The holidays are lovely, but they leave a lot behind: wrapping paper, boxes, new toys, tangled lights and a pile of gifts that need homes. If you don’t deal with it quickly, that clutter settles into your closets and stays all year.
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This post-holiday declutter checklist helps you clear it out in a few short sessions. You can do it in a weekend between Christmas and New Year, or spread it over a week.
🧭 The Simple Rules for Post-Holiday Decluttering
- Do it soon. The longer boxes and bags sit, the more they become “stuff we’ll deal with later.”
- Make three piles: keep, donate or recycle, and trash.
- Follow the one-in, one-out rule. For every new item you bring in, let one old item go.
- Keep the return window in mind. If you’re unsure about a gift, keep the receipt and the packaging until you decide.
- Don’t forget to drop off donations right away so they don’t pile up in the trunk.
🎁 Gift Wrap and Packaging (5 Items)
- 1. Wrapping paper scraps that are too small to reuse (check your local rules for recycling, since metallic and glittery paper often can’t be recycled)
- 2. Excess gift bags and tissue paper. Keep a handful of the best ones and recycle the rest.
- 3. Ribbons, bows and tags you won’t use next year
- 4. Shipping boxes and packaging once you’re sure you won’t return the item
- 5. Old gift cards with a zero balance
🎄 Decorations and Seasonal Items (6 Items)
- 6. Broken or chipped ornaments
- 7. Strands of lights that don’t work. Test them before you pack them, and recycle the dead ones at an e-waste or lighting recycling drop-off if one is available near you.
- 8. Decor you didn’t put out this year. If you didn’t use it, you probably won’t next year either.
- 9. Faded or damaged artificial greenery
- 10. Duplicate stocking holders and candle holders
- 11. Holiday cards you don’t need. Keep a few favorites and photograph the rest.
🧸 Toys, Gifts and Hand-Me-Downs (6 Items)
- 12. Toys the kids have outgrown now that new ones have arrived
- 13. Broken toys and games with missing pieces
- 14. Duplicate gifts. Exchange them or donate them.
- 15. Gifts that don’t suit you. It’s okay to pass them on, whether through donation or re-gifting.
- 16. Old clothes replaced by new ones
- 17. Duplicate kitchen gadgets, mugs or small appliances from this year’s gifts
🔋 Electronics and Odds and Ends (5 Items)
- 18. Dead batteries. Many areas ask you to recycle batteries separately, so check your local rules.
- 19. Old phone chargers and cables you replaced
- 20. Old devices replaced by new ones (wipe your data first, then recycle or donate)
- 21. Toiletry and bath gift sets you know you won’t use. Donate them unopened if the shelter accepts them.
- 22. Leftover party supplies that won’t get used
🍬 Food and Kitchen (3 Items)
- 23. Leftovers older than three to four days, and stale treats
- 24. Opened candy and snacks no one is eating
- 25. Duplicate baking supplies and expired pantry items. See our 25 kitchen things to throw out for more.
📦 How to Store What Stays
| Item | Storage tip |
|---|---|
| Ornaments | Wrap fragile ones individually and store them in a divided box or egg carton |
| Lights | Wind them around a piece of cardboard or a hanger so they don’t tangle |
| Wrapping supplies | Keep one tall bin or a box under the bed for paper, bags and ribbon |
| Decor | Use a few labeled bins by room and write what’s inside |
| Kids’ toys | Rotate a smaller selection and store the rest, so toys feel new again |
Want to keep the momentum going? Take on the 12-12-12 declutter challenge in a single sitting, work through the declutter checklist by room or start the 30-day declutter challenge. Our list of 100 things to declutter right now is also a good place to find a few more items.
❓ Post-Holiday Declutter FAQ
When should I declutter after Christmas?
As soon as you can, ideally between Christmas and the new year. The longer you wait, the more the clutter settles in. Keep any gift receipts in one envelope until the return windows pass.
What should I do with unwanted gifts?
Exchange them if you can, donate them or pass them on to someone who’ll use them. It’s kind to appreciate the thought without keeping the item.
How do I stop holiday clutter next year?
Share a wish list, suggest experiences over items, set a one-in, one-out rule and keep only the decorations you love and use.
How do I get rid of broken Christmas lights?
Check whether your local recycling or e-waste center accepts them. Don’t put them in the regular recycling bin unless your area says you can.
💡 Final Thoughts
You don’t have to start the new year with a pile of leftovers from the old one. Pick one category from the checklist, set a 20-minute timer and begin. Save this pin so it’s ready right after the holidays.
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Sarah Michael believes that a clear space leads to a clear mind. As the founder of The Organized Life, she is dedicated to helping busy people simplify their routines and embrace a clutter-free lifestyle without the overwhelm.
