

Old Toys and Unused Electronic Items

Raid your kids’ bedroom and let them collect any unwanted toys for decluttering. To help keep their bedroom organized, create storage spaces for new toys and insist that they store every toy correctly after they have finished playing.

It can be a painful experience stepping on a sharp toy in the dark after saying goodnight to your kids. 

The unwanted toys can be donated or sold to earn some extra money. This is the best time to get rid of the old toys to make room for new ones. 

Go through other living area spaces for any unused or broken electronic items to declutter. You can make quick money selling the unused appliances in the marketplace. What to look for in the living room:

  • Electrical cords
  • Faulty electronic gadgets
  • Unwanted electronic gadgets (Such as video games no one plays anymore)
  • Old gaming cards
  • Board games and puzzles with missing pieces (such as chess, scrabble, and monopoly)
  • Old manuals
  • Old movies 
  • Old batteries

Expired Medicine and Personal Care Products

It is time to raid your cabinets and bathroom to find these expired products. Always put the newest products and medicine at the furthest end. Finish using the ones you bought earlier first to avoid wastage.

Get rid of:

  • Torn towels
  • Expired lotions
  • Expired shampoos
  • Expired surface cleaners
  • Unused rubber gloves
  • Used toothpaste bottles
  • Used toothbrushes (It may be time to get a new toothbrush anyway)
  • Dental floss
  • Razors
  • Pain relievers such as Advil or Tylenol
  • Expired or unused makeup products
  • Used candles
  • Nail clippers
  • Hair brushes, bobby pins, and hair ties
  • Anything expired inside the first Aid box (including band aids)

Other Things You Can Declutter Before Christmas

What to look for in other areas:

  • Unused/ broken umbrellas
  • Unused winter clothing (Coats, boots, hats, and blankets) – Donate these to people who may be in need. 
  • Old mail
  • Unused hats, gloves, and scarves
  • Unused purses and wallets
  • Cheap hangers
  • Broken jewelry
  • Damaged clothing

Home Office

If you have a home office, look for:

  • Old paperwork (stay paperless by using apps to stay organized)
  • Old calendars
  • Old tax bills, phone bills, and other bills
  • Unused notebooks and notepads
  • Used post-it notes
  • Old planners

Garage

If you have a garage, look out for:

  • Rusty/broken bicycles
  • Old party supplies
  • Unused fitness equipment
  • Unused sports equipment (such as old balls, bats, and helmets)
  • Old paint
  • Old boxes containing stuff with sentimental value
  • Screws, wooden matter, and metallic items you no longer need

Final Thoughts on Decluttering Before Christmas

The period before the Christmas holiday is one of the best times to declutter your homestead. A lot is going on during this time and there is a lot you need to prepare for. However, since you anticipate getting gifts, buying new stuff and having other people in your home, you may need to create space. And this is done through decluttering. Make pre holiday decluttering an annual affair.

Take time to sort through everything you have and remove what you do not need. When you bring your kids into the process, you will teach them how to spread the joy of giving by donating what they do not use. The best way to declutter for Christmas is by focusing on a category, room, or specific space within your home. This will ensure that you have exhausted everything in one place before moving on to another.

Did you find out tips for decluttering before Christmas helpful? Leave your comment below.

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