As the seasons change, so do our habits and lifestyles. It’s a time to switch out your wardrobe, alter your skincare routine, and adjust your home to match the new season’s vibe. But it also makes for an excellent opportunity to declutter your life and environment, creating a fresh, organized space to welcome the new season.
Today we’ll guide you through 15 comprehensive decluttering tasks to refresh your surroundings and prepare you for the upcoming season.
1. Swap Out Seasonal Wardrobe
One of the biggest tasks when transitioning between seasons is switching out your wardrobe. This is an excellent opportunity to declutter your closet. Remove and store away out-of-season clothing, but before you do, take a moment to consider what you’ve actually worn. Anything that didn’t see the light of day during the season just passed might be ready to be donated or sold.
When bringing in the new season’s wardrobe, apply the same scrutiny. If there are items you’re not excited to wear or that don’t fit well anymore, it might be time to let them go. This process ensures your closet only contains items you love and will wear, making outfit selection a breeze.
2. Clear Out the Pantry
Next on the list is the pantry. Over time, it’s easy for expired items, unused ingredients, and clutter to build up here. Start by removing everything from the shelves. This allows you to wipe down the shelves and provides a blank canvas to work with.
As you return items to the pantry, check the expiry dates and consider whether or not you’ll use the ingredient. Anything expired or unlikely to be used can be composted or responsibly discarded. Organize the remaining items in a way that makes sense to you, perhaps grouping similar items together or arranging by frequency of use. A clean, organized pantry makes meal preparation more efficient and enjoyable.
3. Deep Clean Appliances
Seasonal transitions are a great reminder to deep clean your appliances. Over time, appliances like your oven, dishwasher, and washing machine can build up grime and residue, reducing their efficiency and lifespan.
Set aside some time to run cleaning cycles on these appliances, or manually clean them if necessary. This might involve some elbow grease, but the results will be worth it. You’ll likely notice your appliances running more smoothly and efficiently, which can also save you money on energy bills.
4. Update Your Decor
Refreshing your home decor is a fun way to welcome a new season. This doesn’t have to involve major changes or expenses. Simply switching out some throw pillows, changing your table centerpiece, or updating your wall art can make a big difference.
As you bring in new decor, consider whether the items being replaced still have a place in your home. If not, donating or selling them can help declutter your space. This keeps your home feeling fresh and prevents unnecessary decor items from building up over time.
5. Organize Your Files
Whether it’s physical paperwork or digital files, staying on top of your documents is essential. Yet, it’s an area that’s easy to let slide. Use the changing season as a reminder to sort through your files.
Discard or shred any paperwork you no longer need, and make sure everything else is organized and easy to find. For digital files, delete anything unnecessary and consider organizing your documents into folders. Backing up important files is also a good idea. This task can help reduce stress and improve productivity.
6. Clean Out Your Car
If you have a car, it’s likely it could use a good decluttering. It’s easy for items to accumulate here, from forgotten jackets to old receipts and empty water bottles. Start by removing everything that doesn’t belong in your car.
Once you’ve decluttered, give your car a good clean, both inside and out. This doesn’t just help your car look better, it can also improve your driving experience and help maintain the value of the vehicle. Plus, it’s always nice to start a new season with a clean, organized car.
7. Purge Your Toiletries
Bathrooms often become a hotspot for clutter, especially when it comes to toiletries. It’s easy to accumulate more products than we need, or hold onto items long past their expiration date. Remove everything from your bathroom shelves and drawers, and sort through it.
Discard any expired products, and consider whether you really need and use everything else. Anything you don’t need can be donated (if unused and unexpired), given to a friend, or responsibly discarded. Reorganize the remaining items, keeping your most-used products easily accessible.
8. Sort Your Bookshelves
Whether you’re an avid reader or simply enjoy having books around, it’s important to keep your bookshelves organized. Over time, it’s easy for books to accumulate, especially with the ease of online ordering.
Start by removing all books from the shelves. As you return them, consider whether each book is one you plan to read or reread. If not, it might be time to pass it on to a friend, donate it, or sell it. This ensures your bookshelves stay organized and filled only with books you love.
9. Declutter Your Workspace
Whether you work from home or in an office, a clutter-free workspace can greatly improve productivity and reduce stress. Start by removing everything from your desk, then clean and disinfect the surface.
As you return items to your desk, consider whether each one is necessary and contributes to a productive work environment. Anything that doesn’t should be relocated or discarded. Try to keep your desk as minimalist as possible, with only the essentials within reach.
10. Clean Your Outdoor Spaces
If you have a yard, patio, or balcony, the change of season is a great time to clean and declutter these spaces. Start by removing everything, allowing you to sweep or hose down the area.
As you return items, consider whether each one is in good condition and whether you use it regularly. Anything that doesn’t meet these criteria might be ready to be donated, sold, or discarded. This helps keep your outdoor spaces tidy and inviting.
11. Organize Your Digital Space
Just like physical spaces, digital spaces can become cluttered and disorganized. This includes your email inbox, desktop, and smartphone. Start by deleting any unnecessary files, apps, and emails.
Next, organize the remaining items into folders or categories. Try to keep your desktop and smartphone home screen as clean as possible, with only the most-used apps and files readily available. This can make a big difference in your digital productivity and stress levels.
12. Refresh Your Bedding
Changing seasons often call for different bedding. This is a great time to wash or dry clean your comforters, blankets, and pillows. While you’re at it, consider whether it’s time to replace any of these items.
If your bedding is showing signs of wear or isn’t as comfortable as it once was, it might be time for an upgrade. A comfortable, clean bed can greatly improve your sleep quality, making this an important decluttering task.
13. Purge Your Makeup
Just like toiletries, makeup can quickly accumulate and become cluttered. It’s also important to note that makeup has an expiration date, and using expired products can lead to skin irritations or infections.
Throw away any makeup that is expired or that you don’t use. Clean your makeup brushes and storage area, and then reorganize your remaining products. This not only declutters your makeup collection but also helps ensure you’re using safe, effective products.
14. Declutter Your Hobby Supplies
Whether you love to knit, paint, garden, or bake, hobby supplies can quickly take over your space. Start by sorting through your supplies, discarding any items that are broken, used up, or no longer needed.
Then, organize the remaining items, ensuring everything has a place and is easy to find. This can make your hobby more enjoyable and prevent your supplies from becoming clutter.
15. Tidy Up Your Entrance
Last but not least, declutter your entrance area. This is the first space you see when you come home, and keeping it clean and organized can set a positive tone for the rest of your home.
Remove any items that don’t belong, such as shoes that aren’t regularly worn, outdated seasonal items, or mail that needs to be filed away. Then, clean the area and reorganize the necessary items in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way.
Decluttering can feel like a daunting task, but breaking it down into manageable tasks makes it easier. As you work through these tasks, you’ll likely find your space feels more organized, clean, and ready for the new season. Happy decluttering!