8 things to declutter in February 2025 – to set yourself up for a peaceful, stress-free spring

January is the longest, most exhausting month of the year (or it certainly feels like it to us), so it is pretty excusable if you don’t end up doing much decluttering and organizing.

February, however, brings some brighter weather and longer days, helping to boost our motivation and energy, making it the best month to start decluttering to blow away winter and start preparing for spring.

But what should you declutter in February 2025? Here, professional home organizers have shared their ultimate decluttering checklist for the month ahead.

Things to declutter in February 2025

Clearing out these eight things in February will only make your list of things to clean in February quicker and easier to tackle – is there a better way to start off spring? We certainly don’t think so.

1. Your home workspace

Whether you have fully fleshed out home office ideas or a designated table spot in your kitchen, Gala Magriñá, principal designer and founder at Gala Magriñá Design suggests targeting this spot first in February 2025.

She points out, ‘As many of us transition back to working in the office full-time or most days in 2025, it’s worth reconsidering whether a full desk is really essential in your primary living space. While a desk may still be necessary for some, in other cases, its presence could hinder your ability to fully disconnect and relax during off-hours. A fold-away desk might be a practical alternative, helping reduce the visual clutter that a workspace often introduces.

‘As a general guideline, opt for softer tones and incorporate natural materials, avoiding bold, clashing colors or overly busy designs to create a more calming environment.'

2. Anything negative from 2024

Gala Magriñá, principal designer, says, ‘Clutter represents old, emotional baggage that no longer serves us and is “taking up space” where new opportunities could be coming into our lives. We see it on almost every residential project we work on so it’s a big one for most people. Once you realize what it represents and how powerful releasing it is, it’s an easy one to tackle.’

To break the stages of clutter, Gala says, ‘Since it can be overwhelming, it’s important to start one room or closet at a time. We love using the Marie Kondo method where we ask – does it spark joy? And if the answer is no, then you thank the item for its service and give it away.’

3. Items you haven’t used since February ‘24

If you are struggling to decide what to declutter, start with the items you haven't used recently. Meaghan Kessman, professional home organizer says, ‘Items that haven’t been used in the past year are likely not essential to your daily life. This rule helps you identify things that are simply taking up space without adding value.’

4. Your closet

If you have walked around any clothing stores in the last week you may have noticed that spring-time clothing has started to crop up on rails. This makes February a great time to start looking at rules for decluttering clothes, and sorting through any items you didn’t use over the last few winter months, as well as bringing out any spring clothing from seasonal storage.

Audra George, CEO and owner of Pretty Neat: An Organizational Solution says, ‘When shopping for your spring/summer clothes and going through what you have, it is a great time to declutter and get rid of things you do not like, that do not fit, or are past their prime.’

Exploring closet decluttering tips will make more room for any new items you pick up over the coming months.

5. Cleaning supplies

Marissa Hagmeyer, professional organizer and co-founder of NEAT Method says, 'Although it is not the most exciting category to tackle when decluttering, organizing your cleaning supplies before spring cleaning can help to make your big clear-out more successful.

‘In anticipation of that spring cleaning itch, take a moment to safely dispose of cleaners you no longer reach for,’ she suggests. ‘If space is limited and you have an excess in any one category, consider giving items to a friend or neighbor. Contain the rest in categorized eazy-wipe bins.’

You might want to consider using color-coded cleaning to help keep your supplies in check and ensure you have all the products you need for each room. Making sure you have everything from the essential cleaning supplies list will also set you up for your spring cleaning checklist.

6. Garden supplies

Caroline Roberts, professional organizer and owner of This Simplified Island suggests, 'With spring right around the corner, it is the perfect time for organizing your garden supplies and exploring how to declutter a backyard.

‘By February, I'm tired of winter and will do anything to have warm, springtime thoughts! February is when I start planning my garden and going through garden supplies. I also take inventory of what winter items need to be tossed or donated at the end of the season and what I may be able to purchase during an end-of-season sale.’

7. January paper clutter

January is a big time for paper clutter. From junk mail about sales and deals to information on bills and taxes, it can be quick to accumulate on tables and counters.

Marissa Hagmeyer, professional organizer, recommends taking some time in February to get rid of paper clutter before big deadlines hit.

She says, 'February is the perfect time to address that mail drop zone that’s been piling up, as well as any paperwork you’ve filed away that is no longer relevant or necessary. This will allow you to prepare for tax season by reducing the amount of paper you need to sort through.

‘If you don’t already have a file system, arrange file tabs for each purpose in a straight row and label.’

You can pick up complete file organizer sets from Walmart to make the process quick, uniform, and easy.

8. Entryways

Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Organizing believes, 'You should declutter an entryway monthly at the very least to keep the space functioning and main walkways clear.

'In February, however, it is a great time to start assessing your winter items and taking out anything you haven't been using or has been damaged by bad winter weather, such as umbrellas or boots that may have sprung a leak before you bring out lighter spring attire.'

Doing this now will take some of the pressure off of your spring cleaning.

FAQs

How often should you declutter? 

To stay on top of everyday clutter and keep your home in order, it can be helpful to declutter once a month – even if you only work on a small space or area at a time or get rid of a few small items. Remember that decluttering doesn't have to be big to be effective; just clearing out a pantry or a nightstand once a month can be enough to help prevent feeling overwhelmed.

Is it possible to declutter too much?  

It is entirely possible to declutter too much, and it can be just as stressful as having too much clutter in your home.

If you are having to actively search for a spot to declutter or are feeling stressed or guilty because you have not been able to donate or sell items around your home and have brought new items in, then you may be decluttering too much, and it is important to take a step back before it becomes obsessive.

If you start to feel bogged down when not decluttering, consider talking to a friend or professional about your feelings so that they can help you through the process.

Just because the spring weather hasn't started to warm us up yet, doesn't mean you can't take some time to start on your spring cleaning and organizing in February.

Starting early is a great way to get ahead and can help you to spring clean without getting overwhelmed – especially with your home freshly decluttered and cleared out.