Declutter Before Christmas: 17 Things to Toss Now So the Holidays Feel Lighter

Declutter before Christmas, and the whole season feels lighter. It is the advice popping up everywhere this month, with more than eight different decluttering stories filling one big home feed between October 5 and October 24. It makes sense. In a few weeks the decorations come down from the attic, gifts start arriving and guests will be at the door. If the closets and drawers are already full, all of that turns into stress. The good news is that you do not need a whole weekend. Toss a few things each day, and use simple crafts to give the best pieces a second life. Here are 17 things to clear out now, room by room, so you can enjoy December..

Declutter Before Christmas Starts With Broken Light Strings

Start where the holidays start: the decoration bins. Test every string of lights now, before the tree goes up. Any string that is dead, flickering or has frayed wires should go. Many towns and hardware shops collect old lights for recycling, so they do not end up in the trash. Then coil the good strings around pieces of cardboard so they never tangle again. Set up a donate basket and a toss box right next to your holiday storage, and the rest of this list gets easier. Which bin will you open first..

You will need: A toss box, a donate basket, pieces of stiff cardboard and some tape.

How to make it: 1. Plug in each light string and check it, setting aside any that do not work. 2. Take broken strings to a light recycling drop off. 3. Wrap good strings around cardboard and tape the ends.

Declutter Before Christmas: Chipped and Broken Ornaments

Broken glass ornaments are sharp and sad to look at. Wear gloves, wrap the broken ones in newspaper and toss them safely. Before you do, save the metal caps. They are perfect for crafts, like topping little clay ornaments or making tiny bells. Keep only ornaments you love and that still look good. Fewer ornaments make every one on the tree feel more special. Which ornament box is overdue for a sort?

You will need: Gloves, old newspaper, a small jar for caps and your ornament boxes.

How to make it: 1. Put on gloves and sort ornaments into keep and broken piles. 2. Remove the metal caps and save them in a jar. 3. Wrap broken glass in newspaper before tossing it.

Torn Gift Bags and Crumpled Tissue

Most of us save gift bags, but many end up torn, creased or stained. Keep only the ones that still look good enough to give. Smooth and fold the good tissue, and recycle the rest. Small scraps of pretty paper can become gift tags or confetti. A neat stack of ready to use bags makes wrapping day so much faster. How many gift bags are hiding in your closet right now?

You will need: A flat box or folder for good bags and tissue, plus a recycling bag.

How to make it: 1. Pull out every gift bag and sheet of tissue. 2. Recycle anything torn, stained or badly creased. 3. Fold the good ones flat and store them in one box.

Declutter Before Christmas in the Kitchen: Duplicate Gadgets

Two whisks, three peelers and a drawer that will not shut? Clear out duplicates before the holiday baking starts. Keep the one you actually reach for and donate the rest. A clear kitchen drawer makes cooking for a crowd so much calmer. Someone setting up a first home will be glad to get them. Which gadget do you have far too many of?

You will need: A donation box and a few drawer dividers.

How to make it: 1. Empty the gadget drawer onto the counter. 2. Keep your favorite of each and box up the extras. 3. Put the keepers back with dividers so they stay neat.

Old Spices, Then Pretty Up the Keepers

Spices lose their flavor over time, so holiday baking is the perfect reason to check them. Toss any that smell faint or look faded. Then give the keepers a decoupage makeover by wrapping each jar in a strip of pretty paper, sealed with decoupage glue. Suddenly the spice shelf looks like a little shop. It is a cheerful project for a rainy afternoon. Which paper would you use on your jars?

You will need: Your spice jars, decorative paper, scissors, decoupage glue and a soft brush.

How to make it: 1. Sniff each spice and toss any that have lost their smell. 2. Cut paper strips to fit around each jar. 3. Brush on decoupage glue, wrap the strip around and seal the top with one more coat.

Mismatched Food Storage Containers

Containers with no lids and lids with no containers take up so much room. Match every lid to a base and recycle the leftovers. Keep a set that stacks, so the cupboard stays tidy. This is a quick job that makes a big difference, especially with holiday leftovers coming soon. It is one of the most satisfying ways to declutter before Christmas. How many lonely lids will you find?

You will need: A clear counter and a recycling bag.

How to make it: 1. Pull out every container and lid. 2. Match each lid to a base and recycle anything without a partner. 3. Stack the sets by size and store lids standing up in a bin.

Old Holiday Cards Become Gift Tags

Boxes of old holiday cards are hard to throw away. Keep five favorites in a keepsake box, then turn the rest into gift tags. Cut out the prettiest parts of the fronts, punch a hole and add a string. You will have a stack of free tags for this year’s gifts. The rest of the cards can go in the recycling. Which card design would make the cutest tag?

You will need: Old holiday cards, scissors, a hole punch and red string or twine.

How to make it: 1. Cut tag shapes from the card fronts. 2. Punch a hole at the top of each one. 3. Loop a short piece of string through the hole.

Declutter Before Christmas: Outgrown Boots and Coats

Kids grow fast, and last winter’s boots and coats probably do not fit. Try everything on now, before the first cold snap. Wash the outgrown pieces and donate them while they can still keep another child warm this season. Many schools and community groups run coat drives in November. It is a kind way to declutter before Christmas and help a neighbor. Who in your family has grown the most this year?

You will need: A donation box, a washing machine and a free half hour to try things on.

How to make it: 1. Gather every coat, boot, hat and glove. 2. Have each person try them on and set aside what does not fit. 3. Wash the outgrown pieces and drop them at a coat drive.

Faded Throw Pillows Get New Covers

Flat, faded throw pillows make a room look tired. If the inserts are still fluffy, keep them and give them a fresh holiday cover in red plaid or cream. If they are lumpy and flat, let them go. A no sew envelope cover can be made from a piece of fabric in about fifteen minutes. New covers make the whole sofa feel festive. Which pillows in your home need a refresh?

You will need: Fabric, scissors, a measuring tape and fabric glue or iron on hem tape.

How to make it: 1. Measure the pillow and cut a long rectangle of fabric. 2. Hem the short ends with fabric glue or hem tape. 3. Fold it around the pillow so the ends overlap at the back and glue the sides.

Junk Mail and Old Takeout Menus

Piles of mail and old menus quietly take over counters. Recycle the takeout menus, since most restaurants have their menus online anyway. Shred anything with your name or address, and recycle the rest. Then set up a small tray for the mail that matters. With holiday cards on the way, you will want that counter clear. How tall is your mail pile right now?

You will need: A recycling bin, a shredder or scissors, and one small tray for incoming mail.

How to make it: 1. Sort the pile into recycle, shred and keep. 2. Shred anything with personal details. 3. Put the keep pile in a tray and check it once a week.

Dried Out Markers and Glue Sticks

Holiday crafts are coming, and nothing ruins the fun like a bin of dried out markers. Test every marker on scrap paper and toss the dead ones. Check glue sticks and paint too. Keep the good supplies in clear jars so the kids can see what they have. A tidy craft bin makes it easy to sit down and make something together. What will you craft first this December?

You will need: Scrap paper, a few clear jars and a trash bag.

How to make it: 1. Test every marker, pen and glue stick. 2. Toss the dried out ones. 3. Sort the good ones into jars by type.

Odd Vases and Glass Holders Get a New Job

Most homes collect odd vases and glass holders over the years. Keep a few of the prettiest and donate the rest. The keepers can get a new job: fill them with warm white battery LED fairy lights for a soft glow on a shelf, or use them as pen and brush cups. It is a simple way to declutter before Christmas and add holiday sparkle at the same time. Which glass pieces would you keep?

You will need: Your best glass vases or holders, battery LED fairy lights and a donation box.

How to make it: 1. Gather every vase and glass holder in one spot. 2. Keep your favorites and box up the rest to donate. 3. Fill the keepers with LED fairy lights or use them to hold pens.

Declutter Before Christmas: Worn Towels

Guests will notice thin, faded towels in the bathroom. Pull out any that are frayed or scratchy and turn them into cleaning rags or donate them to an animal shelter, where old towels are often welcome. Keep a fresh stack of your best towels ready for visitors. It instantly makes the guest bathroom feel cared for. How many towels do you really need?

You will need: Scissors and a basket for rags.

How to make it: 1. Pull every towel out of the closet. 2. Set aside the thin and frayed ones. 3. Cut them into rags or bag them for an animal shelter.

Old Phone Chargers and Mystery Cables

Almost every junk drawer hides a tangle of old chargers and cables for phones you no longer own. Test them, keep the ones you still use and label them with a strip of tape. Take the rest to an electronics recycling drop off, never the trash. A small drawer organizer keeps the keepers neat. It is a quick win before the holidays bring new gadgets. How many mystery cables will you find?

You will need: Masking tape, a marker, twist ties and a small drawer organizer.

How to make it: 1. Untangle every cable and test it. 2. Recycle any you no longer need at an electronics drop off. 3. Coil the keepers with twist ties and label them.

Leftover Party Plates and Napkins

Paper plates and napkins from old birthday themes take up a lot of shelf space. Use the plain ones for holiday snacks, and donate sealed packs to a school or daycare for their parties. Toss anything faded or crushed. Keep one small bin of party supplies, and when it is full, stop buying more. It is a small way to declutter before Christmas that frees a whole shelf. What theme is still lurking in your cupboard?

You will need: A small bin for party supplies and a donation bag.

How to make it: 1. Pull out all the party plates, cups and napkins. 2. Keep plain colors and donate sealed themed packs. 3. Store what is left in one bin.

Single Socks Become Sock Animals

Every home has a basket of lonely socks waiting for partners that never come back. Give them a week, then turn the cutest ones into soft sock animals. A striped cat or a spotted bunny makes a sweet stocking stuffer. Stuff them with old fabric scraps and add button or stitched eyes. The rest can go in a textile recycling bag. Which sock would make the best animal?

You will need: Single socks, stuffing or fabric scraps, a needle and thread, and buttons or embroidery thread.

How to make it: 1. Stuff the foot of the sock to make the body. 2. Tie or stitch the top closed and shape ears from the cuff. 3. Stitch on eyes and a little nose.

Declutter Before Christmas: Frame Old Board Games

Board games with missing pieces never get played, but the boards are often beautiful. Keep the board and frame it as fun wall art for a game room or kids room. Recycle the box and leftover bits, or save tokens for craft projects. It is a happy way to finish your plan to declutter before Christmas. For more ways to save money and space, read our list of things to stop buying, and this piece on why we struggle to declutter our closets. Which game board would you hang on the wall?

You will need: A game board, a large frame or two wall hooks and a tape measure.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the board clean. 2. Fit it into a frame or attach hooks to the back. 3. Hang it at eye level as wall art.