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Good Housekeeping published a November decluttering checklist based on recommendations from professional organizers and an author. It suggests sorting 13 categories, from expired pantry goods and unused winter accessories to toys, holiday decorations and extra kitchenware, before seasonal hosting and new gifts add to household clutter.
Good Housekeeping has published a 13-item November decluttering checklist, drawing on advice from professional organizers and author Matt Paxton about clearing household space before holiday hosting and seasonal gifts. The recommendations cover food, clothing, decorations, toys and keepsakes; they are expert suggestions, not a formal safety standard or a requirement to discard any particular item.
The list includes dingy linens, unwanted winter accessories and expired pantry goods, along with items accumulating in guest rooms. Organizer Di Ter Avest Hoepner advises returning misplaced belongings to their proper rooms and removing things kept only “just in case” if they have not been used for a year. That timeframe is her rule of thumb, not a universal measure of whether an object is useful.
Several suggestions target holiday preparations. Paxton recommends making room for new toys by letting go of about 25% to 50% of children’s existing toys, and says donating usable toys can help children practice charitable habits. Organizers also point to unused family china, faded fall decor, unworn festive outfits, old condiments, rarely used bright makeup, and Christmas decorations left in storage after decorating.
The final categories are letters and photos tied to past chapters and extra or worn kitchen items, including towels, mugs, small appliances and gadgets. The report advises readers to decide what still serves them rather than treating every item as disposable. For pantry and refrigerator clear-outs, it recommends removing expired or overly old products, while providing no detailed food-storage or safety guidance.
Making Room for Holiday Hosting
The checklist addresses a practical seasonal squeeze: holiday meals, overnight guests and incoming gifts can place extra demands on kitchens, storage and living space. Clearing expired food and unused kitchenware can free room for groceries and leftovers, while sorting guest rooms and linens can make those spaces more available to visitors.
The advice also frames decluttering as a choice rather than a demand to purge. Several categories involve personal or family history, so the report leaves decisions to households. Its recommendations may help readers identify items they no longer use, but the article does not establish that following all 13 suggestions is necessary or will produce a measured outcome.
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A Seasonal Checklist, Not a Rulebook
The source is a Good Housekeeping home-organizing report titled “13 Things Organizers Say You Should Toss in November.” It brings together comments from professional organizers, including Olivia Parks of Nola Organizers, Allison Flanders of ORG NYC and Allison Flinn of Reclaim, as well as Paxton, author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.
The timing is tied to the run-up to winter holidays: the article suggests reviewing fall decor after Thanksgiving and setting aside unused Christmas decorations after decorating. The source does not give a publication date, survey data or evidence that its recommendations represent a consensus among organizers.
““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, as quoted by Good Housekeeping
What the Checklist Does Not Establish
The report offers expert recommendations rather than tested instructions. It does not explain how the suggested toy-donation range was determined, nor does it provide evidence that a one-year unused-item rule suits every household. Readers’ needs, budgets, storage space and sentimental attachments differ.
The article also does not give a publication date or identify a single event prompting the checklist. Its food advice is broad: it says to remove expired or old pantry and refrigerator items but does not specify how long particular foods remain safe after opening. Readers should follow product labels and applicable food-safety guidance rather than infer a storage deadline from the article.
Sorting Before the Holidays
There is no announced follow-up, deadline or required next step. The practical sequence implied by the report is to review cold-weather clothes, pantry and refrigerator contents, and guest-room storage before hosting; households can then assess toys, decorations and kitchen items as holiday plans take shape.
For unwanted belongings that remain usable, the organizers suggest options such as donation or offering items to family. The article does not list specific charities or collection dates. Its central recommendation is to make selective decisions ahead of the busy season, while leaving each household to determine what to keep.
Key Questions
What is the November decluttering report?
It is a Good Housekeeping checklist of 13 categories that organizers and author Matt Paxton suggest reviewing before winter holiday hosting and gift-giving.
Which items does the list recommend sorting?
It covers linens, winter accessories, expired pantry goods, guest-room clutter, toys, unused china, fall and Christmas decor, holiday clothes, condiments, festive makeup, sentimental keepsakes and extra kitchenware.
Does the report say everyone should discard 25% to 50% of their children’s toys?
No. Paxton offers that range as a goal for making room for toys expected in December. The source does not establish it as a universal rule or evidence-based requirement.
What does the article say about expired food?
It advises clearing expired pantry products and old or opened-too-long condiments to free storage space. It does not provide specific safe-storage times, so readers should check labels and food-safety guidance.
When should readers get rid of unused Christmas decorations?
Organizer Allison Flinn suggests reviewing decorations after putting up the items a household plans to use and donating decorations that people do not expect to use again.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
