TL;DR
Get baking supplies delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Good Housekeeping published a November decluttering checklist recommending that households review 13 categories before winter and holiday hosting, including linens, pantry goods, toys and decorations. The suggestions come from professional organizers and are advice, not a universal rule; households should check food dates and safety guidance before discarding or donating items.
Good Housekeeping has published a November decluttering checklist drawing on advice from professional organizers, who recommend reviewing 13 categories of household items before winter and holiday hosting. The suggestions range from expired pantry goods and worn linens to unused decorations and kitchen tools, with the aim of freeing storage and making seasonal preparations easier.
The list includes dingy linens, unwanted winter accessories, expired pantry items and belongings stored in guest rooms. Organizer Bergman advises repairing usable winter gear and letting go of pieces that people avoid wearing. Another organizer, Hoepner, says a guest room can become a catch-all and recommends returning misplaced belongings to their proper rooms.
Several suggestions focus on making room for holiday activity. The report recommends reviewing children’s toys, unused family china, fall decorations, holiday outfits and refrigerator condiments. Matt Paxton, author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff and host of Discovery’s Filthy Fortunes, suggests families consider reducing children’s existing toys by about 25% to 50% to make room for items expected in December. That figure is his recommendation, not a measured outcome or requirement.
The remaining categories are festive makeup, unused Christmas decorations, sentimental letters and photos, and extra kitchenware. Organizers advise checking which holiday items were not used and considering donation when they are unlikely to be used again. The article also suggests sorting belongings tied to past relationships or life chapters, while leaving the decision to the owner.
Making Room for Holiday Hosting
The advice addresses practical pressures that often arise before holiday gatherings: crowded kitchens, full refrigerators and guest rooms used for storage. Clearing unusable food and excess household items may make it easier to find supplies, store leftovers and prepare rooms for visitors.
The recommendations are discretionary, not a formal organizing standard. They may help households identify what is no longer useful, but the article does not report research showing that following the checklist produces particular results. Donation is appropriate only for items that remain usable and are accepted by the recipient organization; damaged or unsafe goods may need another disposal route.
Products Worth Considering
Ninja NC501 CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker with Two XL Containers
Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz. Container, Black
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel (BES450BSS)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A Seasonal Checklist, Not a Rule
The source is a Good Housekeeping lifestyle report titled “13 Things Organizers Say You Should Toss in November.” It brings together recommendations from several professional organizers, including Allison Flanders of ORG NYC, Olivia Parks of Nola Organizers and Allison Flinn of Reclaim, as well as Bergman and Hoepner. The supplied material does not provide a publication date.
The list is timed around the shift from fall to winter and the approach of holiday hosting. It suggests using November to review items before seasonal decorations, food and gifts take up additional space. These are expert opinions and practical prompts; readers can adapt them to their household, budget, storage needs and attachment to particular possessions.
““The goal should be to let go of about 25% to 50% of their existing toys to make space for the items coming in December.””
— Matt Paxton, author and television host
What the Checklist Cannot Decide
The report does not establish that every household should discard the same items, nor does it provide a universal timeline for deciding whether belongings are no longer useful. The suggestion that an unused item may be let go after a year is attributed to Hoepner and should not be treated as a binding rule.
The supplied material also does not give detailed food-safety instructions for pantry goods, condiments or leftovers. Readers should follow product labels and official food-safety guidance rather than rely on appearance alone, particularly for foods that require refrigeration. The report does not specify which charities accept particular donations or how local disposal rules apply.
Review Items Before the Holidays
The checklist points readers toward a room-by-room or category-by-category review during November: inspect food dates and storage, sort seasonal clothing, clear guest-room surfaces, and see which decorations and kitchen tools are actually used. Households can then separate usable items for donation from damaged goods for appropriate disposal.
There is no formal follow-up or deadline announced by Good Housekeeping. The next step is up to each household: make space where holiday needs are greatest, while keeping items that remain useful or personally meaningful.
Key Questions
What are the 13 categories organizers suggest reviewing in November?
The list names dingy linens, unwanted winter accessories, expired pantry items, guest-room clutter, children’s toys and games, unused family china, worn fall decor, unworn holiday outfits, old condiments, festive makeup, unused Christmas decorations, letters and photos, and extra kitchenware.
Do organizers say everyone should discard these items?
No. The checklist offers professional organizers’ recommendations, not a requirement. Whether an item should be kept, repaired, donated or discarded depends on its condition, usefulness and personal meaning.
What does the report say about children’s toys?
Matt Paxton suggests considering a reduction of about 25% to 50% of existing toys ahead of new items expected in December. This is his suggested target, not a rule or a finding from a study.
Can usable items be donated?
The report recommends donation for some usable items, including toys and decorations. Check that goods are clean, safe and in acceptable condition, and confirm that the receiving organization accepts them.
How should households decide whether food has expired?
The article advises clearing expired or old pantry and refrigerator items but does not provide specific safety rules. Follow package labels and official food-safety guidance; do not use appearance alone to decide whether a food is safe.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
