Monthly Home Organization Calendar and Checklist

What to organize in your home month-by-month

By
Elizabeth Larkin
Elizabeth Larkin

Elizabeth Larkin is a professional organizer with a strong interest in productivity, time management, and process refinement. She used her organizational skills and effectiveness to pen articles with helpful information on cleaning, organizing living spaces, and decluttering.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/10/20
person filling out a planner

Cathryn Lavery / Unsplash

When it comes to the big tasks, housekeeping can be simplified if you tackle one major thing a month. This monthly home organization checklist takes you from January to December, providing you with resources and ideas to keep your home in good working order throughout the year. Follow this calendar to get your home organized the old-fashioned way: working a little bit at a time while tackling one big project each month. If you need extra motivation to keep your house clutter-free all year, you can combine this with the ​weekly organizing routine to keep your home neat and tidy. 

Below you'll find some of the best ways to stay organized and uncluttered month to month.

  • 01 of 12

    January: Closets

    Wardrobe
    Csondy / Getty Images

    January means a fresh start, even in your home. Start with the biggest challenge in most homes: the closets. Though you may have lots of different closets, focus here on the closets that hold clothing. (Cleaning out your linen closet comes a little later in the year.) Whether you spend a few evenings a week or one entire Saturday on this task, you're going to feel like a new person when you're done.

    Checklist: Tackle Small to Large Closets

    Start with your smallest closet and work towards tidying up the largest one. You'll finish small closets fast, giving you more time and motivation to handle your largest offender, likely your bedroom closet. Try this order:

    • Hall or entryway coat closet
    • Kid's bedroom closet
    • Primary bedroom closet

    About This Term: Primary Bedroom

    Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


    Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.

    Tip

    There's an endless selection of closet organizers. Spend some time deciding how you want to spend money. Start small with new hangers, bins, shoe organizers, or hanging shelves, or go big by overhauling your closet with an entire organizational system.

  • 02 of 12

    February: Kitchen

    Sink, countertop and cabinets in domestic kitchen
    Andersen Ross / Getty Images

    Closets may present the biggest challenge, but the kitchen tends to have the most clutter with dozens of appliances, pots, pans, cooking utensils, piles of paper clutter, and the scores of cooking and baking items you have. The trick is to break your kitchen into zones and take one at a time to organize throughout the month.

    Checklist: Work on Kitchen Zones

    It doesn't matter the size of your kitchen, each one has typical zones or segments that need decluttering, cleaning, and organizing. Check off the list as you go along:

  • 03 of 12

    March: Paper, Mail, and Finances

    Pile of letters and postal parcel
    czarny_bez / Getty Images

    The paperless home is likely a far-off fantasy, which means organizing physical piles of paper in your home office and elsewhere in your home is still important. Organizing paper, mail, and finances in March will mean fewer headaches in April for tax time. When you have the right mail management system set up that you can follow each week, you'll find paper management to be a very grounding and even satisfying process. 

    Checklist: Steps to Reduce Paper

    You may need a few files and boxes to keep documents and papers in order. Organize your papers into these piles, then transfer them into labeled boxes or bins to handle during the month:

    • Papers for shredding
    • Papers for the recycling bin
    • Small "forgotten" bills, such as copays
    • Receipts/papers for filing
    • Critical documents for taxes
  • 04 of 12

    April: Bathroom

    Bathroom Organization
    Hero Images/Getty Images

    Nothing will get your day off to a better start than a clean, well-organized bathroom. The benefits of a clean and organized bathroom stack up. A clean bathroom helps minimize the risk of hazards, such as accidentally taking outdated medicines or using a toothbrush growing mold on it. An organized bathroom makes the simple act of finding a bandage an effortless process. And, if you're wondering what to do with old, ratty towels and sheets, consider donating the worn linens to your local animal shelter.

    Checklist: Tackle These Spots

    Bathrooms tend to have a mishmash of small items scattered in various places. As you're going through items, open them up and smell them; some creams may be stale or smell noxious, for example. Clean and organize these five main bathroom areas:

    • Vanity drawers
    • Vanity lower cabinet
    • Medicine cabinet
    • Shower caddy and shelves
    • Linen closet
    Continue to 5 of 12 below.
  • 05 of 12

    May: Shoes and Boots

    Woman with the shoes in the hand and Woman's shoes in the rack
    KARRASTOCK / Getty Images

    May is a good month for organizing shoes and boots. It's not too muddy or wet outdoors, so items won't be too messy to handle. Depending on where you live, it's also time to transition into warmer months. This way you can see what footwear you and your family may need in the coming seasons. Since you already organized your closets in January, you'll have a little extra time to work on your shoe collections.

    Checklist: Reducing Shoe Clutter

    Check mudrooms and entryways for forgotten footwear, too. After gathering, cleaning, and disinfecting footwear, take these actions to limit the clutter:

    • Care for seasonal and special occasion footwear by storing in clear bins.
    • Invest in a stylish footwear cabinet for your entry or mudroom.
    • Toss footwear with holes, peeling, and unfixable zippers or heels.
  • 06 of 12

    June: Garages

    Organized Garage
    Lisa Stokes / Getty Images

    Garages, with their combination of tools, sporting equipment, appliances, beach gear, bikes, and sometimes even cars, clean up easier than you might think. The trick is to organize your garage into zones. To help organize items, consider garage storage systems and ideas. Now is the time to consider cleaning the garage floor and disposing of automotive fluids.

    Checklist: Organize Into Zones

    Garages have universal zones. Grouping like items with like makes life simple anywhere in the house, but especially in the garage, where there are many small items that tend to become misplaced. Specific zones requiring storage include:

    • Auto supplies
    • Sports and athletic equipment
    • Household and gardening tools
    • Recycling center
  • 07 of 12

    July: Clothes

    Young woman standing in front of her closet choosing something to wear
    Emilija Manevska / Getty Images

    Though you cleaned out your closets in January, now is a good time to go back into both your closets and chests of drawers to organize your clothes. Organizing clothing requires a lot of decluttering. Think about donating or consigning clothing, shoes, and accessories that you no longer wear. It's also a good time to repair winter or fall clothing. 

    Checklist: Clothing Must Haves

    It's not always easy to toss an item of clothing. But every single item of clothing should fit all of the following criteria:

    • It fits well.
    • You wear it regularly.
    • You feel comfortable in it.
    • It accurately reflects your style and image.
  • 08 of 12

    August: Daily Routines

    High Angle View of Smart Phone and Drink With Purse
    Keatichai Leechaikitjaroen / EyeEm / Getty Images

    It's a good time to add in or tweak daily routines during this typically quiet summer month. A routine can be a very powerful weapon in the fight for productivity and can be customized to your current life. Think of a routine you'd like to begin following. Choose a new or different routine for the morning, afternoon, night, or one that spans the entire day.

    Checklist: Hints for New Habits

    Change or add to your routine slowly. Choose from the examples, or come up with your own ideas:

    • Wake up earlier.
    • Hydrate first thing in the morning.
    • Prepare for your day with a list.
    • Schedule quiet time into your planner.
    • Review your day at night.
    Continue to 9 of 12 below.
  • 09 of 12

    September: Linen Closets

    Various household items in closet
    beyhanyazar / Getty Images

    September means prep work for the holidays before your guests arrive. Begin organizing the linens in your bathroom, hallway, and guest room linen closets. Declutter and refresh the closets so they are stocked with clean towels and bedding for guests. Don't forget that bedding also means new, unused bed pillows for guests. Keep handy a few throws and bed blankets of various weights in the closets for guests who are finicky when it comes to sleeping temperature.

    Checklist: Keeping Fragrant Linens

    Linen closets have a way of collecting odd odors. Here's what to do for fresher smelling linen closets:

    • Replace old musty towels and bedding.
    • Remove linens and wash them.
    • Loosely pack linens into the closet for air circulation.
    • Keep a box of scented soap in each linen closet.

    Tip

    Refresh your linen closet after it's emptied with your favorite spray cleaner. If you prefer, mix a teaspoon of vinegar and eight ounces of water. Moisten a sponge with the solution and wipe the closet interior clean. Replace linens after the closet interior is bone-dry.

  • 10 of 12

    October: Pantries, Cabinets, and Drawers

    Utensils in Open Drawer in Kitchen
    Dawn Simonelli / EyeEm / Getty Images

    You organized your kitchen back in February. Now that it's months later, it's time again to tackle the detailed decluttering and organization of your kitchen's drawers, cabinets, and pantry. Spend time organizing your cutlery drawer to prepare for the holidays. You'll then be able to spot any holes you need to fill for your cooking utensils, as well.

    Checklist: Scan Your Silverware

    Overlooking your silverware inventory means having mismatched sets or not enough for your holiday table. Improve your silverware situation by doing the following:

    • See if you have full formal and everyday cutlery sets; replace if necessary.
    • Polish tarnished and stained silver flatware.
    • Replace dull steak knives or sets with loosened rivets.
    • Separate out plastic cutlery.

    Tip

    If you need to buy more stainless steel flatware, it pays to brush up on the differences in the qualities of stainless steel silverware.

  • 11 of 12

    November: Holiday Kitchen Prep

    Kitchen organization from Our Fifth House
    Photo / Our Fifth House

    Wondering how to deal with kitchen prep in the calm before the whirlwind of holiday activity? If you tend to empty your cabinets in search of a specific item during the holiday rush, now's the time to become better organized. Head back to the kitchen to focus on pulling out what you'll need in the coming month, including for Thanksgiving.

    Checklist: Gather These for the Holidays

    Now's the time to set up a staging area where you can gather what you'll need before the activity begins. Gather these items:

    • Holiday dinnerware
    • Holiday food displays and trays
    • Holiday food storage containers for guests
    • Holiday gift containers for food and baked goods
    • Seasonal baking needs such as cookie-cutters
  • 12 of 12

    December: Holiday Decluttering

    Holiday organization
    Photo / Getty

    There's no need for heavy lifting in December. This month is all about decluttering after the holiday rush. Use that week before the new year begins to clear the clutter and welcome in the new. Donate your purged items to a worthy cause if they're useful, clean, and well-made. Regifting or recycling a gift is acceptable, too, but only if it's done with care and courtesy.

    Checklist: Keeping up With the Holiday Clutter

    You may feel like you are walking on a carpet of gift wrap, gifts, and smashed holiday cookies and ornaments. Here's what to do to keep up with the crush:

    • Dedicate a large recycling bag or garbage can for gift wrap.
    • Toss broken items in a separate garbage bag.
    • Label a large box for donations.
    • Find more efficient systems to store holiday decor.
    • Invest in a better storage bag for your holiday tree; it'll save money in the long run.

    Tip

    Plain wrapping paper is recyclable, but anything with added glitter or flocked velvet is not.

Where to Donate Everything in Your Home

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