10 Things to Throw out ASAP in December, According to Professional Organizers

And while you’re tossing expired food from the pantry, organizers recommend tackling old food in the fridge and freezer, too. “If it hasn’t been touched in months or you have unlabeled mystery containers and Ziplocs that have been sitting in the freezer for a while, it’s best to toss them,” says Parks.

Organizers say a decluttered fridge and freezer is the best starting point for the season’s culinary festivities. “It’s so much easier to stock and cook from a refrigerator or freezer that contains fewer items; It also gives us an idea of what we will need to purchase and space to freeze leftovers,” says Orr.

December is a good time to get rid of all those leftover gift wrap scraps, torn tissue paper, and worn gift bags according to professional organizer Caroline Thor, who is also a certified KonMari Method® consultant. “They make our wrapping feel chaotic and cluttered, so they should be removed,” Thor says.

Do a seasonal closet audit this December and get rid of clothing and accessories you no longer wear—or have never worn. “Look hard at your closet and prioritize what you like to wear, what you need, and what you haven’t worn in ages—someone else can use the clothing that you don’t need,” says Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company. She recommends going through clothes, shoes, handbags, and seasonal accessories, such as scarves, this December and discarding what you no longer need.

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“When we make a conscious decision not to use decor one year, most likely we won’t use it again; The same is true of holiday lights that no longer work,” says Orr. Test all holiday lights before putting them up and toss ones that don’t work — you’ll save both storage space and the hassle of having to replace broken lights next year.

“Go through your child’s toys to get rid of ones they’ve either outgrown or are broken,” says Orr. She shares that most of the time, toys that are outgrown are still in great shape and can be donated instead of thrown in the trash.

“Donations around the holidays are always in demand and tasking yourself to go through and edit out toys, games, sports paraphernalia, and clothes at this time is a ‘feel good’ and needed project,” says Brock.

While you’re doing a seasonal closet audit this December, Brock recommends checking the hanger situation. “Do you have too many unused hangers or not enough? It’s important to take stock of the organizing system you have and build or buy what you need to effectively house all types of clothing,” the expert says.

If you have empty shoe boxes, gift boxes, or hat boxes you’ve been holding onto—because you never know when they’ll come in handy—this month is the time to get rid of them. “Purge them out of your closet to either a different storage place or toss,” says Brock.