Tackling your next clutter hot spot can feel overwhelming… instead of dwelling on that feeling, take action by decluttering a few no-brainer items today and shift your momentum in the right direction!
We have the best intentions when it comes to decluttering our closets, kitchens, basements, and garages… it’s just that sometimes it feels so stinkin’ hard to get started.
Am I right!?
When it comes to clutter in our homes, the biggest obstacle is often our brain!
We procrastinate and put things off, assuming these tasks will require weeks or even months of time and effort we just don’t have.
It just never feels like the “right” or “best” time to get started.
We trick ourselves into believing that we will get started…
- next week
- next month
- after the New Year
- after we get back from vacation
- after the baby starts sleeping through the night
- once we have a bit more free time
- eventually, after [insert any future date or time]
In reality, we never find that elusive “right” time to get started and our piles continue to grow, making the project feel that much more overwhelming.
It’s a vicious cycle many of us can relate to!
My Advice: Take one small action right now!
Grab a trash bag and donation box, pick one space in your home, set a timer for 15-20 minutes, and start tossing anything that’s obviously trash or giveaway into the appropriate bags/boxes.
- Don’t pull everything out (you’re not organizing… just decluttering).
- Don’t worry about “finishing” the project (the goal is just forward momentum).
- Don’t worry about labels, bins, or any type of organizing containers you might need.
- Don’t get hung up on questionable items (stick to the easy “yesses” and “nos”.)
- Don’t hold yourself to perfect standards (focus on progress)
Just walk through the space, pulling out trash and items you know you don’t want, need, use, or love anymore. When the timer goes off, you can be done. Throw the trash bag away and put the donations in the back of your car.
Don’t know where to start?
Here are a few “no-brainer” ideas to get you thinking…
Kitchen & Dining:
1. Expired food in the refrigerator, pantry, or freezer.
2. Food you know your family will not eat (yes, it feels wasteful, just make a mental note not to buy it again).
3. Chipped or broken glasses, mugs, or dishes.
4. Broken/leaky water bottles or sippy cups.
5. Mismatched dishes, glasses, mugs, or silverware you don’t use.
6. Broken or finicky small appliances.
7. Food storage containers without a lid… or lids without a container.
8. Broken, cracked, warped, or chipped pots, pans, bakeware, or cookware.
9. Pots, pans, bakeware, or cookware you don’t use (even if it’s part of a set — you don’t need to keep the set together!)
10. Melted spatulas, broken wooden spoons, dull knives, or other utensils you don’t use.
11. Hand towels, dish cloths, and cloth napkins you don’t use (grungy sponges too!)
12. Seasonal or entertaining items you don’t use enough to warrant storing them.
Living Spaces:
13. Throw pillows and blankets you don’t need, use, want, or love.
14. Anything you don’t want to dust around.
15. Ripped books, or any books you don’t/won’t read.
16. Scratched CD’s/DVD’s.
17. Newspapers, magazines, or other subscriptions older than 1 month (yeah, I know… enjoy all your extra space!)
18. Games, puzzles, or toys that are broken, missing pieces, or that you no longer use.
19. Old remote controls that don’t serve a purpose.
20. All outdated media (you can digitize it with this service).
21. Burned down candles, or other decor items you no longer love.
Office & Crafts:
22. Dried up pens, markers, play-dough, and paints.
23. Crayon pieces, and pencils that have been sharpened too many times.
24. Art and craft supplies you don’t use.
25. Extra cords you no longer need.
26. Tax documents older than 7 years.
27. Manuals, instructions, or paperwork for items you no longer own.
28. Old phone books, brochures, and take-out menus (it’s all online these days)
29. Project/hobby supplies you don’t use.
30. Dead batteries.
31. Electronics you no longer use.
Bedroom & Closet:
32. Clothing and accessories you haven’t worn in over a year.
33. Clothing that doesn’t fit or isn’t comfortable.
34. Mismatched, lone, or holey socks.
35. Shoes, boots, coats, and outwear that don’t fit or you no longer like.
36. Wire hangers (get plastic or velvet).
37. Freebie t-shirts or other screen-printed items you have simply because you got them at an event.
38. Extra linens you don’t need (you need 2 sets at the most).
39. Old or uncomfortable pillows (replace your pillow every 7 years)
40. Extra bags, purses, luggage.
Bathroom & Laundry Room:
41. Expired medication, sunscreen, and toiletries.
42. Old makeup and nail care items.
43. Worn out, stinky, stained, and/or ripped towels, washcloths, sheets, or other linens.
44. Toiletries and cosmetics you don’t use.
45. Travel size products you won’t use (these expire too).
46. Cleaning supplies you won’t use.
47. Your toothbrush and shower loofah (treat yourself to a new one now that you’ve decluttered!)
Other Areas:
48. Packaging materials (boxes, bags, bubble wrap, cardboard, bags, receipts) from items you no longer have or will no longer return.
49. Seasonal decorations and gift wrap supplies you no longer use or love or ones that are just “past their prime”.
50. Gear you or your children no longer need or use (sporting goods, musical instruments, uniforms, special shoes and accessories, bags, team apparel, etc.)
This is certainly not an exhaustive list (I haven’t even started on the garage or the basement!)… but it’s a start, and often, all we need is a little motivation to get started!
A 50 Day Challenge:
Still feeling overwhelmed?
Declutter one item on the list above each day for the next 50 days (just ONE item) and you’ll declutter at least 50 items in less than 2 months!
Speaking from experience, you’ll likely declutter more than one item per day, so your cumulative total will probably be closer to 100 items (or more) in just 2 months. Plus, you’ll be developing a really great habit!
The next time you feel overwhelmed with the idea of decluttering your home, pick one item from this list and remove it from your home.
Initially, it won’t feel like you’re making a huge difference, but over time, your efforts will add up!
What will you declutter first?
Holly R Sanford says
Thank you for the great list. I’ve been thinking I would like to possibly list my condo for sale. A neighbor in my building just listed hers and it got an above asking offer in just a day or two. So now I’m inspired to start the process to get it sale-worthy and decluttering is a great first step!
Andrea says
This is definitely a “seller’s market” in many places around the country — you could likely get top dollar for your condo (and decluttering is a great way to generate a higher selling price!)
Vivian says
I usually have a bag that I put things I’ve decided to purge. I’ve realized for me I need to concentrate on one area at a time to make any noticeable change.
This week I’m concentrating on my kitchen. I’ve tossed out freezer burnt food, out dated condiments and I am going to purge some cookware. I can’t wait to see the change when I’m done.
I already feel more on top off my pantry, freezer and fridge. Thank you for another push in the right direction.
Andrea says
oh I LOVE a good kitchen purge!! it’s amazing how much more I enjoy being in a space that is freshly organized and clutter-free
Chris says
Andrea, do you still have your pans that you blogged about a few years ago. How are they holding up ? I am in need of a new saucepan and maybe frying pan. Thanks!
Andrea says
Hi Chris!
I mainly use my cast iron pans for everything these days — but I do still have a couple stainless steel Analon pans for soup, stews, pasta, sauces, etc. I’ve had them for about 15 years now and they still look great!
Chris says
Good to know. Thank you!
Tonya says
I just finished a whole house purge. I did every closet, drawer, cabinet and room of our house. I started 12/21 and finished yesterday while off for MLK Day. Took a month but a few areas a day/week made it not such a huge project. Feels good to be done!
Andrea says
Wow — amazing! I can imagine how fantastic it feels to know EVERY space has been looked through and purged!
Rhonda says
Today I purged:
-a wood futon frame (hasn’t been used in 8 years) to Goodwill (note, check local places…not all will take futons!)
-a BIG box of medical journals that had been in a storage box since 2005
-cutting board from Alaska, that was a gift. It’s a really nice set with a specialized knife and the wood surface is a bowl…but I NEVER use it! My in-laws buy a lot of souvenirs for others on their vacations, but often they are just not that practical. I felt bad unloading it, but someone else might enjoy it more.
Nice to free up a LOT of space!
Andrea says
wow — some big items too. That will feel good!!
Cathy says
When I moved to another state 2.5 years ago, I got rid of a lot of stuff. One of the hardest was all the lotions, scrubs and bubble baths that I had under the sink. They were expensive, wonderfully scented and barely used. I couldn’t believe how many items I had and how much money I spent on them!! I gave myself permission to throw them away. Know what? I felt SO MUCH BETTER once they were in the garbage. No more guilt. No more questioning. Much more space.
Just do it – it’ll be ok! 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks for mentioning this — I definitley know where you are coming from with the whole “I spent good money on that and it’s still brand new” situation. It’s hard to purge those items — I’m impressed you actually followed through with it!
J says
It’s hard to get rid of stuff like this- I should know! But sure wish you had donated instead of put in landfill
Lydia Senn says
It is amazing how much stuff we accumulate without even realizing it.
Andrea says
YES! It’s crazy! I think having 4 children has something to do with all our extra stuff 😉
Lynn says
Great post! I have a LARGE box in the garage right now ready to go to donation. I put a small box in my closet and other rooms too so I can purge as I am in there. I am so ready to have more purged this winter!
Thanks for all your wonderful posts! Have a great weekend!
Lynn
Andrea says
You’re welcome, Lynn! Way to go on your purging. I’m sure it feels great!
Brenda says
I do a version of this with my kids. I give them a plastic grocery bag (so not too big) and send them in their room. They have to fill it up with garbage. Anything they think is garbage. This isn’t the time for organizing/sorting. I literally just want them to pick up trash. I’m always amazed at the amount of broken toys, crayons, papers, wrappers, etc that they find. I usually try to look in the bag a little to be sure they aren’t throwing away clothes or anything they still need (like books, haha). They have figured out that they can drag the bag right under their bed with them and that helps it fill up fast!
Andrea says
This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
I sort of do the same thing, but I’m usually the one with the garbage bag. I think the kids would have a lot of fun with this!
Pamela says
Dull knives?!? Don’t purge them; sharpen them!
Andrea says
You know what… I’ve had the WORST luck sharpening knives. They seem to end up even more dull after being sharpened — obviously something isn’t right with that!
I have lots of cheapy pairing knives I use every day. I just toss those when they get dull. However, I do have 3 or 4 very nice knives that I wouldn’t just toss out without trying to sharpen first!
Pamela says
I understand! We just bought this from Menards and it is AMAZING: “Work Sharp: Knife and Tool Sharpener”. My brother gave us a demo of his at Christmas, but since he’s in MI and we’re in IN we had to go buy our own!
Andrea says
I’ll have to look into that. Our knife sharpener doesn’t seem to work well (or maybe it’s an “operator error”!)
Jenny says
Professional sharpeners are the best way to go. Our local hardware store does it for $5 or so. We can’t fill the landfills like this. I will look into the recommended device. The kind on the can openers or cheap countertop models don’t work for me, either, and I can’t seem to get the knack of the old stones.
Shari says
Love this list! And perfect timing! I got so mad at all our junk, I started decluttering yesterday.
One note on the tax documents…if you think you might ever deal with immigration or SS or Medicaid after immigrating, keep those documents! My in-laws have been through a terrible time having to prove that they actually paid their taxes in order to apply for Medicaid as seniors. It’s been awful and makes no sense! Thankfully they did get it figured out, but would have been so much easier if they had kept all their records.
Andrea says
Thanks for the heads-up on the tax documents. That’s new information for me!
Happy purging!!
Jen says
These lists always make me smile–do people really keep phone books and dead batteries?? I don’t even keep manuals or menus anymore–everything can be found online. I go through my plastic containers several times a year and pitch anything that doesn’t have a lid. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that every container in my cupboard (I don’t have many but, somehow, they seem to multiply!) has a matching lid.
Andrea says
haha — YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED! I’ve seen much crazier things in the homes I’ve worked in. And oddly enough, there are many times when the people make excuses for why they can’t purge things like old phone books or dead batteries!
Also, I cringed a little when I wrote “lids without containers” as I purged a lid without a container about month ago, and then came to realize the kids had taken that container… so then I had a container without a lid. Grrrr.
Oh well, it’s done now 🙂
Stephanie says
I always love your posts on decluttering! As I was reading your list, a few things came to mind that I could declutter so lists like this help. I have lots of necklaces that have been given to me. I have had them now for years but in reality I rarely wear necklaces! Time to look at them again.
Andrea says
yup — that’s a good one!
There are literally hundreds of other things I could add to this list!!!
My hope is that by keeping it to 50, it won’t seem too overwhelming. I also tried to think of things almost any home would have ,
Melissa says
Hi Andrea,
Do you have a printable list of your 50 suggested items? I would love to print it off and go through my house. Thank you!
Andrea says
I don’t… sorry!
I guess I’m not big on printables anymore as I really don’t want to add any paper clutter to my reader’s lives! 🙂
Melissa says
True. But there is something so wonderful in marking through a to do list. 🙂
Andrea says
yes, definitely!
You could always copy and paste it into a word document and then print it off!!
Melissa says
Will do! Thanks for compiling the list for us readers!
Ashley says
I love lists like this! I would argue there’s no reason to keep any owners manuals (with very few exceptions) as they’re so easy to find online. How often do we reference those things anyway?
Andrea says
I would make the same argument — but not everyone agrees! That said, I feel everyone should be willing to purge manuals for things they don’t even have!!!