With less than two months to go, the countdown to Christmas has officially begun! But before you start untangling the string lights, consider if you should take this time to declutter first. You read that right; after all, ’tis the season to declutter!
Decluttering before you decorate can make a difference to your state of mind and relive some stress on the big day. I should know; I’ve decluttered most rooms in my home using one method or another, whether it’s the Minimalism Game, Swedish Death Cleaning, or the Ski Slope method. But, where should you start?
Decluttering the whole house isn’t always achievable. That’s why I’ve rounded up seven places to start that will make the most difference.
1. Old wrapping paper snippets
Whenever you’re wrapping a gift, do you save a snippet from the end as you just can’t bring yourself to throw it away? We’ve all done it; you might think it could come in useful for a small gift at some point or maybe crafted into a decoration. But when the time comes to unpack the wrapping paper, all those crumpled scraps tip out, too – scraps you’ve been storing unnecessarily.
Of course, some snippets might be useful – it’s all down to size. Look over the remaining gifts you need to wrap and try to use up the scraps there and then. Then, if the remaining pieces are big enough to be used at some point, try to store them in such a way that they won’t get wrinkled or torn. Shape them to fit around the roll and put an elastic band around the outside to hold them in place. That way, it’ll remind you to use them up next time.
If your snippets have already been battered beyond use, it’s time to declutter. Check if the paper’s recyclable by doing the ‘scrunch test’; if it stays crunched in a ball, it can go in the recycling. This will keep your gift-wrapping station clear for when the time comes.
2. Broken decorations
No one wants to get out the Christmas decorations only to be greeted by shards and broken parts. I still remember the heartbreak one year when I realised that my favourite ceramic sausage dog ornament was missing a paw. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a look at them now to check for any damage beforehand. That way, you have time to make any repairs or buy replacements.
Decorations that are no longer wanted or can’t be repaired, should be recycled, donated or thrown away. Glass baubles aren’t suitable for recycling. Instead, they should go in the general waste bin – if broken, make sure to wrap them first. Plastic baubles and tinsel should go in general waste, too. Natural wreaths can be composted once removed from the base and free from any synthetic decorations or glitter.
While you’re here, it’s a good idea to plug in and check all the bulbs are working on your string lights, too. If one goes out, the other bulbs can burn out more readily, not to mention it creates a potential electrocution and fire hazard. So replace every broken bulb while the lights are switched off, and check they’re in full working order.
Store your delicate decorations in protective containers, padding them out with newspaper or kitchen roll if necessary.
3. Old Christmas cards
I’m terrible for hanging on to old greetings cards; mainly because they have sentimental value and I feel bad about getting rid of them. But if you’re not careful, they’ll soon mount up. I had an entire drawerful at one point, with no idea of what was actually sitting inside.
If you have old Christmas cards, it’s worth sorting through them before new ones arrive. Consider their value as you decide which to keep and which to recycle; did you know you had it beforehand? Is the message inside meaningful? Keep only those that resonate with you the most and you want to display again.
Try not to get lost in memories as you declutter – all too easy when there are photos of family members on the cards. If you struggle to let go of items with sentimental value, it can help to have someone else on hand to give you a third-person perspective. You don’t need to throw away every card but ideally, you don’t want to be left with a drawerful as I had!
4. Unwanted freezer food
We’re already looking up the best Christmas food and drink for 2024. But before you make any decisions, have you considered whether you have the space for it in your freezer?
Many of us have overfilled freezers (one of the bad habits we need to break), which can mean we end up stuffing our Christmas food shop in on top. An overfilled freezer impairs the air circulation, which makes the temperature inconsistent, so it’s a good idea to make room beforehand.
Remove any unidentified items, as well as loose packaging, to make space in your freezer. Label everything that remains with what it is and the date it was frozen, so nothing gets forgotten about. You could designate each drawer for certain food types, such as meat, fruit and veg, desserts etc. Just hold one back, or at least enough space in one, for Christmas food. If you don’t have enough room, keep in mind you’ll need to hold some back as you use up items.
If you plan to put a turkey in the freezer, you might even have to slide out a drawer or two. Again, make preparations in advance to save stress when the food arrives.
5. Old cookware
Last Christmas, I ended up marching to Tesco on Christmas eve to pick up some fresh baking trays. Our trays had become discoloured and scorched with use and I didn’t want our guests to see that as we carved up the turkey. There are ways to clean a dirty roasting tin, but these trays had served their time, and cleaning them could only get me so far.
It’s worth looking over the cookware you’re planning to use before the big day to make sure everything is clean and up to scratch (and you have enough). This also gives you a chance to check they’re big enough for what you need. Consider what you’re planning to cook and whether your oven space will be adequate – it often gets overcrowded on the day! You can always use the microwave and air fryer if you have one.
Cookware may be recyclable, depending on where you live and your local recycling points. Recyclenow.co.uk has guidance on recycling saucepans.
6. Old toys
If you’re buying presents for children that usually means there will be a few new toys under the tree. Unless you want these to become a tripping hazard once unwrapped, it’s a good idea to make space now. Declutter old toys that are no longer used. Soft toys that are in good condition can be washed in the washing machine and donated to charity.
It can be difficult to sort through toys that hold memories, but just consider when they were last used and whether another child might value them more. Charity shops will accept all kinds of toys if they’re in working order and they’re highly sought after at this time of year.
7. Storage in guest rooms
Lastly, if you want your guests to rate you for their stay, take the time to prepare their room. This means more than cleaning it. Consider whether they have a spare shelf to unpack their items on, a couple of hangers on the rail, and maybe a fluffy towel for each person at the end of the bed.
My mum popped a travel kettle in her spare room and it was a brilliant addition. Guests loved that they could make a cuppa first thing in the morning without venturing downstairs. This made the room feel more like somewhere guests could retreat comfortably if they wanted some me-time.
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