Many people associate cleaning and organizing with springtime, but there is truly never a bad time to get your house in tip-top shape. Winter can be an excellent time to go through your belongings as you prep for chilly months spent hunkered down at home.

You may feel as though you've touched on the major decluttering categories already—paperwork, books, beauty products, and the like, but there are so many other types of items that you will want to be sure to go through before the season kicks in.

Here, three professional organizers highlight five categories of household items that you will definitely want to sort through in the coming weeks in order to pave the way for a stress-free winter.

Board Games

Many people enjoy cozying up with a board game or two as the temperatures start to drop, Chitra Swygard, the co-founder of Organized with Beauty, says. As a result, she adds that now is a great time to evaluate all of the different ones you have on hand to make sure they don't have any missing pieces and are still relevant for your family if your kids have grown older.

"Rather than letting unused, bulky games take up valuable space, consider giving them a second life by passing them along to someone who would enjoy them more," the organizer says.

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Blankets

Is there such a thing as owning too many warm, comforting blankets? Yes, actually, there is, according to Swygard. She encourages people to ask themselves the following questions: are your blankets ugly, scratchy, or full of holes? Do you have extras buried in baskets or storage that we never use and probably never will?

If you've answered yes to any of the above, you're better off adding these blankets to the donation pile (animal shelters often appreciate them, too, all year round) and making room for those that you truly enjoy cuddling with when it's frigid out.

Pantry Items

Winter is a great time to hunker down and bake some goodies to enjoy at home with friends and family. Before you get cooking, you'll want to allow plenty of space in your pantry for new ingredients, Lynn Reding, the founder of Organizing with Lynn, says.

She adds that this is also a great opportunity to toss out anything you've been holding onto that's past its prime. In the process, you may even come across things you didn't realize you had—that are still safe to consume—and will save yourself a trip to the grocery store as a result.

Old Holiday Decor

Just because you loved glittery decor five years ago doesn't mean it necessarily suits your aesthetic today. Similarly, you may have been holding onto holiday items that you seldom reach for one year after the next. Take some time before the holidays roll around to do some sorting through all of your various decorations, Sandy Park, the founder of Tidy with Spark, says.

Winter Clothing

As you turn over your closet to get ready for chillier weather to set in, you may wish to be a little more decisive about what you're actually looking to hold onto versus what you can donate or sell, Park comments.

"You know what was worn last season, and if it hasn't been touched, the chances you'll reach for it this season are slim," she says.

Plus, as the winter season gets busier, decluttering clothes will only move further and further down your to-do list, so take some time now to cross off this chore, the organizer suggests.

It's also smart to go through all of your winter accessories like hats, gloves, and scarves.

"If anything makes you cringe, it’s likely time to let it go," Swygard says. "Be honest, will you really wear it if you don’t like it?"