8 Clutter Culprits You Should Toss Before Winter, According to a Pro Organizer

As winter approaches, dig out your outerwear and winter gear and spend a few moments examining each item to decide if it’s worth keeping. Make sure coats and boots still fit, especially for kids who grow quickly each year. Check wool items like hats and scarves, and that mittens and gloves are in pairs. Donate unwanted or outgrown items to a local charity or find a coat drive, like One Warm Coat.

Once you've decided what to keep, ensure everything is clean and well-organized in your closet. You'll want everything ready and accessible for the first chilly day.

As you organize your winter bedding, take a close look at your sheets and blankets. If you expect holiday guests, make sure all linens are fresh and in good condition. Sort and neatly fold each sheet set, organizing them by type. Evaluate the condition of your towels, replacing any that are worn out. Keep your guest towels separate from the daily household towels so they have less wear and tear.

Gather all the blankets, comforters, and pillows scattered throughout your home. Decide how many you truly need and keep only the ones you love. Animal shelters often welcome linen donations, so check with local shelters before discarding any items.

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While organizing your bathroom, take some time to sort through your makeup. Just like medicine, beauty products have a shelf life, even though it may not always be marked with an expiration date. Look for indicators of how long the product is usable. If in doubt, check the smell or appearance—if it seems off, it’s best to toss it.

Consider donating unopened items to local shelters. Organizations like Dress for Success and Project Beauty Share accept certain beauty products for those in need.

Even if you recently organized your pantry for fall, reassess as winter approaches so that you’re prepared for festive baking and gatherings. Check expiration dates on key baking ingredients, spices, and canned goods, especially those that have been in your pantry for a while. Restock staples like flour and sugar for seasonal baking, and gather supplies for recipes like hearty winter chili.

Remember to donate any surplus non-perishable items within their "best if used by" date to your local food bank.

Have you left that oversized inflatable pumpkin in storage for several years? It might be time to let it go. As you organize your fall decor, set aside any items you haven't used recently or that are broken. Local thrift stores accept gently used decorations.

In this decluttering session—or additional ones if needed—sort through your Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's decorations and party supplies as well. Clearing unused items keeps your holiday storage tidy and ensures you only keep what you love and use.

If you store gift wrap with your seasonal decorations, decluttering becomes a breeze. Gather all your wrapping papers, tissue papers, bags, boxes, and tags. Discard anything damaged or overly used. This helps you know the inventory you have left and what supplies need to be purchased for the upcoming season.

Consider sorting through last year’s holiday cards. Keep those with sentimental value, and recycle the rest to make room for this year’s cards.