Your Quick Declutter Plan Before Santa Comes to Town

Let’s be honest — Christmas morning hits harder when your house is already bursting at the seams. This time of year is usually extra busy for families who are already busy enough as it is. But before Santa comes to town, a quick weekend declutter can make a world of difference!

Disclaimer: This is not a full-house purge. This is simply a “make room for what’s coming” reset. We'll tackle the rest of the house after the holidays. 😉

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Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which I may earn a small commission off of just for your interest, so thank you!

Pre-Holiday Declutter (3 Areas That Matter Most)

1. Kids’ Playroom - think toys, books, games, puzzles...

If it’s broken, missing pieces, or hasn’t been touched in months — it’s time for it to go. I have found that it always goes better if you involve the kids. Explain to them why you think it needs to be tossed or donated and let them help you make the decision. Especially when the toy is in great shape still. My kids loved the idea of donating it so another child could have a turn with it. They are more compassionate than we give them credit for.

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Quick plan:

• Keep favorites & daily-use toys

• Donate gently used toys your kids have outgrown

• Toss broken or incomplete items (no guilt)

  
  

Let's face it - just like toys, pieces inevitably get lost or broken and pages get ripped or colored on. This is the perfect time to go through the playroom and down size. Anything that's still in good, clean shape (with all the pieces and parts intact) can be donated to local second hand centers for other kids to love on:

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Donate:

• Books they’ve outgrown

• Games they no longer play

• Complete puzzles and board games (keyword: complete)

  
  

What's left can then be neatly organized. Take a look at these bins and baskets to help give everything it's on place:

2. Clothes (Especially kids’ sizes)

Kids grow fast, period. it's almost impossible to keep up with what size they're in at any given moment. Christmas is a great chance to stock up on the essentials, but let's make sure there is enough drawer and closet space first. Go through each drawer and hanger and see what size is on the label. If it's going to be too small within a month or so, go ahead and put it in the donation bag. (as long as there are no apparent stains, holes or missing buttons - otherwise say a quick farewell before it gets tossed in the trash or recycling... bonus idea: save them for crafts). Make sure all socks have a match, and don't forget about the shoes, too. A shoe that's too small can be very uncomfortable and actually harmful to young growing feet.

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What to pull:

• Outgrown sizes

• Never-worn items (you know, the ones that still have tags in the back of the closet)

• Seasonal pieces they won’t wear again (think holidays or birthdays)

Once you've tossed out the old, the dirty and the too small pieces, you can begin organizing everything. Here are some must have items to keep your drawers and closets in order (but also stylish):

And don't forget, this goes for mom and dad, too. Go ahead and make some room in your own closet so you can spend that Christmas money on some new outfits. There's always great sales after the holidays! 😉 3. Holiday Decor Reset

This is also the perfect opportunity to look at what you have in terms of decorations and make sure you have a proper and organized way to store it. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are my ornaments protected and neatly stacked?

• Are the lights in their own container - neatly labeled?

• Does your tree have a dedicated storage container (and is it properly sealed - meaning, not the original box it came in)

• Is my christmas wrapping separate from my year round supply?

Often times, we just throw things in boxes to be stored in the attic for next year but all that causes is chaos and leaves room for damaged items later. When it comes time to take down the tree and garland, make sure it has a proper place to go:

Where to Donate (Locally in Greensboro + Everywhere Else)

Greensboro-area donation options:

• Goodwill (multiple Triad locations)

• Family Room ( a personal favorite, donations are only Tuesdays and Saturdays - check times)

• Salvation Army

• Freedom House Thrift

• Local churches & community centers

• Schools or daycares (books & games)

(Always call or check online for each locations specific donation days/times and guidelines before loading up the car!)

Not local to Greensboro?

If you're outside of the Greensboro area, you can look for similar places in your own hometown. Goodwill and Salvation Army are nationwide. And don't forget about your own kids' schools/daycares. But, to find additional options, try searching for the following:

• “Donate toys near me”

• “Donate clothes near me”

• Local Buy Nothing Facebook groups

• Churches, shelters, and community nonprofits

• Foster care programs

• Libraries, second hand stores

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which I may earn a small commission off of just for your interest, so thank you!

BONUS: Christmas Wrapping Checklist (Do This Now, Not December 23rd)

I almost always underestimate what I need when it comes to wrapping paper and gift bags. Or tape... ughhh. I don't think I've ever NOT run out of tape. So let's get ahead of it, shall we?

Quick reset checklist:

• Pull out all wrapping supplies

• Toss torn paper and unusable scraps

• Take inventory of what you actually have (and don't have...)

• Decide what you need before the rush

My pro tip for you... if you have something big to wrap, don't waste a whole roll of paper on it. Instead, look for those large bags (often labeled "bike bags") to fully enclose the item. Tie off the top ands stick a giant bow in it. Or, better yet - skip the bag and just go with the giant bow. your kids will still be uber excited, promise.

Final thoughts.... because you got this!

This is not the time to do a complete overhaul. You just need a little breathing room before the big morning. A small declutter now makes room for new memories, fewer messes, and a more enjoyable Christmas morning. Trust me, future you will be very grateful 🎄