The Great Toy Clear-Out:
Pre-Christmas Decluttering Checklist
Let’s be honest. The toys are taking over.
There’s a plastic dinosaur under the sofa, a mountain of cuddly toys on the bed, approximately 400 Lego bricks on the floor and a toy kitchen that somehow contains absolutely no food.
And with Christmas on the way, there’s only one question left to ask: where on earth is everything going to go?
Before Santa adds even more to the collection, it’s time for the great toy clear-out! Not only will you reclaim some much-needed space, but those outgrown toys could earn you a little extra spending money on Vinted, too.
So, grab a cuppa, put on a playlist and prepare for a trip down memory lane. Let’s make decluttering a little less chore and a lot more cheer.
The big toy explosion
First, get everything out. Yes, everything. The toy box, the bedroom drawers, the mystery cupboard and that bag of toys that’s been sitting in the hallway since approximately forever.
Gather it all in one place and prepare to be amazed by just how much stuff one small human can accumulate.
Now comes the fun part: sorting!
Create three piles:
- The VIP pile: Current favourites, well-loved toys and anything that definitely isn’t going anywhere.
- The Vinted pile: Toys they’ve outgrown, forgotten about or simply don’t play with anymore.
- The give-someone-else-a-smile pile: Items in good condition that could be donated to someone who’ll love them.
Top tip: if your little one is old enough, get them involved. You might need to negotiate the release of a few beloved plastic animals, but it’s a great way to teach them about passing things on.
Play toy detective
Every toy has a story. Some are treasured favourites, some have been played with once, and others appear to have arrived in the house by magic.
Your mission? Find the toys that have been hiding in plain sight.
Ask yourself:
- Has this been played with in the last six months?
- Is it suitable for their age now?
- Are all the pieces there?
- Would another child love it more?
- Is it worth selling, or would donating it be better?
Be ruthless, but realistic. Nobody needs to part with their favourite teddy just because it hasn’t been washed or their favourite toy hasn’t seen daylight for a while.
And if you find a toy you completely forgot you owned? Congratulations, you’ve just unlocked a free new toy without spending a penny.
The Vinted treasure hunt
Now for the exciting bit: turning forgotten toys into extra cash!
That outgrown train set, the baby toys gathering dust or the dressing-up outfit that’s suddenly two sizes too small could be exactly what another family is looking for.
The best bit? Every successful sale means a little more room at home and a few extra pounds towards Christmas. Win-win!
The mystery box challenge
Here’s a little game to make decluttering more fun.
Find a box and set a timer for 10 minutes. The challenge is to fill it with toys that can be sold, donated or passed on.
No overthinking. No disappearing halfway through to reorganise the kitchen drawer. Just ten minutes of focused sorting.
If you’ve got children helping, turn it into a game: can they find five toys they’ve outgrown, three books they no longer read and two games they’d love another child to enjoy?
You could even reward everyone’s efforts with a hot chocolate or a favourite snack afterwards.
Just remember: the goal is to clear clutter, not to create a new pile of things to sort out next weekend!
Give everything a proper home
Once you’ve decided what stays, it’s time to get organised.
Keep favourite toys accessible, group similar items together and use baskets or storage boxes for things like building blocks, craft supplies and soft toys.
A simple labelling system can work wonders, particularly if you want the children to help put things away.
As for the toys you’re selling? Keep them in a separate, clean, dry box so they’re ready to find their new homes when they sell.
And those items destined for donation? Get them bagged up and ready to go rather than letting them become another permanent feature of the hallway.
Make room for Christmas!
You’ve sorted, sifted, listed and reclaimed some precious floor space. Now stand back and admire your work.
The toy boxes close. The drawers open without an avalanche. You can see the bedroom carpet again.
And most importantly, there’s room for the new games, books and toys that might make an appearance on Christmas morning.
Of course, you can’t guarantee the living room will stay tidy for long. But at least you’ve given yourself a fighting chance!
Your mission is complete!
You’ve cleared some clutter, given forgotten toys the chance of a new adventure and potentially topped up the Christmas fund.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to find that missing Lego brick.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve discovered lurking in the toy box? Share your decluttering wins with us over on Instagram!
Happy decluttering, from Dishmatic. 🩵