10 organization hacks to declutter your home before spring arrives

Spring is officially in the air, and if you’re not quite ready, you still have time to declutter your home before warmer weather settles in. Spring cleaning lets you clear out any extra items you may have acquired throughout the year — especially during the holiday season.

Not sure where to get started? Here are 10 spring-cleaning declutter hacks that will help you get your home organized.

1. Purge bulky coats and clothes

Don’t have time for a full closet declutter? No problem. One easy way to free up space in your home for storage is by getting rid of bulky items, like coats and sweaters, that no longer fit and are taking up too much space.

Start by adding all of your bulky clothing items to one pile and go through them one by one, so you’re not tempted to hold onto any clothing that you’re no longer wearing or able to fit into comfortably. Do this with your partner’s clothing and your kids’ clothing, too. Grab some moving boxes to fill with items you no longer want — but are still in good condition — so you can easily load these unwanted items into your car when you’re done. You should also sift through bulky blankets and pillows you have stored away to decide if it’s time to donate them.

2. Take all of the books off your shelves

Books are a great way to add color and warmth to your home. But you might find that you’ve been holding onto books you’ll never read again or didn’t realize you still had without meaning to. It’s easy to lose track of books when they’re tucked neatly away on shelves. If you’ve been noticing your book storage is getting tight, it may be time to pare down your collection.

Don’t overlook children’s books, either. Do a quick spruce to remove any books they’ve finished, outgrown, or that are a little worse for wear. You’ll be surprised by how much space this could free up.

3. Sort through glasses and dishware

It’s easy to collect cups, mugs, drinking glasses, and other dishware over the years. You may have even found unique ways to display extra glasses — maybe as a vase or decor in your dining room.

Take a hard look at how many glasses you own and see if you can donate any you no longer use to make more room for your pantry or other storage areas. Even just clearing away the visual clutter on a bar cart or drink cabinet can make your home feel more refreshed and intentionally decorated.

4. Discard holiday cards

If you still have cards hanging up from the holidays, it’s time to take them off of your fridge or bulletin board. Instead of cluttering up a drawer with more papers, scan or take photographs of any cards you’re interested in saving. This way, you’ll still have digital copies of addresses or photo cards if you want to store them. And it saves you from having to dig through another pile of paper clutter several months later.

5. Minimize your shoe collection

With winter behind us, it’s likely you have a closet full of boots or heavier shoes taking up prime real estate. You might even have winter shows cluttering up your hallways and entryways. Go through your closet and get rid of any bulky shoes you haven’t worn in a season or two. Do the same with your partner’s shoes and kids’ shoes.

Donate any items in good condition that no longer fit — or just don’t match your family’s style anymore. If you’re not sure about donating certain pairs, try storing them up high on a shelf or in your garage. This way, if you need them next year, you’ll still have them. If you don’t look for them during the winter, then you’ll know it’s time to let them go.

6. Go through old toys and sports gear

There’s always a broken tennis racket sitting around in the garage, isn’t there? Before spring fully sets in, comb through your kids’ toys, both indoor and outdoor, and separate any older items they’re no longer using into donation and trash piles. If you keep outdoor toys and equipment in the garage or shed, make sure you go through that section, too.

If you have workout equipment you no longer use like old dumbbells, extra yoga mats, or anything else that’s taking up space, now’s the perfect time to part with it.

7. Get rid of old candles

If you love collecting candles or find yourself buying new ones throughout the year, it’s likely that you have a sizable collection. If you’re storing any older candles away, go through your stash. Then donate any usable candles, and get rid of ones you no longer want. If you want to keep the candle glass, light the wick to heat and soften the wax, then scoop out the contents.

Too many scents in your home can be overwhelming, so it can also help to go through your candles by scent categories, such as florals or holiday scents.

8. Declutter your pantry

Food and dry goods may not be the first things that come to mind when you think about spring cleaning, but when was the last time you took a close look at the expiration dates on your cans and jars?

Empty out your pantry and get rid of any food that’s expired or spoiled. If there’s food you no longer want that’s still good, put it in a separate pile to donate to a food drive or shelter. When you’re done, take some time to decide if you want to reorganize your pantry storage before putting everything back. If some items were hidden and forgotten about, consider shelf risers and lazy Susans to help you better see everything you have on hand.

9. Don’t forget about your pet supplies

People accumulate a large amount of stuff — and so do our pets. From leashes and food bowls to clothing and toys, you probably have more pet supplies than you realize. Go through everything you have for your pet and get rid of any items you no longer use. You can’t donate all pet items but check with your animal shelter to see what they accept before tossing anything.

10. Lastly, check out your outdoor furniture and decor

Before summer arrives, it’s a good idea to declutter your patio furniture and decor. Get rid of anything that’s broken, and consider selling any items in good condition that you no longer want. Be sure to look in your garage for any hidden items you may have tucked away years ago. The goal is to start spring on a fresh foot, not to keep harboring forgotten clutter.

Written by Billy Guteng. April 3, 2024

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.