Fall Decluttering Challenge

October 21, 2025/Julie Stobbe/

Reading time – 10 minutes

With the arrival of fall, it can feel like the start of a new year. The lazy summer is over and schedules get busy. The home needs some reorganization to deal with new schedules, activities and the clutter caused in the summer.

A year ago, I wrote about 8 decluttering challenges. I am recapping them here so you can work through them at your own pace and in whatever order suits your time and energy.

During these challenges, I encourage you to declutter quickly. You can always return to a room and do more decluttering again. Each challenge has a link to the original post that provides you with more information.

The first challenge is decluttering your cosmetics. In the post, you will find a chart with expiration dates for a variety of cosmetics. You can also enjoy this quick video.

The next challenge is bedrooms. Get the entire family involved. Make it a game or a competition. Bedrooms can become catch-all spaces until a little time is spent decluttering and finding homes for items.

Not everyone has a diningroom. There is usually a space that has a table and places for tablecloths, candles, napkins and who knows what else is stored there. It is time to find out where you are storing things you use to make a beautiful meal and declutter what you don’t need anymore. A quick decluttering challenge for your eating space.

Here is another decluttering challenge for the whole family. Apply this list to recreation rooms, family rooms and livingrooms. Remember to spend between 10-30 minutes and work quickly.

Some people have a home office, others work on tables, couches and beds. Look at the space you use and quickly gather up your office items and organize them in one space. Declutter what you don’t need or have too much of.

This is a good time of year for a clothing decluttering challenge. Think about clothing you didn’t wear in the summer. Is it time for them to be donated? Look at your fall wardrobe and decide what fits, is in good repair, feels great and you get compliments when you wear it. You might need the whole family to participate in this challenge too.

This is a good time to revisit the holiday decoration decluttering challenge. There are a lot of celebrations happening, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Halloween, Advent, Christmas, and Hanukkah. If you’re buying new decorations, donate the old ones. I read in a book that, as a season of life ends, declutter it.

The most important decluttering is your mindset. Take time to determine what is important to you now and in the future. Let the past go and the things that belong to it.

There maybe some spaces I left out of the challenge. Make your own challenge. Create a list of 7-9 items that should be decluttered from the space. Keep your list with you to help you stay on course and work quickly.

In the comments, let me know the most interesting things you found while you are decluttering.

Julie Stobbe is the 2024-2025 winner of the Harold Taylor Award for outstanding contributions to the organizing industry and Professional Organizers in Canada. As a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach, she brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter in your home, office, mind and time. She guides, mentors and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.