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An Ideal Home report says professional organisers recommend decluttering four areas in October: Halloween decorations, wardrobes, baking supplies and home medicines. Their advice includes checking condition and expiry dates, grouping items for easier access, and taking unwanted medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Professional organisers cited by Ideal Home recommend sorting Halloween decorations, wardrobes, baking supplies and home medicines in October, as households prepare for colder weather and seasonal routines. The suggestions focus on removing items that are broken, unused, expired or difficult to find, rather than on a formal checklist or requirement.
For Halloween decorations, Shannon Murphy, founder of Simpl Living Co, advises checking which items have gone unused for a couple of years, are broken or no longer suit the household’s taste. She says decorations in good condition can be donated while they may still be useful to someone else. The report does not give a specific donation service or collection deadline.
October can also provide a natural point to review clothing as summer items are put away and warmer layers come out. Murphy suggests thinking about pieces that were uncomfortable, did not fit well, were damaged or simply were not worn during the warmer months. The seasonal timing may help people remember what they actually used before deciding whether to store it again.
For baking cupboards, Rebecca Crayford, founder of lifestyle management business RCLM, recommends checking use-by dates, removing ingredients people know they will not use and bringing items at the back into view. She says grouping and arranging supplies visibly can help prevent people from buying duplicates when an opened packet is already in the cupboard. For medicine storage, her advice is to check expiry dates and what is on hand before shopping, group similar products, and take unwanted or expired medicines to a local pharmacy for disposal rather than putting them in household rubbish or flushing them away.
A Seasonal Reset for Four Household Areas
The recommendations address chores that can become more pressing as people spend more time at home and prepare for colder weather. Sorting decorations before or during the Halloween season can identify broken items and leave usable ones available for donation. Reviewing clothes as wardrobes change over can reduce the chance of storing pieces that went unworn through another season.
The pantry and medicine advice has a practical focus: knowing what is already available can make supplies easier to find and may help avoid unnecessary duplicate purchases. Checking medicine expiry dates also gives households a chance to identify products that should not be kept for future use. The report offers organisational guidance, not medical advice; people should follow product labels and consult a pharmacist or clinician when they have questions about a medicine.
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Why Organisers Pick October
The Ideal Home report presents October as a useful point between the end of warmer-weather routines and the colder months. Its reasoning is seasonal: clothing is being switched, Halloween items are in use, and people may expect to spend more time indoors baking. The medicine drawer is included as a household-preparation task before common seasonal illnesses become a concern.
The article attributes its four-area list to organisers Murphy and Crayford. It does not report a survey, quantify how much time or money decluttering saves, or claim that every household needs to follow the same schedule. The advice is a set of suggested tasks, with households free to adapt it to their needs.
“Take a look at what you have and consider whether there are decorations you haven’t used for a couple of years, are broken or no longer suit your taste.”
— Shannon Murphy, founder of Simpl Living Co, as quoted by Ideal Home
No Schedule or Measured Results
The report does not specify a year for the advice, identify a particular October deadline or say that the four tasks must be completed in a set order. It also provides no data measuring the effects of the suggested decluttering, such as savings, time reduced or health outcomes. The recommendations are attributed to two professional organisers and should be understood as practical guidance rather than a researched comparison of decluttering methods.
For medicines, the report does not name a disposal programme or address every type of product. Readers can ask a local pharmacist how to dispose of specific medicines safely. It also does not give guidance on whether any particular medicine is suitable for treating an illness.
A Practical October Check-In
The suggested next step is a household review of the four areas, starting with items that are broken, expired or no longer used. Usable decorations or clothing can be considered for donation; baking ingredients can be checked against their dates and arranged so supplies are visible. For medicines, readers can check expiry dates and ask a local pharmacy about disposal rather than placing unwanted or expired products in the bin or flushing them away.
Ideal Home’s report does not announce a follow-up date or formal programme. The advice is intended to be carried out at home as needed before colder-month routines take hold.
Key Questions
What four things do organisers recommend decluttering in October?
The Ideal Home report names Halloween decorations, wardrobes, baking supplies and home medicines.
How should I sort Halloween decorations?
Shannon Murphy recommends checking for decorations that have been unused for a couple of years, are broken or no longer suit your taste. She suggests considering donation for items still in good condition.
What should I check in a baking cupboard?
Rebecca Crayford advises checking use-by dates, removing ingredients you know you will not use, looking behind other supplies and arranging items so they are easy to see.
How does the report recommend disposing of expired medicines?
Crayford advises taking unwanted or expired medicines to a local pharmacy for safe disposal, rather than putting them in household rubbish or flushing them away. Ask the pharmacy about a specific product if you are unsure.
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