TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Good Housekeeping writer Alyssa Gautieri outlined eight types of household items she plans to clear out before the holidays, including winter clothing, unused decorations, extra bags and blankets. The article offers personal organizing suggestions, not a report of a broader trend or a formal study.
Good Housekeeping writer Alyssa Gautieri has shared eight categories of household items she plans to declutter before the holidays, including winter clothes, unused decorations, extra grocery bags, robes, candles, cords, pens and throw blankets. The first-person list offers practical ideas for making space and passing along usable belongings, but it reflects Gautieri’s own plans rather than a survey or a wider finding.
Gautieri says she is sorting winter clothing and boots, following a “one-in, one-out” rule as she anticipates receiving new items. She plans to let go of clothes that no longer suit her style and boots she rarely wears or finds uncomfortable, out of style or scuffed. She recommends donating items that remain in good condition to a local organization.
She also plans to donate holiday decorations she will not display, suggesting thrift stores or community centers, and to reduce her reusable grocery and tote bags to the 10 she says she uses. Gautieri writes that she discarded older bags and intends to donate the remaining extras; she notes that some food banks and pantries accept new or gently used totes, though readers should check local organizations’ rules.
The remaining categories are bath robes, half-used candles, chargers and other wires, pens, and throw blankets. Gautieri says she kept fewer robes, plans to use or discard old candles by the end of the month, and is removing chargers incompatible with her current phone. She suggests testing pens before discarding them and donating new or gently used blankets to charities or animal shelters.
Making Room Before Holiday Gatherings
The list focuses on a seasonal household problem: making room for gifts, decorations and holiday supplies without treating every unwanted item as waste. Several of the categories Gautieri names can be donated if they are clean and usable, potentially giving local organizations or another household a chance to use them. That option depends on the recipient’s needs and acceptance policies.
Her suggestions are personal organizing choices, not evidence that households generally need to discard these items. Readers can adapt the list to their own space and circumstances, keeping belongings they use and checking donation guidance before dropping anything off. For items that are broken, leaking or no longer safe to use, donation may not be appropriate.
Products Worth Considering
Le Creuset Enamemed Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven, 5 qt., White/Crucible
Ninja Professional XL 12-Cup Food Processor, NF701
Philips Café Aromis Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo Pro Milk System
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Gautieri’s Eight-Category Checklist
The source is a Good Housekeeping first-person article by Alyssa Gautieri, who leads the publication’s gift guide strategy, according to the supplied material. It presents what she plans to clear out as she prepares for the holiday season; it does not describe a new policy, product launch or research finding.
The examples range from clothing and household linens to small items that can accumulate in drawers. Gautieri’s account combines decisions about what to keep with suggestions for donation or reuse, such as turning a towel-like robe into cleaning rags and saving attractive candle jars for another use. The source does not report how much she discarded or whether any donations were ultimately accepted.
““one-in, one-out””
— Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping writer
Donation Rules Vary by Organization
The article does not identify specific organizations that have confirmed they will accept Gautieri’s items. Donation policies vary, and the suggestion that some food banks or pantries take tote bags is not a guarantee that a particular location will accept them. Readers should contact local recipients about condition, cleanliness and current needs.
The source also does not provide a publication date, a count of items removed, or follow-up confirming what was donated, reused or discarded. Its advice is based on Gautieri’s own household and does not establish that all eight categories are suitable for every home.
Check Local Needs Before Donating
Gautieri’s article describes planned decluttering rather than a program with scheduled next steps. Her stated plan is to sort the listed items before the holidays, donate usable decorations and other belongings where accepted, and make additional storage space for gifts and seasonal supplies.
For readers following similar steps, the practical next move is to check each item’s condition and contact a prospective charity, shelter, thrift store or pantry before taking it there. The source gives no later update on Gautieri’s cleanout or on which organizations received donations.
Key Questions
What eight things does Alyssa Gautieri plan to declutter?
She lists winter clothing, unused holiday decorations, grocery and tote bags, bath robes, half-used candles, chargers and wires, pens, and throw blankets.
Does the article report a broader holiday decluttering trend?
No. The supplied article is a first-person account of Gautieri’s own plans. It does not cite a survey or data showing that other households are decluttering the same items.
Where does Gautieri suggest donating usable items?
She mentions local organizations, thrift stores, community centers, charities and animal shelters. She also says some food banks and pantries accept new or gently used tote bags. Acceptance varies, so check with the organization first.
What does Gautieri suggest doing with items that are not donated?
She suggests reusing towel-like robes as cleaning rags and repurposing attractive candle jars after removing leftover wax. She also writes that she plans to discard older bags and pens that no longer work. The source does not give a broader disposal guide.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
