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Good Housekeeping published a November decluttering checklist built around 13 categories professional organizers suggest reviewing before the holidays. Their recommendations include checking expired food, clearing guest-room and kitchen clutter, and donating usable items; the advice is not a requirement to discard a set amount of belongings.
Good Housekeeping has published a November decluttering checklist featuring 13 categories of household items professional organizers say people may want to sort before winter and holiday hosting. The list covers practical items such as expired pantry goods and worn linens, as well as unused seasonal decor, clothing, and sentimental belongings.
The recommendations are presented as advice from professional organizers, not as a universal rule to throw away everything in a category. They include dingy linens, unwanted winter accessories, expired pantry items, guest-room overflow, children’s toys and games, unused family china, worn fall decorations, holiday outfits people do not plan to wear, old condiments, festive makeup, unused Christmas decorations, sentimental letters or photos, and extra kitchenware.
Several suggestions focus on making room for the holiday season. Organizer Allison Flanders, founder of ORG NYC, says clearing old jars from the refrigerator and freezer can free space for holiday food and leftovers. Organizer Allison Flinn of Reclaim recommends reviewing decorations after decorating and donating pieces that are unlikely to be used again. For the pantry, organizer Bergman says a clear-out can make room for seasonal supplies such as baking ingredients and entertaining staples.
The report also recommends sorting rather than automatically discarding in some cases. Bergman advises repairing usable gloves or scarves and letting go of items that remain uncomfortable or impractical. For children’s toys, Matt Paxton suggests aiming to remove about 25% to 50% of existing toys to make room for potential holiday gifts; that is his recommendation, not a reported average or required target. Usable items may be donated or offered to family, while expired or visibly spoiled food should be discarded.
Making Room for Holiday Hosting
The checklist matters as a practical seasonal planning guide: clearing crowded storage, kitchens, and guest spaces before gatherings can make it easier to find supplies and accommodate visitors. The food-related advice also prompts readers to check dates and condition before using pantry or refrigerator items in holiday meals. These are organizer recommendations, and the report does not establish that every household needs to clear every category.
Some suggestions address the emotional side of decluttering as well as space. Paxton says people can let go of items associated with chapters of life they have moved on from. That guidance is personal rather than a factual claim that sentimental belongings should be discarded; readers can choose to keep, give away, donate, or store items based on their circumstances.
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A Seasonal Check Before December
The report frames November as a convenient time to review cold-weather clothing and seasonal household goods before winter routines and holiday gatherings intensify. It also connects the timing to a likely influx of new possessions, including toys and gifts, and the need for usable kitchen and refrigerator space.
Good Housekeeping attributes the recommendations to organizers and other professionals it quotes, including Bergman, organizer Hoepner, Paxton, Olivia Parks of Nola Organizers, Flanders, and Flinn. The article offers a list of possible targets for a household review; it does not report a new study, a measured trend in decluttering, or a formal recommendation from a government agency.
““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 of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff and host of Discovery’s Filthy Fortunes
Choices Depend on Each Household
The article does not specify when the report was published beyond its November framing, and it provides no survey or data measuring how commonly households have these items. The organizers’ suggestions are subjective and may not fit every reader’s budget, storage needs, family traditions, or plans.
Some items require judgment before disposal. The report does not offer detailed rules for safely evaluating every food product, cosmetics, electronics, or keepsakes. Readers should follow product labels and local waste or donation guidance; when an item is usable, donation or giving it to someone who wants it may be an alternative to throwing it away.
Review Items Before Holiday Use
The practical next step is to work through relevant categories before holiday shopping, decorating, or hosting: check food dates and condition, set aside worn or unused items, and decide whether suitable belongings can be repaired, donated, or passed on. The report sets no follow-up deadline or formal next milestone; households can use the list selectively as the season approaches.
Key Questions
What is the November decluttering list?
It is a Good Housekeeping report listing 13 household categories organizers suggest reviewing before winter and holiday hosting, including linens, pantry goods, toys, decor, and kitchenware.
Does the report say everyone should throw away 25% to 50% of their children’s toys?
No. Matt Paxton suggests that range as a possible target for families making room for expected holiday gifts. It is his recommendation, not a universal requirement or a measured finding.
Should usable items on the list always go in the trash?
No. The recommendations include repairing some winter accessories and donating usable toys or decorations. Readers can decide whether to keep, repair, donate, give away, or discard items based on their condition and needs.
Why does the list include pantry and refrigerator items?
The organizers cited by Good Housekeeping say clearing expired or unwanted food can make space for seasonal ingredients and holiday leftovers. Check food labels and condition, and discard items that are expired or spoiled.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
