things to declutter in January
This list of things to declutter in January will help you create space, streamline your rooms, and remove a bit of chaos from your days.
How to declutter every room in your home one month and one item at a time.
Be sure to grab your free January Decluttering Checklist below!
January is one of those crazy months. The holidays are over, but people are still visiting and going out, goals are being set, and hibernation is still a thing.
The days have slowed down, bringing the craziness of the holidays to the surface, and if your home is anything like mine…things are a mess! Luckily most of the stuff that is lying out are things that need to be put away. Here are a few examples:
- Trash and recyclables – In the bin.
- Dirty laundry – in the hamper.
- Dishes – in the sink.
- Toys – in the playroom.
- Shoes – in the mudroom.
Looking for things that belong in another room is a great way to jump-start this decluttering project.
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Things to Declutter in January
The holidays are winding down and that means you may have more things than normal lying out. let’s tackle that first.
Seasonal Items to Declutter
Not everyone likes to take the tree down on January first, but you can start to slowly pack away a few things each day to make the bigger job easier to tackle. Set a goal of packing up 3-5 holiday decorations each day.
- Anything that is broken or damaged beyond repair. Don’t think, just toss.
- Any chipped or broken shovels.
- Extra snow brushes.
- Extra serving platters or dishes.
- Gloves with no match.
- Seasonal decor you never put out.
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The Kitchen
January is a good time to take a good look at what you have in your kitchen. As you bring in new gifts from the holidays, be sure to remove the old.
- Bakeware or cookware you never use.
- Holiday napkins.
- Stained or melted food storage containers.
- Stained place mats.
- Non sentimental magnets.
The Family Room
Having a cozy clutter free area to hang out as a family will help make January a month of fun!
- Tangled cords – use organizers and labels to keep things neater.
- Chipped or cracked DVDs.
- Excess pillows.
- Puzzles with missing pieces.
The Office
This is good month to reset your office area and start to prep for tax season.
- Unused subscriptions or phone apps.
- Partially used pads of paper.
- Out of date calendars.
- Expired gift cards.
- Expired coupons.
- Receipts not needed for returns or taxes.
The Master Bedroom
Be selfish with what you keep in the space you sleep in. Clutter is noise and our goal is to help you remove as much as you can for a better nights reset.
- Plastic or fake plants.
- Magazines or books.
- Knick Knacks
The Master Closet
Less is more with your clothes, and no matter how much you have in your closet, work to remove a chunk this much and free up more storage space.
- Any socks with holes.
- Undergarments that are stretched out or torn.
- Damaged shoe boxes.
The Bathroom
Empty bottles have no room in a bathroom, set a new habit of tossing things as soon as they are finished.
- Expired makeup or hair care products.
- Perfume you hate the smell of.
Remaining Bedrooms
Help your family see the joy a clutter free room can bring!
- Games with missing pieces.
- Toys that are not played with.
The Extras
Let’s not forget a few of the extra areas in your home that may have more stuff than is needed.
- Scraps of wrapping paper.
- Cards with sayings you don’t like.
- Torn gift bags.
- Warranties or owner manuals for things you no longer own.
Having a list of things to declutter in January can help put the easy back into cleaning out and organizing your home. Be sure to grab your free checklist and work on a few items each day.
By the end you will have less stuff, more space, and a home that is getting closer to one you love to be in.
More Monthly Decluttering Checklists:
I love your helpful declutter tips and I use them, but I am 82 and as a senior I have clutter beyond clutter and I clean out stuff and then sometimes declutter with paper. It is just old habits I have that I can’t seem to shed. Is there anything different that older people should be doing to declutter. It is overwhelming and so hard to let go of somethings that are sentimental but no longer useful or enjoyed.
Hello, Linda!
This is a great question and I totally understand how letting go at a more seasoned age can be scary. You worked hard for those memories and you deserve to keep them. But here’s the thing. Are you keeping things becuase of the memory that is attached to it? Or are the things you treasure hiding under junk mail, too many dishes and cups? If you can let go of the things that are an overabundance, you can free up space to “see” the things that remind you of a joyful memory.
Gradual decluttering will help you to get rid of things at a pace that is easier. Here’s how it works. Each day make a goal to remove 5 things from each main room in your home. This can be trash, excess items, or recyclables. The main rooms would be the kitchen, family room, bedroom, and the bathroom. If you can do this for just one month, you will remove 150 items from EACH of those rooms. Put a box labeled “LEAVE” into each of those rooms where you will see it. Every time you see that container, find at least one item to put inside. As you fill a container, put it into your car or in a place where you can have someone take it to the donation center for you.
I hope you find this easy tip helpful, because it really does work!
All the best,
Tracy Lynn