5 Things Professional Organizers Always Do Before January 1 to Reduce Clutter and Start the New Year Streamlined
They're small, but make a big difference
The days between Christmas and New Year's Day can feel a little bit like living in limbo. That is why pro organizers see this as the perfect time to reset the home and restore some order.
After weeks of gifts, gatherings, and general chaos, the pros follow five specific organizing habits to curb the craving for a fresh start and clear lingering clutter.
5 Things Pro Organizers Do Before January 1st
1. Deep Clean Flat Surfaces
Clearing surfaces can make a room instantly less stressful.
Clearing visual clutter in a living room or kitchen is the best way to instantly make your home less overwhelming. Plus, it makes cleaning tips quicker and less stressful, too.
Brenda Scott, professional home organizer and owner of Tidy My Space, does this, advising: 'Look for areas that you can simplify with less visual clutter. Coffee tables, nightstands, and desks can be a dumping ground for odds and ends.'
She adds that it is also wise to take the time to 'edit out kitchen and bathroom items that you don't use, need, or want. After holiday gift giving, some items may be replaced with a newer version, so release the old ones. Make sure that you really like the new one before letting go of the old.'
Consider using the one-tool cleaning trick, moving around the spaces with a microfiber cloth from Walmart, and the non-toxic Attitude all-purpose spray from Amazon, to quickly disinfect surfaces and remove dust at the same time.
There are plenty of things you can do with the items you are decluttering at this time of year, too, from donating to food banks and shelters to regifting, if you feel bold enough.
2. Clear the Fridge and Pantry
Clear out lingering leftovers to avoid a moldy mess in the new year.
A key part of the post-Christmas clean-up is decluttering the kitchen. If you are busy or stressed, focus primarily on the pantry and fridge.
Brenda continues, 'Clear out the fridge and pantry. Looking for expired food, or those foods you didn't end up liking. By clearing out these storage areas, you can then give the shelves a good clean. Spills happen; it's best to clean them up before infestation occurs.' Cleaning with vinegar is ideal for this, killing bacteria, mold, and odors, with orange-scented cleaning vinegar available at Walmart.
'Then, put "keep" items back in an orderly fashion,' she adds. 'Store like with like, or used together, together.' The FIFO method can also help you organize food storage to prevent food from going bad before you use it up.
3. Finish Unfinished Projects
If you have the time, completing small unfinished projects can give you a fresh start to the new year.
We are not suggesting necessarily finishing your home DIY projects in this limbo week, but it can be the perfect time to finish off smaller projects, be it small crafts, finishing any decluttering projects you started but put on pause for the holidays, or even puzzles from Christmas.
This is something Amélie Saint-Jacques, professional organizer, Kon-Mari consultant, and owner of Amélie Organizes, loves to do to help close the year out. 'I love to reset my home before the new year for a fresh start. This includes finishing up ongoing projects so that I can put them away,' she says. 'It also looks like dropping off donations that have accumulated, and doing some quick surface cleaning.'
4. Take Down the Tree
It can help to put away decorations before the New Year so you are not struggling for time when work begins again.
Amélie reveals, 'I'll usually try to take down the Christmas tree by December 31st, though it may linger until the first few days of January if I decide that resting is more important. That being said, do try to find a place for all your gifts! It's normal to receive things over the holidays, and if you keep them, you need to make room for them. Otherwise, they will become clutter.'
The ski-slope method is helpful for this, allowing you to tackle every corner of a room and easily transport items to their new homes using a handy folding laundry basket, such as the Joseph Joseph one from Wayfair.
If you need a smaller project, Jamie Hord, organizer and founder of Horderly, adds, 'Personally, I don't hold on to any Christmas cards. I make sure everyone in my family sees it and reads it, and then it moves along.'
5. Tackle Laundry
Laundry is usually the bottom of the to-do list at Christmas, so tackle it now before New Year.
Doing laundry is rarely a favorite task, but you can't let it pile up into the new year.
Amélie says, 'It's also as good a time as any to launder items that you wouldn't get to as often, such as the clothes on the armchair in the corner of your bedroom (you know you have one!) or your couch blankets. I also like starting the year with fresh bed linens and towels.'
Having a divided laundry hamper, such as the Joseph Jospeh Tota 60 Liter Hamper from Amazon, makes sorting clothes for laundry simple, so your laundry days are not as overwhelming.
The same applies to any non-fabric items that need hand washing, she adds. 'Remember the items that may not get washed as often, like water bottles or makeup brushes, and make sure to clean them.'
What to Shop
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has certified Attitude products as non-toxic, meaning they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial compounds. It is perfect for quickly clenaing a home with pets and children.
Microfiber cloths are machine washable, meaning you can reuse them for years with proper care. Simply wash after use on a warm water cycle and gentle detergent (skip the softener) to sanitize.
Tide Free & Gentle is ideal for people with allergies, as it contains no artificial dyes or fragrances. It is also soft on fabrics, making it a safe choice for most of your laundry in the festive period.
After testing it out for a month in her home, our Head of solved, Punteha van Terheyden, loved it enough to buy a second for the bedroom. It removes the need for manual sorting of dirty laundry pre-wash and is chic and roomy.
Measuring 8x10x11 inches, these handwoven water hyacinth baskets are ideal for drop zones, shelves, and cabinets, creating instant extra storage space for new Christmas presents without visual clutter.
These under-bed storage bags on wheels are easy to pull out, and maintain good ventilation for items to prevent mold or musty bedroom smells. They are perfect for housing new gifts from Christmas without messy overflow.
Meet the Experts
Brenda Scott is passionate about home organizing, decluttering, and creating a safe home. At Tidy My Space, she helps people to keep their homes tidy when life gets busy. Brenda shares useful tips and gives practical help with sorting and editing her clients' spaces, leading them to feel less stressed and bringing the luxury of time to be spent with family, friends, or on themselves.
Amélie Saint-Jacques is a certified KonMari Consultant and professional organizer based in San Antonio with years of experience in professional tidying.
Jamie is a certified professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, specializing in decluttering and organizing. Alongside Horderly’s success, Jamie has become one of the world’s most recognizable professional organizers, having been in the likes of Homes & Gardens, Architectural Digest, NY Times, Good Housekeeping, The Today Show, Forbes, and more.
With a head start like this, it will be 10 times easier to reclaim your home after the holidays.
