Civic Coffee Recap: Autumn Cleaning

On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, Age Friendly Seattle partnered with the Seattle Public Library and Providence Elizabeth House to host its monthly Civic Coffee, focusing on autumn cleaning. Janene Pastor, Director of Operations at Aria Environmental, had great insight into the impacts and benefits of decluttering.

Janene grounded the conversation in the encouragement to not bite off more than you can chew. It is helpful to make these changes gradually.

Decluttering, or removing unnecessary items from, your home can help you in many ways.

1. Physical safety. Fewer items in your space, particularly on the floor, means fewer tripping hazards.
2. Mental and social well-being. Clear spaces and peaceful external environments can free up mental space for ourselves and the people in our lives.
3. Fewer pests. Clutter provides pests with hiding areas and food.

These benefits are heightened when done in community. For example, decluttering with a friend can help you build decluttering momentum and make it more fun. In multi-unit housing, decluttering benefits the physical safety and pest risk for everyone in the community. What happens in one unit affects the others.

Click on the image above to watch a video recording of the Civic Coffee on Autumn Cleaning (YouTube, 43:42).

Tips for Decluttering and Pest Prevention:

• Start with your kitchen and bathroom(s). These spaces are known for being perfect living environments for insects.
  • Seal food, wipe surfaces, remove crumbs, and check expiration dates.
  • A quick vinegar water bath will remove insect eggs from fresh fruit you bring into your home. Dunk your fruit in the vinegar water solution, rinse with water, dry, and you are set!
• Declutter your fridge. This can help keep your food adequately cold. A stuffed fridge has poor air circulation, which could cause your food to go bad prematurely or become contaminated.
• Report any water leaks. Moisture attracts insects and could cause mold.
• Get rid of insects. Don’t be ashamed if you find bugs in your home. Report them if necessary, set up bug traps or spray, and get help as needed to solve the issue.
• Start simple. Only decluttering 3-5 items per day is a great start. This way, you won’t get overwhelmed and you can build momentum
• Recycle boxes and get rid of packaging ASAP. Holes in cardboard packaging and paper bags can house insects. Take your delivered goods out of their packing soon after they arrive and promptly get them out of your home.
• Examine new things that come into your home, especially when they are secondhand. Pests can spread via clothing, furniture, books, and more. Always examine incoming secondhand furniture for pests; apartment building pest professionals are also often willing to check incoming furniture.
• Keep floors uncluttered. This helps prevent falls as we age. 

Letting go of things that no longer serve us allows both physical and emotional space. A clear home can provide peace of mind, knowing that pests have less opportunities to live with you. While getting started can feel hard, decluttering is an important task to start.

Sometimes emotionally traumatic events can lead us to hold onto more belongings than what serves us. In these cases, community support is helpful. The more people support you, the less you will rely on being surrounded by belongings for support.

Age Friendly Seattle is grateful for Janene for her insights on decluttering and pest prevention and for Providence Elizabeth House’s partnership in hosting this Civic Coffee event. Watch the online recording here and find out about the upcoming Civic Coffee here. Share this article with a friend to spread the wealth of knowledge. Decluttering supports our physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

Contributor Sonali Agarwal is an intern with Age Friendly Seattle. She is studying Law, Societies, & Justice and Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. To read more about Civic Coffee and other programs, visit Age Friendly Seattle.