If your house feels one string of lights away from total holiday chaos… same.

I spent my four-day Thanksgiving break doing a major pre-holiday declutter, and wow — I didn’t realize how much stuff had quietly piled up in every corner of our home. By the end, I had a whole trunk full of donations, a sell pile that might actually fund a few gifts, and several trash bags ready for pick-up. And honestly? It felt amazing.

So if your house also needs a reset before winter break, family visits, and the incoming avalanche of new toys and gifts, here’s the 7-Day Holiday Declutter Challenge your family will actually finish.

Short, doable, mom-approved. Let’s go.

This simple 7-day decluttering plan works for families with kids of any age and can be started anytime in December.

Why declutter now?

• You’ll finally make room for incoming gifts (instead of shoving them into random closets).
• Your house will feel calmer going into the busiest month of the year.
• You’ll start January already ahead (future you will be so grateful).
• Your kids will actually be able to find their stuff again.

The 7-Day Holiday Declutter Challenge

Each day takes about an hour, or less with help. So enlist the rest of the family for a commitment every day for a week. Even small kids can help by going through toys or by taking on one drawer. When my kids were smaller, I always gave them our Tupperware drawer to organize — nothing breakable and they get the satisfaction of finding tops and containers that match.

Day 1: The Drop Zones

Entryway, mudroom, kitchen counters

Start where clutter collects the fastest.
Purge broken gloves, stray school papers, outgrown coats, old boots, and anything that doesn’t belong there. Wipe surfaces. Add a donation bag by the door to keep momentum going.

Day 2: Toys & Games

(kids’ rooms + play spaces)

Pre-holiday toy purge should be mandatory.
Have your kids pick 5-10 toys they’re ready to part with. Donate unused toys and games no one plays, and throw out games with missing pieces and all those tiny plastic bits. You’re making room for what’s coming (and they know it).

^{Octavian Lazar | Canva}

Day 3: Kitchen + Pantry Refresh

Recycle cracked Tupperware. Toss expired items from the pantry and fridge. Combine half-empty boxes. And if you’re feeling wild, wipe down the fridge shelves. It’s way more satisfying than you’d think.

Day 4: Bedrooms + Closets

Pull out anything that’s too small, uncomfortable, stained, torn, or never worn.
Make one pile to donate, one to sell, and one to toss.
Do the kids’ closets too with their help — their winter break wardrobes will thank you.

Day 5: Bathrooms

Quick wins here: Toss expired meds, old makeup, hotel shampoos, and stretched-out hair ties. Organize towels and get rid of old, stained towels.
Wipe the drawers. Reorganize what’s left.
This one always feels so good.

^{Oleksandra Naumenko | Canva}

Day 6: Living Areas

(family room, TV room, sunroom, basement playroom — wherever your people gather)

Fold blankets. Straighten shelves. Recycle old magazines. Edit throw pillows.
Remove anything that doesn’t belong — toys, crafts, random socks (seriously, how do they accumulate so fast?).

This is where you host friends and hang out as a family. Make it feel calm again.

Day 7: Paperwork + Digital Clutter

(mail pile, school papers, your phone, your desktop)

Finish strong.
Sort mail. Ditch junk.
Snap pics of school papers and art projects you want to save.
Delete the 200 screenshots you forgot about and those apps you never use.
Clear your laptop or desktop of all the junk folders you’ve accumulated so you start next year fresh.

Ending with digital cleanup feels like a reboot for your brain.

How to Keep Your Home Clutter-Free 

Now that you've done the hard work, here's how to make it last ... at least more than a few days:

• Keep a donation bag open all the time.
• Do a quick 10-minute evening reset each night.
• Ask your kids to put away five things before bed.
• Try a “one in, one out” rule for toys and clothes.

Small habits = Big calm

Maximum intent leads to minimal clutter

If your house has been stressing you out (mine definitely was), consider this your gentle nudge to give yourself the gift of space this season. A little decluttering now means more peace, less panic, and a home that actually feels ready for everything December throws at us. My whole family agrees our house just ... feels better.

And if you fill a trunk full of donations too? Welcome to the club — you’re in good company.