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How To Declutter Blankets & Comforters

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Today's mission is to declutter blankets, throws and comforters in your home. As always, we're not getting rid of all of them, but only excess ones.


Organize Linen Closet Challenge
Once you've done this mission you'll realize how much room these items take in your home, because they're bulky, and it will clear space in your linen closet or wherever else you store them.

This mission is designed to be done while working through the Organize Linen Closet Challenge here on the site, which is part of the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge, but of course you can do it whenever you need.

Doing this mission is quite simple. All you need to do is gather up all the blankets, throws, quilts, and comforters you've got in your home into one place and then decide which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of.

As always, get rid of the ones you don't like, that are too tattered or torn to use, and any that are excess.

How Many Blankets Should You Keep?

Deciding how many blankets and similar items you need is a very personal decision, but I'll provide some guidelines and rules of thumb for you to help you along, plus some places you may not have considered that you might want to stash a blanket or two.

How to declutter blankets, comforters and throws, including guidance on how many blankets to keep, and what to do with the ones you get rid of {a #Declutter365 mission on Home Storage Solutions 101} #DeclutterBlankets #Declutteruse this Pin it button to save to Pinterest
First, think about what you need for bedding in your home. You will only need 1-2 blankets, and/or one blanket and one comforter (or duvet) per bed, maximum, in most instances. You should also remember that sometimes that may be used for guests.

Second, in addition to those blankets for your beds, I know a lot of people enjoy having a blanket or two to curl up with on a couch or at other times that they're relaxing.

Consider who in your family enjoys wrapping up in
blankets, and also where they like to do this, and decide the total number you need for this purpose. (Remember that blankets can be moved around, such as from a bed to on the couch, for example, if needed, so you may not need duplicates between the two categories.)

Once you've considered those issues you should basically have decided on a preliminary number of blankets to keep, and then the rest are excess, at least for normal use.

You may want to have a couple of blankets in the following places though:

(1) In an emergency preparedness kit (or you could choose to use sleeping bags);

(2) In the trunk of your car, especially in the winter in a traveling car emergency kit;

(3) For pets, who themselves may enjoy a blanket or throw, especially one that's past its prime for human use.

Once you've considered these additional places to keep blankets, then any that are excess for normal use, and in these special areas, should leave your home.

If you get a bit nervous about the number you've decided on though, because, for example, you want to be assured you've got enough blankets for very cold nights, or when the heat goes out, consider how many people there are in your home typically, and make sure there are about two blankets per person for that eventuality. (Again, these can be blankets that would normally be on a bed, or from the couch). If that number is larger, keep that many, at most, and then you can feel more comfortable with getting rid of the rest of them.

Once you've decided how many to keep choose which ones will be decluttered. As always, you can typically sell or donate any that are still in good condition. There are some good ideas below of possible places to donate.

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Readers Who've Gotten Rid Of Blanket Clutter

Several readers have sent in photos showing how they've done this mission and gotten rid of their blanket clutter.

These photos, I hope, will inspire you to get this clutter out of your home as well, plus give you some ideas of what you can do with your excess blankets and other bedding clutter.

Donate blankets to those in need, such as the homeless, when getting rid of your blanket clutter {featured on Home Storage Solutions 101}use this Pin it button to save to Pinterest

The photo above is from a reader, Melissa. She explained, "We took blankets out to the local coat rack. We do not need 20 blankets but homeless people might."

What a great place to donate your blankets Melissa! Thanks for that idea.

Another excellent idea is to donate them to a local pet shelter, many of which are looking for many types of used bedding for the animals, including blankets, towels and sheets.

Box of bedding clutter that will be donated to a woman's shelter {part of the Declutter 365 mission to declutter blankets, on Home Storage Solutions 101}

The photo above is from another reader, Amy, who said, "Got rid of all this, plus a giant trash bag of decorative pillows! It's loaded in my trunk right now to go to a women's shelter! Woohoo!"

Yay Amy! Great to get all those bulky items out of your home, plus donating them to a women's shelter is also a wonderful idea.

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Are You Ready To Get Rid Of Excess Blankets & Comforters?

Lots of items decluttered from the house, and ready to donate, including blankets and bedding {featured on Home Storage Solutions 101}

The photo above is from a reader Adrianne. She said, "4 trash bags, some blankets, and another bag all donated today!"

Want To Do More Decluttering Missions? Get Started With Declutter 365 Today!

Declutter 365 missions: 15 minute missions for your entire home

Once you declutter one type of item in your home I bet you'll want to declutter some more. After all, decluttering gives you a great reward for even a small investment of time and energy.

The Declutter 365 system is designed to help you declutter, over the course of a year, your entire house, with just 15 minutes of decluttering each day!

Hundreds of thousands of people use this proven system to get rid of their clutter, and bring peace and calm back to their homes.

Declutter 365 works to guide you to clear the clutter without overwhelm, focusing on just one small area at a time, and without making a huge mess in the process, so you see consistent forward progress without all that "messy middle" that makes it even harder to function in your home than before you started.

In addition to building a daily decluttering habit, the Declutter 365 program, along with the accompanying 52 Week Organized Home Challenge, teaches you the skills, habits, routines, and mindsets necessary to maintain the clutter free and organized state of your home from now on, so it'll never be as messy and cluttered as it is right now, ever again.

If you haven't already, make sure to get your copy of this year's Declutter 365 annual calendar here (it's FREE!), find today's date, and do 15 minutes of decluttering on the day's mission. Then, repeat again tomorrow, and again and again. Over the course of the next year, if you do this 15 minutes per day, you'll declutter your whole house!


Click here to take me to this year's Declutter 365 calendar



Related Pages You May Enjoy

Getting Clutter Free 15 Minutes At A Time Hall Of Fame

Getting Rid Of Bedroom & Coset Clutter Hall Of Fame

Go From How To Declutter Blankets, Comforters & Throws To Home Page

Comments for Are You Ready To Get Rid Of Excess Blankets & Comforters?

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where I donate old blankets and towels
by: Jennifer

I give old blankets and towels to pet shelters/animal rescue farms.

how many to keep for guests?
by: Cherri

I have the question of how many to keep for guests to stay?

another place to donate
by: Kitty

Also ask broke or upcycle quilters. We can always use more blankets for batting.

ways to reuse
by: Suzy

It is good to recycle the torn ones by donating to animal shelters always in need, patching them with a pretty quilt piece and donating to shelters/homeless or saving to sit on at football games or to watch fireworks on the lawns in the summer. Put them in a spacesaver bag and tuck away with seasonal stuff.

Mine are sentimental
by: Amie

I keep way too many - most of them have some sort of sentimental attachment - handmade, etc.

donate to women's shelter
by: Samantha

I keep too many but I've been donating them to the women's shelter for their use or to resell.

more for when kids sick
by: Erin

I struggle for storage space. I recently downsized to get rid of more worn out ones or too "childish" as my kids are growing up. But with 3 kids I like one extra clean set in a bin as when they get the flu it's usually in the middle of the night when I don't have the energy. But there are others I cannot get rid of such as my grandma knit me one, etc. I've found an old dresser works for storing extra sheet sets for company, and a few extra throw blankets.

add some to car for winter
by: Denise

I put my blankets in a box and also put a few in my car just in case I get stranded on the side of the road. My grandmother taught me that. Always better to have just in case.

camping blankets versus other blankets
by: Danielle

We have specific camping blankets, otherwise I have 3 for guests in the house, the camping blankets stay in the garage in designated bins.

blankets are my issue
by: Karen

We have a lot. I keep some for the dog and the kids all have a bunch. It's my issue.

when humans done with them, next used for pets
by: Shannon

I do not get rid of blankets once the humans are done with them they move on to the pets! Always a use.

Old blankets
by: Julie

Church quilting groups can use old blankets for mission quilts.

repurposing ideas
by: Anonymous

I have used my extra throws for my t-shirt quilts. They always have to have a backing and these are great! They are wonderful for many types of sewing projects! Saves a lot of money on buying fabric. I have also kept a couple in my workshop for moving and storing furniture. I have 2 college students that move frequently. I keep these in my workshop with all other moving supplies. I have also used some for my dog house outside so they can cuddle in the winter. I keep a couple in garbage bags and put in my attic storage.

Fortunately, I have a lot of storage space, but I have decluttered and gotten rid of anything I would never use again! I use the rule of clearing out 3 times. After the 3rd time of looking at it, it loses the emotional attachment unless it is a really special item! I've had 3 yard sales and donated 2 large truck loads to The Rescue Mission.

it sounds easy, but it's not
by: Sharon

It sounds so easy, yet I always end up keeping more blankets and quilts then I need. I hope I can do better after reading this!

Hard to purge due to sentimental memories
by: Anonymous

I have so many blankets. I love to cuddle but how do I decide? The blanket my grandmother crocheted for me for college, the one my mother in law made. My sister doesn't send a lot of gifts and she gave me one or the last trip I took with my husband before he passed away and we bought one. I could go on and on. I cuddle in them and feel wrapped in love. Help!!!!

Use the sentimental blankets & gift the store bought ones
by: Janet

We no longer use commercially made blankets that coordinate with our bedrooms. I washed & donated them during the bitter cold to an agency that would share them the same day.

My daughter taught me that a quilt is like a hug from everyone who wore the clothes or took care of them, as well as everyone involved in making the quilt. I feel the same way about hand knitted throws, military blankets, and old wool blankets. We now layer old blankets and throws on our beds. Twin size ones fit nicely across the bed when topped with one the correct size.

Freedom!
by: Kathy

I just finished this mission last week and donated an entire pick up bed full of blankets, extra sheets, comforters, etc. It was hard to get rid of some sentimental ones, but very liberating and freeing as well. Sentimental means nothing if you don’t use them and our family didn’t. So now they can be cherished by some other families that need them. Plus, now I have room in the linen closet for my sewing machine and quilt fabrics as well as the few spares I did keep! Whoo!

Where to donate blankets and sheets
by: Anonymous

Our local pet shelters are always needing blankets and towels. I also cut them in half to throw over our cars to keep the dust off. My husband thanks me for that!

Heirlooms That Don't Match
by: Fern

My husband's grandmother gave us 6 hand-crocheted blankets. They don't match in any room but are in our basement. We have very little storage but don't want to get rid of them (but also so want to get rid of all but one or two) for sentimental reasons. Help!

homemade quilts
by: Karen

I have a whole hope chest full of quilts made by my aunt and grandmother. They just sit there. Never get used. In fact they could use a cleaning but I think they would fall apart in the wash. I just don't know what to do with them. Any suggestions??

Quilt, well worn, made by my Grandmother in early 1900s
by: Joan in Oregon

Please give suggestions of what to do with family quilts, the oldest of which was made by my grandmother in the early 1900s. Some of the cover blocks are made from the fabrics in the men´s wool suits. The quilt has been registered with the Oregon Quilt Register.

Another quilt, made by the same grandmother, is also well worn but is all cotton and is lighter weight. I hate to part with these quilts but my storage area is limited and none are used on beds. My daughter is not interested in these.

Summer blanket
by: Kathy Z.

I always use a lightweight summer blanket!

crocheted blankets
by: xplantgrl

For those blankets that are hard to part with, how about a remedy I've done with my kids' art over the years: create a nice display and take photos of them. Then donate the blankets.

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