It seems only moments ago that we were dealing with relentless heatwaves. But now the temperature has taken a dive and suddenly Christmas is around the corner (how did that happen?!). This is an anxious time if you’re planning to host – there’s clutter everywhere you look and you don’t know where to start.
Before you let yourself be overwhelmed, we’ve rounded up 7 things you can declutter in November. Each of these take moments to toss and can free up some much-needed space in time for the holidays. Here’s where to begin.
Decor you’re not bothered with
Everything on your shelves should serve a purpose, whether it’s to add to the decoration or bring back memories. Some items will have a practical purpose, too, like catchalls and mail organisers. Take a moment to comb through what’s on your shelves and decide what still has meaning. If there are items you’re keeping that inspire no emotion and have no value, it’s time for them to go.
This is a speedy way to clear shelves that are especially cluttered. Glass ornaments, empty vases and dusty frames are often removed. Such items are hunted for in charity shops because they add character to a home. If you’re finished with them, someone else will value them more!
Old Christmas cards
Now’s a good time to go through last year’s Christmas cards, as you can repurpose last year's ones as gift tags.
Simply cut the picture from the card into tags to attach to this year’s presents (make sure there is no writing on the other side). Any messages that are sentimental and you want to keep are better off framed so you won’t lose or damage them. Make a habit of decluttering your greetings cards every year, so they don’t pile up and take hours to sort through.
Burnt-out bakeware
You’d rather not serve up the turkey in a roasting tin that’s singed, so take the time now to declutter such bakeware. If you’re dealing with pots, pans and tins that are just dirty and could use a thorough clean, you can half-fill it with water (or to just above the residue), then bring it to a simmer and toss in a dishwasher tablet. Let it simmer for 10 minutes before switching off, leaving to cool and rinsing.
Any bakeware that’s heavily scratched, flaking or showing visible damage is unsafe to cook in, so it should be discarded immediately. You can’t recycle such items at home, but these can often be taken to a local recycling point.
Guest hot spots
If you’re wary about what guests will think, you can focus your attention on guest hot spots. These are the area your guests will notice and visit the most. So, start with the coat and shoe rack, making sure what’s stored here is worn everyday. On the day guests are due to arrive, you’ll want to clear an extra couple of spots, too.
Then, move on to the guest bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom should have a space cleared in the wardrobe (with a couple of empty hangers at the ready), while the bathroom cabinets will need sifting through. Remove any items that are half-finished and have been forgotten about, and look out for unwanted gifts that have been abandoned here (you don't want guests stumbling upon these!). It might sound a little too early to start decluttering for Christmas, but clearing guest hot spots takes time and makes you feel prepped ahead of the big day.
Bulky furniture
Furniture takes up a huge amount of space, so each item should serve a purpose, just like the items sitting on your shelves. If not, it’s become an obstruction, blocking the air circulation around the room.
Take 5 minutes to evaluate every item of furniture in your home, asking yourself when you last used it and what purpose it’s serving. If you can’t answer either, it’s good to go.
You can sell unwanted furniture online or (if you’re keen to get rid of it) offer it for free on collection. Some charity shops also offer free home collections, too. If you’re keen to keep your furniture, but you want to refresh it, there’s always the option of customising it yourself; you could give it a fresh coat of paint or update the handles for a new look.
Forgotten gift vouchers
You’re not clearing a huge space by finding and decluttering old gift vouchers, but it’s a good idea to do this now or they may expire by Christmas!
We are often gifted vouchers at Christmas that have a limited number of years to use. The trouble is that they often end up buried in a drawer somewhere, never to be seen again. Have a rummage through your bedside cabinet and see if you have any that are about to run out. You can sometimes activate them to extend the expiration date or you can just try to use them before you lose them. At the very least, they can come in use for buying extra presents at Christmas!
Anything with a tag
Have a quick scan of your wardrobe and see if there are any items with the tags still on. These are prime candidates to declutter because, for one reason or another, they’ve not been worn.
If you’re reluctant to let go, ask yourself why you haven’t worn it: is the fit wrong, are you not sure about the look, did you even know you had it? Whatever the reason, someone else might get more value from it, and you’d get more space in your wardrobe in return.
Such things can either be donated to charity, or you can sell them online in time for Christmas.
Wardrobe declutter kit
