Tip Tuesday - Pre-Christmas Declutter
We are just a few weeks away from a time of giving and receiving gifts. Is your house ready for more toys, clothes, books, electronics, candles, mugs, & socks? Is there something else that you seem to get every single year whether you need it or not?
We all need a good declutter & purge before Christmas gifts are opened and added to our homes.
Plus - it’s likely that the things you get rid of are still in good enough condition for someone else to use. You can donate to local shelters and organizations that are grateful for donations all of the year, but especially at Christmas time!
I know every household dynamic is different, but if it’s possible AT ALL, I recommend getting everyone involved in this project.
I’ve shared my “One in One Out” tip before but I’ll link it here if you missed it. Essentially, for every item that comes in one of equal size/use/value goes out!
I’ve also shared a “Donation Bag Declutter” tip before. Click here if you missed it. It’s as straightforward as it sounds. You walk through your home or office room by room and declutter, purge, tidy, trash, etc. I typically take three bags or baskets with me as I go. One for trash, one for donations, and one for items that need to be put away in another room. That will keep you from leaving the space you’re working on as frequently!
The key to this is being honest with yourself.
Do I REALLY need 18 Santa serving trays? Do I REALLY need to keep every bib my 25 year old spit up on when he was a baby? Sounds silly…but we all have a tendency to hold onto material things that we don’t need to keep. Keeping important sentimental items is perfectly acceptable - but it’s still a good idea to go through those things every so often too.
With Christmas right around the corner it’s a great time to clean out the areas that are already over run with items, especially if you know you’ll be adding to those areas in a few short weeks.
Tackling the entire house in one of the busiest months of the year isn’t realistic. But we all know the problem areas in our home. Determine what that space is for you and make it happen!
A few categories to consider:
TOYS
CLOTHES
KITCHEN APPLIANCES
TOWELS
ELECTRONICS
PAPER
KITCHEN
If you can get your kids on board with a good toy declutter it could be a good teaching opportunity!
Also, they may be more willing to part with old things if they are anticipating new things.
If you’re having trouble getting started - here’s a blog I wrote earlier this year about decluttering toys.
Quick Toy Declutter Tips:
Choose a time to tackle the project!
Get rid of anything that is broken or has missing pieces. This step alone often removes so much clutter!
Encourage your child to think about things they have that they may not play with as much any more that another child would love to have! Let them help with the donation drop off. Make it a family event!
Spending a little bit of time decluttering BEFORE Christmas will ensure that you have plenty of room to put away the Christmas gifts you receive! Plus decluttering always makes it easier to clean before your Christmas guests arrive. Another perk of a Pre-Christmas declutter is that you may throw something out and realize a replacement of that item would make a great Christmas gift for someone!
The week of Christmas I’ll share a few Christmas Decor Decluttering tips - stay tuned for that!