5 Areas of the Home to Reorganize for Winter

Winter has a habit of creeping up quickly and catching us off guard. We do very little to prepare for its arrival and suddenly, on a particularly brisk day, we’re scrambling to pull out dusty heaters and musty duvets from storage.

Spring cleaning is a well known way to refresh your home every year, but you should really be doing the same in autumn, too. Some areas of the home are especially beneficial to reorganize, setting you up for a cozy, comfy, and healthier experience of winter. We recommend tackling the following five areas:

1. Main Closet

Your closet is the most obvious and essential area to overhaul for winter. Pull out coats, jackets, and scarves, and get them dry-cleaned, or let them air out in the crisp autumn breeze. Dust off and polish your boots. Wash, repair, and pack your summer clothes into airtight containers. Toss in some mothballs to ensure they do not get damaged.

2. Pantry and Freezer

It is always a smart idea to reorganize your pantry and freezer every six months. Most food, even flour, is not advisable to eat beyond this time period, and regular purges will prevent pest infestation. Unpack all the food, toss what has expired, store and label anything in open packets, and wipe down the shelves with warm, soapy water. Defrost your freezer to prevent the build-up of ice. Boost supplies of winter staples such as frozen peas, canned beans, canned tomatoes, bacon, and stock.

3. Linen Closet

The linen closet can be a major undertaking, but it pays dividends to sort it out. Blankets, duvets, and pillows can host an alarming amount of dust, which not healthy to breathe in while you sleep. Check the care instructions, but these items can generally be machine-washed on a gentle cycle. Just be sure to wash them on a sunny day so they can dry out completely. It is also surprisingly satisfying to tidy the closet.

4. Paperwork

A day of organizing paperwork is time well spent. Toss or file any papers piled up on your desk, and (if possible) sign up for emails instead. Also, gain control of your inbox by deleting or filing any outstanding emails and unsubscribing from any marketing updates you never read.

5. Bathroom Cabinet

Yet another satisfying cabinet to reorganize! Unload all the products, toss anything that has expired (especially medications), and wipe down the shelves with warm, soapy water. Buy a deeply enriching moisturizer to prevent dry skin and stock up on vitamin C, plus cold and flu tablets. Also, even though you are supposed to replace it every six weeks, a new toothbrush is likely in order as well.