7 things experts always declutter before fall for a cozy, clutter-free home

Just as spring is the season synonymous with cleaning and decluttering, the cozy season of fall is just as good a time to hit reset, especially ahead of multiple holiday seasons.

As we transition into the colder months, the way we use our homes starts to shift. Sun-baked cookouts become nights in front of the fire, muddy boots and winter coats line up in the entryway, and summer salads and sunbathing become a hot bubble bath and warming, comfort food for dinner.

This changing of the seasons is also a perfect time to streamline your space and get it ready for hosting family and friends indoor during the fall months. So, if you're in need of some decluttering tips as the end of summer nears, these are the things that professional organizers urge you to declutter now.

7 things to declutter before fall

1. Bathroom clutter

The end of summer is a great time to clear out any old sun creams, bug sprays and toiletries, making space for products you actually use, as well any winter bathroom essentials. Make a bathroom decluttering checklist to guide you and focus on the end goal of a calmer, more streamlined space for unwinding. These items tend to expire within 12 months so they likely won't be good for next year anyway.

Among the things not to store in bathroom cabinets are expired skincare, makeup, and anything that never gets used. Vicky Silverthorn, professional organizer and brand ambassador at Vintage Cash Cow, recommends taking everything out and laying them out in categories so you can take stock of everything you have and give everything a clean.

'Double-check the use-by date on old toiletries and cosmetics. You’ll find a symbol on the back that suggests how long after opening it you should keep it. Any out-of-date products should be emptied and recycled.

'Stay as minimal as you can to alleviate space issues. You only need one of each product, and potentially one spare (keep these in a ‘spares’ section, area, or basket), so avoid hoarding numerous of the same. If you've got multiple bottles with a small amount of product left, put them in your eye-line ready to be used up first.'

Grab a strong bin liner, such as the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags available at Amazon, set a realistic timer and get to work, filling it with anything old, unusable or unwanted. Then empty out the bin liners at a local recycling point, or trash anything that's non-recyclable.

2. Expired food in the pantry

It's a good idea to declutter and organize the pantry as we transition from the hot summer months to cooler and crisper weather, so that your pantry is always stocked with the supplies needed on hand when cooking up winter warmers, and not filled with expired goods.

'Fall usually means a change of temperature, and that change lends itself to changes in what you eat,' says Francesca Verri, professional organizer and certified minimalist life coach. 'Purging your food pantry now is a great way to prepare you for the new season and open your space up to the possibilities to create a healthy, in-season meal plan.

'The bottom line is that when you let go of what isn't serving you, you are more available to life and the life you want to live. Creating space creates possibility and freedom to choose more easily! So if eating healthier or making dinner more often is a goal, clearing your space of food that is expired is important,' to make way for fresh ingredients.

Take everything out of your pantry, clean the shelves thoroughly, and replace the food, binning anything old and expired, and freezing any food that is almost at it's sell-by date to prevent it going over.

'One thing that most people don't think about when transitioning from summer to fall is the change in food!' agrees home improvement expert Joshua Bartlett. 'Run through your pantry and throw out any expired food items to get ready for all of the ingredients you'll need for apple pie, chili, and soups!'

The same goes for your refrigerator and freezer.

3. Children's toys and books

With fall comes the fast-approaching Christmas period, so, if you have children, now is a good time to declutter any old toys and books that they no longer play with to make room for new ones.

'If you think your kids can handle it, I suggest helping them declutter (or at least contain and organize) their toys and books, making their room and space more compatible to their interests and new grade they are entering,' says Liora Seltzer, professional organizer and founder of What U Keep.

Use a suitable storage solution for organizing the toys to keep, while old toys and books can be sold or donated, or consider sending them to Christmas present appeals near you in time for the holiday period.

4. Mess in the backyard and shed

Decluttering the backyard or shed is only going to become less and less appealing as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, so spend whatever time you have now editing down outdoor tools, barbecue utensils, furniture, and gardening accessories. Getting rid of anything that is broken or moldy is one of the maintenance tasks to tick off to prepare your home for fall.

Comb through all of the items in the backyard and think about what you have made use of, and whether there is anything you don't think you'll want to use by next summer.

'Future you will be thankful you tackled the garden and shed mess at the end of the summer season, rather than leaving it to gather dust and face the elements until next spring,' adds Silverthorn.

'First, throw out or recycle anything that’s broken beyond repair. Next, declutter the dupes. Got three pairs of BBQ tongs? Four garden shovels? Donating, selling, or throwing (if old and rusty) these away is an easy way to free up valuable space in your shed,' she adds.

5. Paperwork

While possibly the most tedious category of household items to declutter, getting rid of paperwork and organizing your home office will mean you can enter the new season with a clear desk– and mind.

'Use the new season as an opportunity to organize accumulated paperwork,' says Meaghan Kessman, professional home organizer and founder of Meaghan Kessman Home Organization. 'Shred or recycle unnecessary documents, and file away important papers for a clutter-free workspace.'

6. Clothes

Next, have an honest look at your closet and declutter items you haven't worn in a long time. Consider donating or discarding summer clothes, swimwear, and footwear that haven't seen the light of day this year, because the chances are you aren't going to fall in love with them next summer. Equally, you should donate any well-loved sandals that are no longer your style and clothing that children have outgrown or worn out to free up valuable closet space.

Joshua Bartlett recommends thinking about how to store clothes long-term once you have cleared everything out. 'You might need to purchase some extra storage bins ahead of time to make this process easier,' he says. 'Consider big vacuum-sealed bags for your summer clothes if you are limited on space – these can be used with any standard vacuum cleaner.'

A ruthless clear-out before adding anything new to our wardrobes will certainly make organizing a small closet with lots of clothes easier. Moth-repelling sachets, available at Amazon, are helpful to have on hand whether storing items away or getting heavier winter coats out of storage and into your closet.

7. Seasonal decor

'Think ahead for the holidays!' encourages Joshua Bartlett, who says now is the opportune moment for going through your Christmas decorations and getting rid of anything that you no longer love. Start by discarding any broken baubles, garlands and lights so you can see what you've got to use this upcoming holiday season.

'Bring any holiday decorations out of storage and put them in a staging area that is convenient for you but also out of the way of guests,' he suggests. 'Throughout the season, you can bring out seasonal decorations, Halloween decorations, and Thanksgiving decorations and put them back as needed.'

This will ensure you have everything that you need for beautiful fall decor, and nothing that you don't.

FAQs

What are the benefits of decluttering?

Keeping your home organized and limiting clutter can reduce mental clutter and ease anxiety, as well as help us to sleep better. All homes can end up feeling cluttered at certain times of the year, but organizing cabinets and home storage spaces will make for a home that feels calmer and is easier to clean.

Meet the expert

Joshua Bartlett

Joshua Bartlett has been responsible for the upkeep of several homes, apartments, and rentals. He created I’ll Just Fix It Myself to help others learn alongside him, sharing what he has learned through his decades of successes – and failures – to tackle home improvement.

Decluttering can feel like a mission, so think about fall plans while you work – you may want to organize your fall reading list, think about Halloween decorating ideas, or make a fall 'bucket list' of activities to make the most of the season.