6 Things to Toss During the Holidays

"There is a good chance you are using the maximum potential of your kitchen tools and cutlery during the holidays," says Lily Cameron, a cleaning expert at Fantastic Services. Between big family meals, holiday party hosting, and the special baking projects you do once a year, you'll probably be pulling out all of the kitchen gear that's normally crammed in the back of cabinets or sitting in boxes in the basement.

 

And guess what? That makes this the perfect time to conduct a clear-eyed assessment of what you truly need and what you'll never actually use. If that ebelskiver pan doesn't make it into the rotation when your home is filled with highly caloric cheer, perhaps it's time to admit to yourself that Danish pancake puffs are never going to be part of your life.

 

As you go through each box, drawer, and cabinet looking for your special party tray or table settings for 20, take the time to sort through everything else and create a giveaway pile.

Cookware isn't the only thing you can declutter. "The holidays are also the perfect time to organize your baking supplies and spices," says Cameron. "Check the expiration dates, and throw away everything old and/or unused."

 

This may seem obvious, but once your house is decorated with lights, ornaments, and other such sundry decor, whatever holiday items you own that didn't make the cut—and are still lying sadly in the bottoms of your boxes—should be cut from your life completely.

 

Broken light strand? Toss it. Ornaments that you keep meaning to repair but know deep down you never will? Get rid of them now! Giant blow-up snowman your spouse bought at a deep post-holiday discount that you despise? Donate that thing. Or have a ceremonial burning. After the decorations come down, make sure to sort them neatly into labeled boxes and bins to prevent clutter from collecting again.

 

If you're hosting guests, chances are you'll be using your extra sheets, towels, blankets, and washcloths. Anything you don't need when your house is at maximum hosting capacity is probably not necessary to keep. So get rid of stained or torn bedsheets and towels, ratty blankets, pillows that are past their prime, and any other linen closet clutter you've been ignoring. Old pillows are usually full of gross mites and should go in the trash, but most animal shelters can use donations of old towels and bedsheets, even ones that aren't in great condition.

 

If your family celebrates the holidays by showering the children with gifts, you're probably looking at a strong upsurge in the number of toys in your home this month. Why not take advantage of the impending bounty to get the kids to sort through their stuff and donate anything they don't play with anymore? If they balk, try the rule that for every new toy they receive, they must let go of one to make room.

 

Toys in good condition can be handed down to siblings, cousins, and friends, or donated to Goodwill. You could even host a holiday toy swap. Want to boost the little tykes' excitement levels? Cameron suggests letting them use their creativity to make decorative labels or packaging for the giveaway boxes, so they look more like gifts.

 

Odds are you've recently changed over your closet from warm-weather clothes to items to ward off the cold. Now's the perfect opportunity to do the time-honored closet cull: Get rid of anything from summer you didn't wear in the past year. And really, let's be honest, there's probably some winter stuff you know you can get rid of, too.

 

This time of year, there are always coat drives and other places you can donate clothes in good condition that will help people who need help.

 

You'll be giving yourself the gift of starting the new year with an uncluttered home filled with things you just don't need.