9 things to get rid of between Christmas and New Year's

Take stock of what’s around you in your home and look to getting rid of unwanted and unused items that create disorder in your life, so you can start the New Year fresh and clutter free.

1. Old swimming costumes

With summer well and truly underway, it’s time to destash old swimmers and beachwear you haven’t embraced this season and part company with them. Go through clothes drawers and laundry for towels and sarongs that are past their best and donate, or cut up for rags.

2. Summer shoes

Like swimwear, summer footwear gets a big workout in the summer months and the sun, sand and sea can take their toll on sandals, thongs and sneakers. If you’re not wearing them, they’re simply taking up valuable space so, if you find yourself reaching past a couple of pairs in favour of newer ones, either give them a wash and a polish to freshen them up for the season, or toss them out.

3. Wrapping and packaging

Now that you have your loot safely home and hung, stored or put on display, throw away the box it came in. If it’s unmarked and you’re likely to reuse it, make sure you have a place to store it first, or press it straight into service as you pack away your Christmas decorations in coming weeks. Otherwise, recycle it.

4. Tupperware

If yours has been a revolving door of guests and parties to attend with plates of food, never more than now can you gauge which Tupperware or other plastic food containers simply don’t suit your needs.

5. Platters

Platters are one of the most cumbersome items to store so must earn their keep on big occasions. If you didn’t use it this Christmas, let it go.

6. Christmas cookware

It’s actually a great time to donate seasonal kitchenware items that you’ve grown out of or have replaced. With the feasts of the festive season still fresh in our heads, people are more likely to appreciate their worth.

7. Christmas cards

Shocking, but true! Christmas cards are a joy to receive and form part of the celebration at the end of each year, but they are not designed to clutter your life all year thereafter. Store with your Christmas decorations only if you have a craft idea in mind for next year, otherwise, read again, enjoy update your own list of recipients and… recycle!

8. Toys

This is the time kids will feel less attached to their old toys and more interested in the new stash they’ve received, which you may well be struggling to find space for! If it’s still a challenge getting them to let go, remind them how happy they were to receive toys at Christmas and encourage them to give other children that same joy by way of donating them to charity.

9. Broken, unwanted or outdated Christmas decorations

Fix what you can, store the rest with care and chuck out those you continue to leave at the bottom of the box each year.

Related:

Clever ways to keep kids rooms clutter free

Clutter crisis: The one item Australians can’t throw away

26 things to throw out before the end of the year