Declutter These Items Before Fall

When it comes to home organization, spring cleaning usually gets all the attention. But fall is another key time of the year when you should make decluttering a priority, helping to prepare your home for the upcoming holidays and setting the stage for a cozy and comfortable winter.

Where to begin? The home experts and Better Homes & Gardens recommend tidying up these key areas this fall:

The freezer and pantry.

With holiday entertaining on the horizon, start by getting rid of expired or past-their-prime foods in your pantry and freezer. Once you've cleared out the old items, sort the remaining products by putting those with the shortest expiration date up front. In your freezer, consider sorting items by zones, placing meats in one area, desserts in another, fruits and vegetables in yet another. Completing these organization tasks now will help make holiday meal prep a breeze.

The kids' rooms. 

Now that the kids are back to school and sports, take the opportunity to declutter their rooms while they're out of the house. Get rid of any remaining school supplies or paperwork from last year, box up sports equipment and uniforms they've outgrown, trash dried-up pens and markers and toss broken toys. Taking on this task will help create space for the onslaught of books, projects and paraphernalia that is sure to accompany the current school season.

The medicine cabinet. 

Fall is also an excellent time to sort through toiletries and personal care items. Clean out medicine cabinets and vanity drawers, getting rid of old or unused make-up products, expired medicines and outdated sunscreens. This will help you make room for personal-care products you'll want most in winter, from soothing lotions to cold remedies. 

Your closets. 

Transitioning from summer to fall is so much easier when your cool-weather wardrobe and accessories are readily available. Take the time to move summer dresses and slacks, swimwear and sandals to the back of the closet, and be sure to donate anything that no longer fits or interests you. Utilize under-bed containers for storing summer items so that there's plenty of room for your wool sweaters, jackets and fall boots

Your mudroom or entryway.

During summer, the primary entryway to your home—whether it be a mudroom or area by the front door, often becomes laden with flip flops, outdoor toys, beach chairs and bottles of bug spray and sunscreen. Now is the time to discard and/or tuck these items away for next summer in order to make room for the trappings that accompany fall, such as rainboots and umbrellas, fleece jackets, sweatshirts and scarves.

This seasonal decluttering project will allow you to better enjoy fall, knowing that your home is ready to support your cool-weather lifestyle and welcome friends and family into your home for seasonal festivities. 
 

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2025. All rights reserved.

 

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