5 Quick & Easy Fall Decluttering Tips

Fall is a great time to declutter a few key areas in your home. Considering how much time we’ll be staying inside, now that the weather has turned, it makes good sense to invest a little time to clear out the things that no longer serve you.

Here are five quick and easy fall decluttering tips that will help you simplify your space before winter sets in and the hectic holiday season begins.

1. Declutter Your Summer Clothes

Right after a season has ended is a great time to edit items.

Go through all your summer clothing (yes, this includes bathing suits) and get rid of the items that were not worn in the last 12 months or that will no longer fit your children next summer. Ask yourself if you will wear an item again next summer. If you feel you won’t wear something again, donate or sell it.

2. Clear Out Your Coat Closet and Footwear

Time to put away your summer jackets to make room for cozy coats!

Go through your summer jackets and donate anything that hasn't been worn in a while or that will not fit next year. If you have a limited amount of space in your closet then putting your seasonal clothing in an bin, stored in the garage or under the bed might be a good solution. Make sure to label it!

Take inventory of summer shoes like flip-flops, water shoes and sandals– if they’re trashed, toss them. Outgrown? Donate. For the ones you’re keeping, wash and dry them well before storing them for next summer.

Gather all your fall/winter attire together and sort into piles:

• coats & jackets

• scarves

• gloves/mittens

• hats

• boots & other footwear

• snow gear

Ensure all your winter wear still fits and is in good condition. If anything needs repair, now is a good time to handle that. Donate any items that are outgrown or no longer needed. Someone will be grateful you did!

Store heavy coats on wooden hangers and put gloves and other accessories in bins on an overhead shelf.

3. Declutter Toys & Games

Encourage your kids to get involved in decluttering their toys and games. If your kids are small, try asking them to get rid of toys that are "babyish".

Another strategy that yields good results is giving them a donation box to fill and putting a dollar value on the box. Kids usually love extra cash. If the items are of value then perhaps they can sell them on Marketplace and keep the proceeds or a portion of the proceeds.

If your children aren't motivated by money then perhaps a trip to the toy aisle to pick out a new toy will motivate them to help out. Just be sure to set a price limit beforehand.

4. Clean Out the Fridge & Pantry

Like it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner. During the holiday season, I think we can agree that the kitchen is the very heart of our homes. Christmas is typically about friends and family sharing food while spending quality time together.

Decluttering a few key areas will help to make room for the items you want to stock up on during the holidays.

• Show your fridge some love by discarding expired items, tossing the science experiments and getting rid of things that you simply won't use. Give surfaces a good wipe down.

• Edit your pantry and donate food that’s not yet expired but you likely won’t eat in the near future. Food banks will greatly appreciate your donation during this time of the year.

• Set aside expired food, and if you need to replace it put it on your grocery list. Check with your local food bank about donations of items that are past the best before date. Many items are still acceptable.

• Arrange what’s remaining by zones—baking supplies, snacks, breakfast, quick meals, and more.

5. Declutter & Organize the Garage

Get your garage organized so you can park your car inside before the snow flies!

• Any big toys the kids have outgrown should be cleared out in the fall, before the holidays. It’s the perfect time to donate them, plus you don’t need to store them all winter if the kids will never use them again. Also, there's a good chance there will be some new additions at Christmas.

• Hang your bikes up on the ceiling or walls.

• This is a great time of year to go through your gardening and landscaping tools. Clean up or repair your garden supplies so they’ll be ready for you in the spring. Are any broken and need to be replaced for next year? If they’re still in good condition but you just don't need them anymore, donate them to Habitat for Humanity.

• Don't forget to keep your shovels handy!

The best part is you can tackle all 5 of these areas in one weekend. After they’re decluttered, it will feel amazing to have a calmer, cleaner, tidier space. You'll be glad you got a head start on prepping for the hectic holiday season!