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Good Housekeeping writer Alyssa Gautieri describes eight kinds of household items she plans to clear out before the holidays, including unused seasonal decorations, excess bags and old chargers. The piece is personal advice, not a report of a broader study or official recommendation; donation options depend on local organizations and their policies.
Good Housekeeping writer Alyssa Gautieri has outlined eight categories of belongings she is clearing from her home before the holidays, including winter clothing, unused decorations, old chargers and spare throw blankets. The advice offers readers a practical, personal checklist for making room at home, while noting that some usable items may be donated rather than discarded.
Gautieri says she is applying a “one-in, one-out” rule to winter clothing, sorting out pieces that no longer fit her style and boots she rarely wears because they are uncomfortable, out of style or scuffed. She recommends donating clothing in good condition to a local organization. When unpacking seasonal decorations, she found items she had forgotten and says she plans to give away decorations she will not display this year, suggesting thrift stores or community centers as possible recipients.
The list also covers reusable grocery bags, bath robes, candles and pens. Gautieri says she reduced her own bag collection to 10 bags, discarded older ones and plans to donate the rest; she notes that some food banks and pantries accept new or gently used totes. She writes that she got rid of two of her four robes and suggests cutting towel-like fabric into cleaning rags. For candles, she sets a deadline to use the remaining wax and says she saves attractive jars for reuse. She also recommends testing pens and discarding ones that no longer work or leak.
The final categories are outdated chargers and excess throw blankets. Gautieri says she has phone chargers that do not work with her current phone and is clearing them from a drawer. She is also reducing spare blankets to free closet space for holiday gifts, while suggesting that new or gently used blankets may be accepted by local charities or animal shelters. These are descriptions of her own household choices, not quantified findings about how much storage space readers can expect to gain.
Making Room Before Holiday Storage
The list addresses a common seasonal task: finding space for decorations, gifts and winter necessities without treating every unwanted item as rubbish. Sorting first, then donating usable goods, can give others a chance to use them, while removing broken or incompatible items can reduce clutter in drawers and closets. The article also offers small, defined tasks—such as testing pens or choosing a manageable number of bags—rather than asking readers to reorganize an entire home at once.
Donation suggestions are not guarantees of acceptance. Organizations may have different rules, capacity and seasonal needs, so readers should check before dropping off items. Candles and electrical cords also require care: Gautieri’s account does not provide a disposal standard for leftover wax, batteries or electronic waste, and local collection guidance may apply.
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A Personal Seasonal Checklist
The source is a Good Housekeeping article by Alyssa Gautieri, who leads the publication’s gift guide strategy and writes lifestyle and shopping content, according to the supplied biography. Its framing is first person: the eight categories come from what Gautieri says she is removing from her own home before the holidays, rather than from a survey, expert study or formal organizing program.
The recommendations connect decluttering with the approaching holiday season in two specific ways: unused decorations can be passed along while they may still be useful, and cleared closet or cabinet space can hold gifts and seasonal items. The source does not report a measured impact, a national donation drive or a deadline applying to readers generally.
““one-in, one-out””
— Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping writer
Donation Rules Vary Locally
The source does not identify a publication date, report whether Gautieri completed every planned task, or provide follow-up on what was donated or discarded. It also does not confirm which local food banks, community centers, thrift stores, charities or animal shelters accept specific items. Acceptance depends on each organization, and readers should check condition requirements and current needs before bringing goods.
The article gives a hot-water method for loosening leftover candle wax from jars but does not set out broader safety or disposal guidance. It also does not say how to recycle old chargers or what to do with damaged textiles. Those details remain outside the scope of the personal checklist.
Check Needs Before Donating
Gautieri’s proposed next steps are household decisions: finish burning selected candles by the end of the month or discard them, test pens, sort clothing and decorations, and clear out unused cords and blankets before making room for holiday items. The source does not announce a follow-up article or a formal next milestone.
Readers considering the same categories can begin by separating usable goods from items that are broken, worn out or incompatible with current needs. Before donating, contact the intended organization to confirm it accepts the item and is able to use it. For electronics and other materials that should not go in regular rubbish, check local disposal or recycling guidance.
Key Questions
What eight things is Alyssa Gautieri decluttering?
Her list includes winter clothing, unused holiday decorations, grocery bags, bath robes, partly used candles, chargers and wires, pens, and throw blankets.
Is this based on a study or a personal routine?
It is presented as Gautieri’s personal pre-holiday decluttering plan. The supplied source does not describe a survey, study or expert assessment behind the list.
Where can usable items be donated?
The article suggests checking with local organizations, thrift stores, community centers, food banks, pantries, charities and animal shelters, depending on the item. Acceptance varies, so contact an organization before dropping anything off.
What does the article recommend doing with old pens and chargers?
Gautieri says to test pens and discard ones that do not work or leak. She plans to remove chargers that are no longer compatible with her phone; the article does not specify how readers should recycle or dispose of electronic waste.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
