3 Simple Decluttering Projects to Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays
It’s only October, but the holiday season will be here before we know it! Now is a great time to start getting prepared for all the festivities the season brings. At Simplified Austin, the holidays are our favorite time of year, so we’re sharing 3 simple organizing projects you can do now to free yourself from holiday stress and make it a time to look forward to.
1. Tackle Your Kitchen Drawers
A simple way to get your kitchen holiday-ready is to declutter your utensil drawers.
Start by taking everything out and grouping similar items. If anything is broken or past its prime, toss it out. Do you have 8 pairs of tongs? Pick the ones you use most frequently and donate the rest. Continue sorting until you’re left with what you want to keep.
Next, wipe out your drawers and plan where everything belongs. Keep anything you use at the stove frequently close by, and store specialty utensils like zesters and pastry brushes in a different drawer.
Now, you can put everything back where it belongs. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to create a more sustainable system with drawer organizers, now is the time to get out the measuring tape. Measure the length, width and depth of each drawer. You’ll want to choose drawer organizers that not only fit the drawer, but also are the right size for your utensils.
Once you have your drawers organized, you’ll feel much more prepared knowing exactly what utensils you have, where they are, and what you may need to buy. It will make a world of difference when it’s time to make a loaf of pumpkin bread or a Thanksgiving spread!
2. Freshen Up Your Spice Cabinet
Fall months are prime time for baking desserts and cooking for gatherings of friends and family, making now the perfect time to check your spices for freshness. According to the USDA, ground spices begin to lose their flavor after 2-3 years. Pantry moths can also get into jars that aren’t fully sealed —yuck!
Start by gathering all of your spice jars and grouping duplicate seasonings. Any spices past their expiration date should be dumped out and the container recycled. If you find you have multiple jars of the same spice, consider combining half-full jars with similar expiration dates. Any multiples you have that are still sealed can be donated to a local food pantry or posted on your neighborhood Buy Nothing group. Add any spices you are missing to your grocery list.
Once you’ve identified which spices you would like to keep, it’s time to put them away! Spices can be messy, so make sure to wipe out the area where they are stored to deter pests. You can organize them alphabetically, by category, or by color. We love using spice shelves and Lazy Susans so you can easily find what you’re looking for! Just make sure you measure before buying.
Now you can be sure all of your holiday dishes will be packed full of flavor!
3. Clean Out Your Linen Closet
Many of us are expecting guests this holiday season. One way you can feel more prepared for their visit is to sort through and organize your linens.
Like with the other projects, start by gathering all of your linens and sorting them so all the sheet sets and blankets are together by size. Set aside any bedding that is stained or worn down. Animal shelters love donations of linens!
Now, place the matching sets and bedding back in your linen closet. To create a sustainable system, add labels to each shelf indicating which size and type of bedding belongs where. Replace any linens you’re getting rid of so your guests can enjoy fresh bedding.
With all of your kitchen tools, spices, and fresh linens on hand and organized, you’ll be heading into the holiday season ready to enjoy time with your loved ones, which is what this time of year is all about!
If any of these projects seem too overwhelming to accomplish alone, Simplified Austin would love to help! We’ll handle everything from sorting to taking your donations.
The holidays are our busiest time of year, so reach out soon to get on our schedule!