Why Winter Is The Unbeatable Time To Declutter Your Linen Closet

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Spring cleaning has ancient roots in various religious origins and long-held traditions. As such, you may tend to think of the return of warm weather as the perfect time to tackle various cleaning and organizing tasks, such as decluttering your linen closet. However, there are actually a whole host of arguments that say winter can be an excellent time to give your space a much-needed refresh. According to a podcast from the American Psychological Association, excess clutter has been linked to increased depression and negative emotions. So, at a time when many people struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), one huge reason to clear out your linen closet — along with other areas of your home — is to support your mental health during the shorter, darker days.

Another compelling motivation to finally organize your linen closet as winter sets in is the increase in guests. Many homeowners tend to take on more guests around the holidays, so having your visitor linens sorted and easy to find can help the task of making and remake the bed much easier and less stressful. In addition, keeping your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets organized can help you make the most out of your small linen closet, stopping it from bursting at the seams with rarely-needed items. Doing this in winter is particularly beneficial because many of us prefer to be at home more often, snuggled up on the couch or avoiding the extreme weather outside. This means you'll likely have both more time at home to tackle this task than you may have in summer and more time to appreciate it once it's done.

A great place to start when decluttering your linen closet this winter is by taking everything out. This may sound like a hassle, but it actually serves a few different purposes. First, if you've been waiting to switch to winter-themed sheets and towels, you'll be able to find them quickly and set them aside. The second reason this helps is that it can give you an idea of everything that is inside, including the stuff that needs to go. You can reunite sets that have come apart in the back of the closet and get rid of any that are too worn out or that you don't use anymore. Many textiles in decent condition can be donated to animal shelters, homeless shelters, or thrift stores. Alternatively, if your spare sheets and towels are fairly old or threadbare, you may be able to send them to a textile recycling location so that the fabric doesn't go to waste.

Once you've separated all the pieces that will be donated or given away, you can then start to organize what's left. Try putting all of your guest items — such as towels, bedding, or washcloths — into their own section so that they are fresh and ready for when your winter visitors arrive. If you find that your linen closet tends to get all muddled up, you can always opt for some organizers like Budding Joy's Large Storage Bags with reinforced handles from Amazon to help put things into groups. And if decluttering your linen closet gives you a sense of accomplishment and a burst of energy, then why not also try these 18 simple cleaning hacks to keep your home tidy this winter?