7 things everyone should get rid of on New Year's Day – why this quick clean-up is essential

Whether you are a staunch resolution setter or not, New Year's Day marks a fresh start for both us and our homes, so it only makes sense that we spend some time having a quick clear out to brush away the last year and set our home up as we mean to go on.

So, where to begin? We've spoken with professional declutterers who urge us to consider tackling these seven spots on New Year’s Day to help keep our homes calm and avoid chaos during the holidays.

Explore why these decluttering tips on New Year’s Day are essential, and how best to work them into your festive schedule.

7 things everyone should get rid of on New Year's Day

Is there any better motivation to declutter than the start of a new year? Whether or not you're resetting your home after a New Year's Eve party, from getting rid of Christmas leftovers to decluttering a closet, New Year's Day is a perfect time to reset your home.

With that in mind, these are the seven things to get rid of on New Year’s Day for a great start to the year.

1. Holiday cards

Although it can seem callous to take your holiday cards down on the first day of the new year, they are one of the biggest sources of clutter at this time of year, says Shannon Krause, professional organizer and founder of Tidy Nest.

She recommends saving the most sentimental cards with your holiday decor (only if you know you will put them out again next year), and recycling the rest – either popping them in the trash or cutting the fronts up to make holiday gift tags for next year.

‘While the cards that you receive are lovely, they rarely serve a purpose after the holiday season. We suggest parting with them after each holiday,’ she adds.

2. Things you are giving up in January

One of the most important January decluttering rules is to get rid of anything you want to give up in the new year to help you avoid temptation, says Laura Price, professional home organizer and founder of The Home Organisation.

She says, ‘If you’re a fan of Dry January or Veganuary, it’s a good idea to rid your cupboards and fridge of any vices, so you start the month off right and don’t get tempted later on.’

If the items are still in good condition, then try not to trash them and give them away instead. Food and drink can be given to friends or family members not partaking, or donated to shelters if it is unopened and non-perishable.

3. Packaging from gifts

If you didn't tackle packaging on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, then now is the time to get it out of your home once and for all while also dealing with any remnants of New Year’s celebrations such as streamers or confetti, says Punteha van Terheyden, head of solved at Homes & Gardens.

She adds, ‘You should aim to complete your post-Christmas decluttering by the end of the first week of January. So start with leftover boxes, bags, and wrapping paper on the first to make your home instantly look cleaner.’

4. Old paperwork and to-do lists

Laura Price, professional home organizer continues, 'New Year’s Day is a great time to sort through and recycle any old post, newspapers, and magazines that have been festering over the Christmas period.'

While you’re dealing with paper recycling, pick up any old calendars and to-do lists that are lying around your home too, and replace them with new sets ready for the new year.

Laura adds, 'It can be hard to feel motivated after Christmas so if you want to reset your home but need a little push, write down daily to-do lists. It’ll help you focus as you set yourself little goals to achieve throughout the day.'

Pick up a pretty to-do list pad, from Walmart, to help motivate you to use your stationary in the new year, and brush up on tricks to make your to-do lists less overwhelming so you don't end up with more incomplete lists in the new year.

5. Leftovers you haven’t touched

One way professional home organizers reset their homes for the New Year is to focus their attention on their kitchen – specifically decluttering a pantry and cleaning a fridge.

While you don’t need to commit to a deep clean on New Year’s Day, take some time when you go for lunch to clear out some of the old leftovers from Christmas that haven't been touched. Remember to look right at the back for anything that has been lost or forgotten about so it doesn't turn bad.

6. Clothes and shoes

There are lots of rules for decluttering clothes, but for New Year's Day, you should focus on getting rid of items that have made you feel low over the last year.

Laura Price explains, 'New Year is a great time to get rid of any clothes that no longer make you happy. There are often new clothes from Christmas to be added to your wardrobe, so don’t hold back on donating a few older items to keep it spacious and user-friendly.

'I don’t always recommend holding onto clothes that no longer fit you, even if you think they’re motivating you for a New Year's health kick. Storing clothes you can’t wear isn’t useful, they take up valuable space and it’s not always guaranteed you will wear them again.'

7. Duplicates after gifting

Laura Price suggests finishing off dealing with any lingering presents, putting them away, and dealing with any old duplicates you might now have.

She says, 'In the post-Christmas haze, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to presents littering your surfaces. But at some point, you need to integrate them. Start by removing any excess packaging before adding your presents to existing categories. If you’re struggling for room, it might be time for an edit. See if you can donate or recycle anything, especially if you’ve just got a newer or better version of it at Christmas.'

If you are unsure where to put new gifts, consider trying the co-worker, cousin method to locate logical homes for items around your home.

Of course, if you are someone who likes to start your New Year off right away with a fresh start, it might also be a good idea to start organizing Christmas decorations for storage. Work one room at a time to help clear away the holidays, putting the smaller decor away first and leaving the tree until last so that it is at the front of your storage to be put up first in 12 months' time.

Next, learn how to Feng Shui your home to help you nail your New Year's resolutions.