5 things to declutter now before winter really hits

Winter hasn't officially started just yet, but it feels like it's right around the corner.

With a new season on the way, it's the ideal time to get on top of some decluttering before you hibernate for the colder months.

There are five simple things you can do to make your house feel clean and clutter free and it'll make a huge difference. Here's what you can do now to declutter.

Put away summer clothing

If you don't already split your wardrobe between summer and winter clothing, now is a good time to start. It can be a nightmare trying to shove all of your clothes into your wardrobe, especially when you factor in bulky winter coats.

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Pull out your summer clothing and pack it away until warmer weather is back. It's also a good time to go through what you're packing away and get rid of anything you're not wearing anymore. If you see something and can't remember the last time you wore it, it might be time for it to go.

Expired products

Winter conditions of cold, dry air can leave your skin feeling cracked and scaly — especially our hands which we've all been washing a lot more lately too.

But next time your reach for a hand cream or dig through the bathroom cabinets for your moisturiser, take a sniff and see if it's still good. All of your beauty products have expiry dates and it is a good time to have a good cull. Out-of-date and almost empty products are taking up precious space in your cupboards.

Paper clutter

We're all guilty of letting leaflets, catalogues and junk mail pile up on one corner of the bench — or the end of the dining table. Working from home, juggling school and home-schooling the paper clutter can accumulate so quickly.

To get your paper clutter under control, pop a timer on for 10-minutes and start sorting. Make quick decisions and action anything that needs to be done, file important documents away and keep the process moving. If you run out of time pop it back on and start again. Do this once a week to keep on top of things too.

Dead or dying indoor plants

You're definitely not alone if you've killed a houseplant, but instead of hoping and praying it'll come back to life, know when it's time to let go.

Dead plants with dried up, sad, foliage won't do anything to help create a warm, inviting vibe in your home. Instead, discard your dead plants and trim greenery on your other plants as needed during the cooler months.

Winter accessories you don't wear

You've dug all of your winter clothing out, which is a really good start for getting organised. But you should definitely take inventory and sort through the stuff you cannot wait to wear, and the stuff that just gets shoved to the back and never worn.

We all have a scarf or hat that comes out every winter but is never worn and it just takes up space. Saying goodbye to these items will not only give you wardrobe space, but you'll have zero guilt about only wearing what you love.