Fall Declutter Challenge: 10 Things to Toss Before the Holidays Hit -

Tell me if this sounds familiar: It’s September. The air shifts. The kids are back in school. You finally have a little breathing room again — and suddenly, every corner of your house starts whispering, “We need to deal with this.” That random pile by the stairs. The closet you’ve been avoiding. The drawer that somehow has batteries, Legos, expired coupons, and three broken pens.

Yep. That one.

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to Marie Kondo your whole house. You don’t need a weekend purge or a trip to The Container Store. But what will make a difference before the holidays sneak up? A good old-fashioned fall declutter.

Nothing fancy. Just 10 things you can toss, donate, or fix up — to clear space in your home and your head.

Let’s go.

1. The Backpack Graveyard

You know the one. Old backpacks, lunch bags, random pencil cases with broken zippers — probably hiding in the hallway or mudroom. If it’s ripped, crusty, or hasn’t been used in a year? Out it goes.

Bonus: check lunchboxes for leftover granola bars from June. (Don’t ask how I know.)

2. Outgrown Fall Clothes (Yours and Theirs)

Before you even think about buying that cute sweater on sale, do a quick pass through the closets.

Pull out:

Anything that doesn’t fit
Anything no one wore last fall
Anything you want to love but always skip over

Bag it up for donation. Boom — closet breathing room.

3. The “Dead Drawer” in the Kitchen

That one drawer with… what? Mystery cables? Old takeout menus? 47 rubber bands?

Dump it out. Be ruthless. Keep only what you use. Toss what you don’t. You will not miss that wine cork from 2019. Promise.

4. Half-Used School Supplies

If your kids are like mine, every August you buy new supplies even though last year’s stuff is still half-full and scattered around the house. Gather it. Sort it. Ditch dried-out markers and stubby crayons. Donate anything still good to your kid’s classroom or your local shelter.

5. Expired Pantry Items

This one’s sneaky — and so satisfying.

Check dates on:

Spices (yes, they expire)
Cans you forgot existed
That random bag of quinoa you thought you were going to use

Toss what’s bad. Take mental note of what’s left. Hello, easier meal planning.

6. Broken Decor You Swore You’d Fix

That chipped pumpkin. The garland with half the lights out. The candle that won’t light.

Ask yourself: Am I actually going to repair this before November? If not, you know what to do.Free up space for decorations you do love (and can find).

7. Mismatched Containers and Lids

Tupperware. Water bottles. Thermoses. Lids with no bottoms. Bottoms with no lids. If it doesn’t match up? Recycle it. No more cabinet avalanches when you open the door.

8. Magazines, Papers & Mail Piles

The “I’ll read this later” stack has officially expired.

Keep what matters. Shred what’s sensitive. Recycle the rest.

Bonus move: put a basket near the door to catch incoming paper before it turns into chaos.

9. Toys They’ve Quietly Outgrown

Before the holidays bring a whole new batch of toys, quietly go through what’s gathering dust.

You don’t have to do a full toy purge — just remove the obvious:

Toys with missing pieces
Stuff they haven’t touched in 6 months
Things that frustrate more than they entertain

Donate the good stuff. Let someone else enjoy it.

0. Your Own Digital Clutter

Okay, this one’s not physical — but it counts.

Pick one of the following:

Delete 500 old photos from your phone
Clear your desktop
Unsubscribe from 10 emails you never open
Clean out your Notes app (you don’t need that grocery list from 2021)

Your brain will thank you.

Make Space for What’s Coming

Fall is the season of transition. And when the holidays hit, you know what happens — the stuff piles up. Fast. This little challenge? It’s not about perfection. It’s about making space:

For calmer mornings
For a home that feels a little lighter
For the season ahead, with less noise and more room to enjoy it

You don’t need a whole weekend. You don’t need a label maker. Just start with one thing. Toss it. Let it go. Then move to the next. And the next. And breathe.

You’ve got time. And you’ve got this.