{"id":118250,"date":"2021-11-08T02:11:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T10:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=118250"},"modified":"2026-04-15T02:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:05:27","slug":"declutter-for-winter-expert-advice-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/daily-living\/declutter-for-winter-expert-advice-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Ready to Declutter your Home for Winter with These Expert Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

As fall comes to an end, we\u2019re getting ready to welcome the cold season, and the thought of a warm drink in hand and snuggling under a cozy blanket causes many people to get excited for winter. But, although you<\/em> might be ready for it, there\u2019s no guarantee that your home is just as prepared. Fortunately, these last days of fall are the perfect time to clean up and declutter<\/a> your home to make sure everything is ready for the cozy season.<\/p>\n

If you need a little inspiration and tips to get started, grab a pen and a sheet of paper because we talked to organizing experts and asked them for their advice for decluttering your house for winter<\/strong>. Here\u2019s what they had to say:<\/p>\n

Take Stock of the Problem Areas<\/h2>\n

\"examine<\/p>\n

Melissa Corriveau<\/strong> of Life with Less Mess<\/a> told us that it\u2019s important to find where your mess is.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook around your home and set an intent for your space,\u201d she began. \u201cHow do you want it to feel? How do you want it to function? Your goal is probably not to have a cluttered and disorganized space. Where\u2019s your mess? That\u2019s where you need a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, you can start to take action:<\/p>\n

\u201cEvaluate the items you\u2019ve used this summer and what you haven\u2019t,\u201d she continued. \u201cLet go of clothing you haven\u2019t worn, d\u00e9cor you no longer love, and kitchen items you haven\u2019t used. Keep only your favorites. Clean and organize as you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same method can be applied to each step of the decluttering process, as Ben Soreff<\/strong> from H2H Organizing<\/a> told us.<\/p>\n

\u201cReviewing your items first is key, instead of just putting everything in bins and forgetting about it,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe aren\u2019t keeping these items just to keep them. We want to use them and be more productive. For instance, when putting away the holiday decorations, consider whether some are damaged or no longer in good shape. Or, perhaps some are actually keepsakes and shouldn\u2019t live with the decorations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Declutter Your Wardrobe<\/h2>\n

\"declutter<\/p>\n

Geralin Thomas<\/strong> of Metropolitan Organizing<\/a> gave advice on how to tackle one of the biggest projects when decluttering your home for winter: The wardrobe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs autumn morphs into winter, it\u2019s the perfect time to declutter our wardrobes, [such as] clothing and related accessories,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cBegin with outwear. Are there garments or accessories that need to be repaired (such as backpacks with broken zippers or holes in pockets), replaced (like umbrellas that no longer pop open), or that have stubborn stains and can\u2019t be worn? If so, let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n

She went on: \u201cIf you\u2019ve had the opportunity to wear something on numerous occasions, but reached for something else to wear, that might be a sign that you aren\u2019t going to ever wear it. Give yourself permission to donate it. Items that require too much maintenance might also not make the cut. Garments made of silk or linen sometimes look great when new, but they require either dry cleaning or too much TLC [that] you\u2019re not willing to put in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Likewise, Thomas suggested: \u201cGet rid of shoes and boots that aren\u2019t comfortable; handbags and tote bags that are too heavy, too small, or have impractical handles or straps; as well as garments that just don\u2019t look and feel or represent the image that you want to project (too business-y, too conservative, too dramatic, too boho).\u201d<\/p>\n

Address Your Entryway<\/h2>\n

\"declutter<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Professional Organizer Shara Kay<\/strong><\/a> told us to focus on the first things we do when we enter the apartment and the last place we see when we exit it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we head into winter, this is a great time to address your entryway\/mud room\/coat closet and make sure it\u2019s stocked with the proper items for your climate, including outerwear, footwear and emergency items,\u201d she said. \u201cYour entryway is prime real estate! Rotate items you won\u2019t need until next year to storage spaces like upper shelves or the garage, and let go of anything broken, outgrown or unusable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Top 6 Things to Purge on the Last Day of Fall<\/h2>\n

\"last<\/p>\n

As the last day of falls nears, prepare a list of everything you can declutter for winter. According to Kay<\/strong> and Chrissy Halton<\/strong>, that can include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Any broken or damaged outdoor items before you store the rest away for the winter.<\/li>\n
  2. Seasonal clothes that you didn\u2019t wear this summer: Chances are you haven\u2019t yet put these away because fall tends to have some warm days. So, take the opportunity now that the weather is changing to let go of things that you probably won\u2019t use next year.<\/li>\n
  3. Fall d\u00e9cor<\/a>: Anything related to fall or Halloween can now be packed away. Declutter your home of anything broken or old.<\/li>\n
  4. Halloween costumes you or your family won\u2019t wear again<\/li>\n
  5. Expired baking ingredients: If you didn\u2019t bake for Thanksgiving, restock now in time for prime cooking-making season!<\/li>\n
  6. Secret stashes of Halloween candy: Toss them out before you forget about them to avoid drawing critters.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bonus: Tips for Winterizing Your Rental Apartment<\/h2>\n

    Here are some final tips to best prepare your apartment for the colder months:<\/p>\n