As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to clear out the old and make room for the
new. Decluttering before January not only feels cathartic but also sets you up for success in the year ahead. With just a little effort, you can step into 2025 with a lighter, more organized home—and a clear mind to match.
Here is a list of items to purge
before the new year, so you can bid farewell to what you won’t miss in 2025.
1. Expired Pantry Items: Take a quick inventory of your pantry. Those expired spices, stale crackers, and long-forgotten canned goods? Let them go. You’ll free up space for fresh ingredients to inspire your cooking in
2025.
2. Outdated Holiday Decor: Are you holding onto tangled lights that don’t work or ornaments you haven’t used in years? Now’s the time to part ways with the holiday clutter. Donate decor in good condition to someone who can use it next year. Store your keepers in clear totes. 3. Old Technology:
Dead batteries, outdated cords, and devices you no longer use are taking up valuable space. Recycle electronics responsibly or donate working items. You’ll feel great ditching the digital debris.
4. Clothes You Didn’t Wear This Year: If it didn’t see the light of day in 2024, chances are it won’t in 2025. Donate, sell,
or recycle clothes that no longer serve you. Bonus points if you also clear out worn-out socks or underwear.
5. Duplicates in the Kitchen: Do you really need three can openers or five spatulas? Declutter those extra utensils and kitchen gadgets. Keep only what you use regularly to simplify your cooking
routine.
6. Magazines and Catalogs: Stacks of old magazines or catalogs tend to pile up and collect dust. Recycle them now and resolve to go digital with your subscriptions next year.
7. Unused Hobby Supplies: Have craft projects or supplies you’ve abandoned? Pass them along to someone who will use them. If you’re not going to knit that scarf or finish that paint-by-number, it’s okay to let it go.
8. Worn-Out Linens: Say goodbye to scratchy towels,
threadbare sheets, and ratty blankets. Donate what’s still usable to animal shelters and toss the rest. You deserve cozy, fresh linens in the new
year. 9. Old Makeup and Toiletries: Cosmetics and skincare products have a shelf life. If it’s expired, smells funny, or you just don’t use it, toss it. Start the new year with a pared-down beauty routine.
10. Unfinished To-Do Lists: If you have lists of tasks you didn’t get to in 2024, it’s time to reassess. Transfer what’s still relevant to a fresh list for 2025 and toss the rest. No need to carry guilt into the new year.
By letting go of these items,
you’re giving yourself the gift of a cleaner, more peaceful home. Remember, decluttering isn’t just about removing things; it’s about making space for what truly matters.
Take a deep breath, tackle one area at a time, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment as
you wrap up the year on an organized note.
