Top 10+ things to throw out ASAP in December, according to professional organizers
1) Broken Holiday Decorations
When it comes to decluttering your home in the month of December, broken holiday decorations and ornaments are a great place to start, according to Parks. "If they can't be used to decorate or hang on your tree, they're only taking up storage space in your holiday bins,” the expert says.
3) Old Food In the Fridge and Freezer
And while you're tossing expired food from the pantry, organizers recommend tackling old food in the fridge and freezer, too. “If it hasn't been touched in months or you have unlabeled mystery containers and Ziplocs that have been sitting in the freezer for a while, it's best to toss them," says Parks.
Organizers say a decluttered fridge and freezer is the best starting point for the season's culinary festivities. “It’s so much easier to stock and cook from a refrigerator or freezer that contains fewer items; It also gives us an idea of what we will need to purchase and space to freeze leftovers,” says Orr.
6) Defective Holiday Lights
“When we make a conscious decision not to use decor one year, most likely we won’t use it again; The same is true of holiday lights that no longer work," says Orr. Test all holiday lights before putting them up and toss ones that don't work — you'll save both storage space and the hassle of having to replace broken lights next year.
7) Toys the Kids Have Outgrown
“Go through your child’s toys to get rid of ones they’ve either outgrown or are broken,” says Orr. She shares that most of the time, toys that are outgrown are still in great shape and can be donated instead of thrown in the trash.
“Donations around the holidays are always in demand and tasking yourself to go through and edit out toys, games, sports paraphernalia, and clothes at this time is a 'feel good' and needed project,” says Brock.
9) Empty Boxes
If you have empty shoe boxes, gift boxes, or hat boxes you've been holding onto—because you never know when they'll come in handy—this month is the time to get rid of them. “Purge them out of your closet to either a different storage place or toss,” says Brock.
