5 Things to Declutter Before Halloween (So Your Home is Holiday-Ready)

Before the holiday rush hits, now is the ideal moment to reset your home. The concept for the following five decluttering categories was originally inspired by Good Housekeeping, and we’ve expanded them with Geoffrey’s practical, time-saving, household-management lens to help you actually take action.

1. Outgrown or Unwanted Halloween Costumes

Why it matters: Costumes are bulky and rarely worn twice. Holding onto them “just in case” traps you in sunk-cost thinking.

What to do instead:

• Donate gently-used costumes to schools, shelters, or children’s programs before Halloween when families need them most.

• Repurpose versatile accessories into a dress-up or imagination box for kids.

2. Fall + Winter Clothing That No Longer Works for You

Why it matters: Closets accumulate identity-based clutter—items that matched a different version of you. Keeping them creates friction every morning.

Quick test: If it doesn’t fit now, doesn’t feel good, or you wouldn’t confidently wear it this season, release it rather than store it.

3. Holiday Décor You Won’t Use This Year

Why it matters: Holiday décor carries emotional attachment, but storing outdated or damaged items wastes space and leads to repurchasing under December pressure.

Do this now, not mid-holiday chaos:

• Toss broken or incomplete items.

• Donate décor that no longer suits your style.

• Sell high-demand pieces locally to offset fresh décor purchases.

4. Expired Pantry Items

Why it matters: Expired ingredients silently crowd the shelves, especially “specialty” items we bought with good intentions but never used. They take up space needed for hosting and holiday cooking.

The butler’s approach:

• Purge expired items first.

• Group duplicates (yes, you likely own 3 cinnamons).

• Create a “holiday shelf” to avoid mid-recipe surprises.

5. Towels and Linens Past Their Prime

Why it matters: Sub-par linens reduce your daily comfort and guest experience. Old towels often stick around out of guilt, not usefulness.

Replace or repurpose:

• Keep 2–3 quality towel sets per household member + 1 for guests.

• Cut worn towels into cleaning rags or donate to animal shelters.

Why Declutter Before Halloween at All?

Starting early creates space—mental and physical—before the season of guests, gatherings, décor, and hosting ramps up. You prevent:

• Panic cleaning during November

• Last-minute emergency décor or grocery runs

• Beginning the holidays already overwhelmed

This is more than a clean-out. It’s a Seasonal Reset.

Need Hands-On Help? Geoffrey Can Coordinate It.

If you want this done efficiently and without the stress, click the button below to let Geoffrey handle it:

✅ We can schedule a cleaner

✅ We can coordinate donation pickups

✅ We can schedule a professional organizer

As always, we are here to help. With love, Geoffrey – Your Household’s Personal Butler