The Ultimate Christmas Declutter Checklist: What to Toss Before the Holidays Begin

There’s something about the holiday season that makes us want our homes to feel extra cozy, magical, and put-together. But let’s be honest — all that holiday cheer can feel like chaos when your house is stuffed with things you don’t need.

Before the big day and the gift avalanche hits, now’s the perfect time to declutter. A clutter-free home makes space for joy, calm, and all the holiday memories you’re about to make. Plus, starting now makes post-Christmas cleanup 100x easier.

So grab a hot cocoa (or a glass of wine — no judgment) and let’s declutter your space with this ultimate Christmas checklist. Get ready to feel lighter, more organized, and way less stressed when Christmas morning rolls around.

🎄 1. Toy Overload: Declutter the Playroom (Before New Toys Arrive)

You already know your kids are about to get a fresh supply of toys from Santa, Grandma, and every auntie in town. So now’s the time to clear out the clutter.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Broken toys (you know which ones)

• Toys with missing pieces that have been "in limbo" for a year

• Outgrown toys or baby toys your kids no longer play with

• Toys from fast-food kids' meals (these multiply like rabbits)

Pro Tip: Get the kids involved. Tell them you’re “making room for Santa’s gifts” and let them pick 5-10 toys to donate. You’ll be amazed how eager they are to make room for new stuff. Feel free to sell those old toys on Marketplace for other kids to enjoy and help moms with lower priced gifts. Win-Win!

🎁 2. Gift Wrapping Mayhem: Sort Through Wrapping Supplies

Raise your hand if you have a stash of random gift bags, wrinkled tissue paper, and that one roll of paper you’ve been saving since 2018. It’s time to sort it out.

What to Toss or Recycle:

• Torn, wrinkled, or crumpled wrapping paper

• Gift bags with stains, rips, or “mystery gunk” on them

• Tissue paper that’s seen better days

• Dried-up rolls of tape or broken tape dispenser

Pro Tip: Organize your gift-wrapping supplies into a bin or basket. Keep only what you’ll actually use this year. Bonus points if you use a hanging organizer that goes over the door!

🎉 3. Clear Out the Kitchen Chaos

Holiday cooking is about to go down, so let’s clear some counter space and make room for all the cookies, pies, and family dinners.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Expired pantry items (check those spices and baking ingredients!)

• Duplicate kitchen gadgets you never use (like that fourth spatula)

• Chipped mugs and plates (Christmas is not the time for "almost nice" dishes)

• Containers with no lids (we all have that sad, mismatched Tupperware situation)

Pro Tip: Set a timer for 15 minutes and do a “pantry purge.” It’s wild how much you can clear out in a short amount of time.

🎄 4. Holiday Decor: Use It or Lose It

If you’ve got bins of tangled lights and broken ornaments that haven’t seen the light of day in years, it’s time to let them go. Your future self will thank you.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Broken string lights (they're not worth untangling)

• Ornaments that are cracked, chipped, or missing pieces

• Holiday decor you never actually use (if you didn’t hang it up last year, it’s time to donate)

• Old candles that have burned down to the wick

Pro Tip: Be ruthless. If you didn’t display it last year, you won’t miss it this year. Don't keep all those old lights you think you are going to fix either. We all know we do not have time for that stuff!

🎁 5. The Clothing Clear-Out: Make Room for Winter Gear

Winter clothes, Christmas sweaters, and festive PJs are about to take over your closet. Before that happens, make some space by decluttering the clothes you no longer need.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Outgrown kids’ clothes (because you know they’ll get more this Christmas)

• Mismatched gloves, hats, and scarves with no partners

• Old, stretched-out leggings or socks with holes (you know the ones)

• Clothes you haven’t worn in over a year (yes, even that “maybe someday” dress)

Pro Tip: Make it fun for your kids by turning it into a “fashion show” where they try on their clothes and decide what fits. You’ll get a few giggles and a decluttered closet.

🎉 6. Digital Declutter: Clear Your Phone and Inbox

Yep, even your digital life needs a pre-Christmas cleanup. With holiday photos, Christmas e-cards, and "year-end sale" emails about to flood your phone and inbox, it’s time to clear out the clutter.

What to Delete or Clean Up:

• Old photos and videos (hello, 10 blurry shots of the same selfie)

• Email subscriptions you no longer read (unsubscribe is your best friend)

• Apps you haven’t opened in months (delete ‘em)

• Notes and screenshots you forgot about (we all have that random screenshot of a coupon that expired in July)

Pro Tip: Use an app like “Unroll.me” to unsubscribe from email spam in bulk. Your inbox (and sanity) will thank you.

🎄 7. Kid Clutter: Pre-Christmas Bedroom Reset

Let’s be honest, kids’ bedrooms get wild in December. Before you fill it with even more toys and gifts, do a quick reset.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Outgrown books and old activity workbooks

• Broken crayons, dried-up markers, and puzzles with missing pieces

• Old stuffed animals (just keep the favorites)

• Artwork that’s been taped to the wall since Valentine’s Day (take a photo to "keep" it forever)

Pro Tip: Sneakily declutter while they’re at school or a playdate. No one will miss the broken crayons.

🎁 8. The Bathroom Purge: Make Room for Self-Care Gifts

It’s the season of gift sets, bath bombs, and body lotion galore. Before it all rolls in, clear the clutter.

What to Toss or Recycle:

• Expired beauty products (yes, that includes old nail polish)

• Travel-size hotel shampoos you never used

• Half-used bottles of lotion you didn’t like

• Old toothbrushes (Christmas is a great time for new ones!)

Pro Tip: Use a small basket or bin to keep self-care items organized so you can actually find them when you need them.

🎉 9. The Toy Bin Refresh (Yes, Again!)

It’s so worth decluttering toys before Christmas morning, even if you just did it last week.

What to Toss or Donate:

• Toys with dead batteries (if you haven’t replaced them by now, it’s time to let them go)

• Duplicate toys (do you really need 5 fire trucks?)

• Toys that “broke but can be fixed” (if it’s been broken for 6 months, it’s not getting fixed)

Pro Tip: If the toy is sentimental, take a picture of it before letting it go. The memory will still be there, but the clutter won’t.

🎄 10. Gift Stash Declutter (For Your Sanity)

Does your gift stash include 4 candles, 3 lotion sets, and a "just in case" gift from 2019? Time to declutter!

What to Toss or Re-Gift:

• Outdated “emergency” gifts you forgot you had

• Random gifts you don’t love (you know what I mean)

• Any gifts you bought "just in case" but never actually gave

Pro Tip: Keep one small “gift stash” basket, but only store items you actually love. No more “meh” gifts collecting dust.

🎉 Ready, Set, Declutter!

This isn’t about having a Pinterest-perfect house — it’s about making space for what truly matters. When Christmas morning rolls around, you’ll feel so much better knowing you cleared the clutter.

So, grab this checklist, crank up some Christmas music, and knock it out one room at a time. You’ll be surprised how much lighter (and more festive) your home will feel. 🎄✨

And remember, you’re not just decluttering your house — you’re clearing mental space, too. Less clutter, more calm. Now THAT’S a Christmas miracle.