20 Things to Declutter in February to Simplify Your Home and Life

February is the perfect time to declutter and get your home in order. The start of the year has settled in, and with spring around the corner, now is a great opportunity to clear out the excess. Here are 20 things to declutter in February to simplify your home and life.

DECLUTTERING IN FEBRUARY

I don’t know about you but I always find January a bit of a messy month. I’m usually recovering from the Christmas break (I don’t ever really feel like it’s a restful holiday!), I have various deadlines and projects at work and the first few weeks of the year are all about getting back into the normal routine.

It’s also often a time where we want to hunker down to avoid the mirky grey and darker days whilst trying to keep up with the goals and resolutions that we enthusiastically set on January 1^st. All in all, I find January to be a month of settling back into things.

So, when February comes around I’ve found my feet, established a routine for my days and decided which of those goals and resolutions are ones that I’m still wanting and able to stick with.

This is why February is a great time to now knuckle down and get on with some projects that I haven’t gotten around to in January.

If decluttering in February and making space in your home, schedule, heart and mind is on this month’s To Do list – I hope this article with 20 things to declutter in February helps you get started!

20 THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN FEBRUARY

Here are 20 things to declutter in February to declutter and simplify your home and life.

1. Old Magazines and Newspapers

Magazines and newspapers can pile up quickly, creating unnecessary clutter. If you have stacks lying around, ask yourself if you’ll ever read them again. If not, it’s time to recycle them. If you have favourite articles, consider scanning them digitally or tearing them out and organising them in a folder. Keeping only what’s useful or sentimental will make your space feel lighter and more organised.

2. Expired Food in Your Cupboards

Go through your kitchen cupboards and check expiration dates. Remove anything that’s expired and dispose of it. If you find unopened food items that are still good but you won’t use, donate them to a local food bank. Keeping a well-organised and decluttered kitchen with fresh, usable ingredients makes meal prep easier and more enjoyable.

3. Unused Kitchen Gadgets

Many of us have kitchen gadgets that seemed like a great idea but never actually get used. If you have items collecting dust—like a waffle maker, juicer, or fondue set—consider whether they truly serve a purpose in your routine. Donate or sell anything you don’t use to free up valuable kitchen space. Keeping only what you regularly use will make cooking more efficient and much more fun!

4. Mismatched Tupperware

Take a look at your food storage containers. Get rid of any that don’t have matching lids, are cracked, or stained. Invest in a good quality, matching set of containers to make storing food easier. Keeping an organised set ensures you can always find what you need when packing leftovers or lunches. Who wants to be scrabbling around trying to find the right sized lid?!

5. Clothes You Haven’t Worn in a Year

Whilst not a set-in-stone rule, a simple rule of thumb: if you didn’t wear it last season, you probably won’t wear it this year. Go through your wardrobe and donate, sell, or repurpose clothes that no longer fit, don’t suit your style, or don’t make you feel good. A streamlined wardrobe makes getting dressed easier and ensures you only keep what you love and do actually wear.

6. Shoes That Hurt or Don’t Fit

Shoes that give you blisters, are worn out, or simply don’t fit properly should be let go. Donate gently used pairs to charity and recycle or dispose of those that are beyond repair. Keeping only comfortable, well-fitting shoes will make your shoe collection more practical and wearable and your feet will thank you for it too!

7. Old Makeup and Skincare Products

Makeup and skincare products expire faster than you might think. Check the labels for expiry symbols. Toss anything past its prime to avoid skin irritation and free up bathroom space. Keeping your beauty products fresh ensures they’re both hygienic and work how they’re meant to. Think how old perfumes lose or change their fragrance over time.

8. Unused or Broken Jewellery

If you have tangled, broken, or outdated jewellery sitting in a drawer, it’s time to sort through it. Keep sentimental pieces and those you truly love, but sell, donate, or recycle items that no longer serve you. Having a well-organised jewellery collection makes it easier to choose accessories and more enjoyable when you don’t have to spend ages untangling chains or finding a matching earring.

9. Excess Mugs and Glassware

If your kitchen cupboards are overflowing with mismatched mugs and glasses, choose your favourites and donate or recycle the rest. Keeping only a functional set will make your cupboards neater, less cluttered and more accessible.

10. Books You Won’t Read Again

If you’ve finished a book and don’t plan to reread it, consider donating it to a library, charity, or a friend who might enjoy it. Keeping only books you truly love will free up space and make your bookshelf more meaningful to you,  not what your fantasy self thinks you ‘should’ be reading or what you think might look good to guests who are eyeing up and judging your book collection! They’re probably not doing this by the way anyway!

11. Old Towels and Bedding

Worn-out towels and bedding can be repurposed as cleaning rags or donated to an animal shelter, for example,. Keeping only your favourite, most versatile and regularly used linens will make your home feel less cluttered and more tidy. An organised linen cupboard ensures you always have fresh, comfortable towels and sheets when needed where you can find what you need quickly and easily.

12. Unnecessary Paperwork

Go through your documents and shred or recycle outdated bills, receipts, and paperwork. Keep only essential documents in an organised filing system. Reducing paper clutter will make finding important information easier and your home office more efficient.

13. DVDs and CDs You No Longer Use

If you’ve switched to digital streaming, you might not need physical DVDs or CDs anymore. This could be another of those things to declutter in February. Donate or sell them if they are in good condition. Decluttering media collections frees up storage space and makes entertainment areas more organised.

14. Craft Supplies You’ll Never Use

If you have half-finished craft projects or unused supplies, be honest about whether you will ever use them. Donate them to a school or charity to free up space in your home. Keeping only craft materials for projects you’re excited about makes crafting more enjoyable. Simplifying your home, schedule and life is all about giving yourself time and space for what you WANT to do, not just what you need do. Crafting may be a hobby that you can enjoy if you’re home is more decluttered.

15. Unused Electronics and Cables

Go through your tech drawer and get rid of any cables, chargers, or devices you no longer use. Recycle electronics responsibly. Organising your electronic accessories ensures you can easily find the cables and chargers you need without frustration especially if you organise them into categories and label them up. Remember though to declutter first then organise otherwise you might find yourself organising cables that don’t fit anything you currently own!

16. Outdated or Unused Apps on Your Phone

Too many apps slow down your phone and clutter your screen. Delete ones you no longer use and organise the rest. Streamlining your digital space improves your phone’s performance and makes it easier to find essential apps. Why not take a few minutes to see what apps you currently have on your phone. Do you need them all, do you use them all?

17. Old Greeting Cards

Keep only the most sentimental cards and recycle the rest. You could try using a memory box so you have an allocated place to store the ones you want to keep. The beauty of a memory box is that the space available can help you decide how much of your sentimental items and mementos to keep. If the box won’t close, it’s time to reassess which items you still want to keep and which you’re okay letting go of. You could also think about a digital photo frame to have your favourite photos on display but without adding to your clutter.

18. Loyalty Cards You Never Use

If your wallet or purse is stuffed with loyalty cards, remove the ones you don’t use. Many stores now have digital versions. Keeping only the essential cards simplifies shopping and reduces bulk in your bag. Plus, reducing the number of cards might also help you create better shopping habits and think mindfully about where, when and how you shop.

19. Instruction Manuals for Items You No Longer Own

If you don’t have the appliance anymore, you don’t need the manual. Many can be found online if needed. Clearing out old manuals makes space and reduces some of the paperwork you need to find a home for.

20. Decor Items That No Longer Suit Your Style

If a decorative item no longer brings you joy, pleasure, you like to look at it or it doesn’t fits your space or style anymore, donate or sell it. Keeping only decor that reflects your taste makes your home feel more inviting, personal and unique to you.

CONCLUSION

I hope you enjoyed this list of 20 things to declutter in February and it’s given you a list of projects to work through.

I hope that by decluttering a little each day, you’ll feel lighter, more organised, and ready to enjoy a simpler, stress-free life. Decluttering isn’t about dedicating hours and hours to clearing your clutter. Instead, it’s about building up a regular declutter habit of a little bit of decluttering, done often, rinse and repeat.

Let me know in the comments if you’re decluttering this February. What other projects are you tackling? What’s the hardest project for you to get started with? I’d love to hear from you so please leave a comment below!

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Here are some articles to help you declutter, organise and simplify your home this month…

• 10 Things To Do in February to Simplify Your Life
• How Reverse Decluttering Can Help You Get Rid of Stuff More Easily
• 14 Frugal Living Tips to Help You Save Money and Thrive on Less
• The 2-Minute Decluttering Rule (Small Actions for Big Wins)
• Wants vs Needs in Decluttering? Why It Matters for Successful Decluttering
• 30 Things to Declutter in March (and Free Printable)