Why We Don’t Wait Until Spring to Declutter

“Spring cleaning” sounds nice, but by the time spring hits, most people are busy, tired, and already knee-deep in other projects. After Christmas, though? You’re usually standing in the middle of your house thinking, “We have too much stuff.”

We’ve learned that winter—especially right after the holidays—is actually the best time to clear things out.

Post-Christmas Shows You the Truth

Once the tree, gifts, and extra decor are out, you start to really see what’s working and what isn’t. Drawers are overflowing, closets are packed, and there’s nowhere to put the new things that are actually useful.

Instead of shoving it all in a corner “until spring,” we use that feeling as motivation. If there’s no easy spot for something, that’s our cue to start letting go of what’s in the way.

Winter Is Already an “Inside” Season

Cold weather keeps you indoors more. You’re looking at the same spaces day after day. That actually makes it easier to notice what’s always in the way, what nobody touches, and what you’re tired of moving.

Decluttering a little at a time gives you something productive to do on days you’re stuck inside anyway. It also makes the house feel lighter during months that can already feel heavy.

It Makes Spring Better, Not Busier

When spring does show up, we’d rather be outside getting beds ready, mowing, and doing projects than stuck inside sorting closets. Doing the house reset in winter frees spring up for the things that truly belong to that season.

Instead of starting from chaos, you’re starting from a house that’s already reasonably thinned out.

We Declutter in Passes, Not All at Once

We don’t do an extreme “empty the whole house” thing. We tackle it in waves:

• One week, kids’ clothes and toys
• Another week, kitchen cabinets
• Another, linens and bathroom stuff

It’s faster in winter to do 15–20 minutes most days than it is to block off an entire Saturday you probably don’t have.

Donations Move Well Right After Christmas

Thrift stores get busy with donations in January, but they also get shoppers who are looking for things they didn’t get or stuff to replace what they cleared out. Good-quality items move quickly and actually get used.

I’d rather send something out into the world when I know it has a good chance of finding a new home instead of waiting until spring and dealing with piles for months.