Decluttering By Category Challenge

If you want to get started with decluttering but simply don’t know where, our decluttering by category is a great approach.

Use the checklists to declutter specific items, categories, and areas of your home, rather than trying to attempt entire floors or rooms.

This makes getting started much easier, and allows you to declutter in stages, one step at a time. There are lots of categories below you can use, so identify areas of your home you’ve wanted to declutter for a while and start there.

Bedroom Linens

1. Fitted Sheets
2. Flat Sheets
3. Pillowcases
4. Matching Sheet Sets
5. Comforters
6. Duvets
7. Duvet Covers
8. Quilts
9. Bedspreads
10. Blankets
11. Mattress Protectors
12. Mattress Pads
13. Mattress Toppers
14. Pillow Protectors
15. Bed Skirts
16. Guest Bedding

Get the Decluttering by Category: Bedroom Linens printable here.

Bathroom Products

1. Soaps
2. Shampoo
3. Conditioner
4. Body Wash & Shower Gel
5. Skincare Products (Moisturizers, Face Wash, Serums)
6. Face Masks
7. Sunscreen
8. Makeup
9. Makeup Accessories
10. Hair Styling Products
11. Hair Tools
12. Hair Accessories
13. Deodorant
14. Toothbrushes
15. Toothpaste
16. Additional Dental Care Products
17. Nail Care
18. Perfume & Fragrance
19. Travel-Size Toiletries
20. Cotton Balls & Cotton Swabs
21. Bath Accessories (Loofahs, Bath Mitts)
22. Razors & Shaving Supplies
23. Period Care Products
24. Expired Products

Get the Decluttering by Category: Bathroom Products printable here.

Electronics

• Old Phone Chargers
• Broken Headphones or Earphones
• Old Remote Controls
• Depleted Batteries
• Old CDs and DVDs
• Old Video Game Consoles
• Old Video Games
• Broken Computer Keyboards and Accessories
• Old Memory Cards That Don’t Work Anymore
• Broken Smartwatches
• Outdated GPS Devices
• Frayed Cables or Chargers
• Old or Broken Smart Home Devices
• Old Phone or Laptop Cases
• Old VHS Tapes (Digitize If Needed)
• Old Routers or Modems
• Old Printers or Scanners
• Power Banks That No Longer Hold a Charge
• Empty Electronics Boxes You Don’t Need
• Broken Phone Screen Protectors
• Power Adapters That You Don’t Need or Don’t Work Anymore
• Old USB Flash Drives
• Mystery Cords
• Old Power Strips That No Longer Work
• Outdated Adapters
• Camera Equipment You No Longer Need
• Old Streaming Devices or Media Boxes
• Any Broken Electronics That Can’t Be Repaired
• Any Electronics That You Don’t Need Anymore

Get the Decluttering by Category: Electronics printable here.

Papers

• Old Receipts You Don’t Need Anymore
• Expired Coupons
• Old Catalogs
• Flyers
• Outdated Warranties
• Old Business Cards
• Old Magazines
• Old Newspapers
• Old Greeting Cards
• Instruction Manuals for Items You Don’t Own Anymore
• Old Takeout Menus
• Old School Papers
• Old Work Papers
• Old Planners
• Old Calendars
• Old Event Programs and Tickets
• Old Resumes and Cover Letters
• Random Notes
• Blurry or Damaged Photos
• Any Papers You No Longer Need

Get the Decluttering by Category: Papers printable here.

Glass

• Chipped or Cracked Drinking Glasses
• Glass Vases You Never Use
• Old Glass Food Storage Containers
• Glass Mugs You Don’t Use
• Glass Water Pitchers You Don’t Need
• Glass Tableware You Don’t Want
• Old Mason Jars You Don’t Use
• Scratched Glass Photo Frames
• Eyeglasses with an Old Prescription
• Old or Broken Sunglasses
• Old or Cracked Glass Baking Dishes
• Empty Glass Perfume or Cologne Bottles
• Empty Food Jars
• Broken or Cracked Glass Ornaments
• Empty Candle Jars
• Any Broken or Unused Glass Items

Get the Decluttering by Category: Glass printable here.

Travel & Luggage

1. Broken Luggage That Can’t Be Repaired
2. Luggage Locks You Lost the Key/Code For
3. Old Luggage Tags with Outdated Contact Info
4. Worn-Out Packing Cubes
5. Expired Travel-Size Toiletries
6. Old Boarding Passes and Travel Receipts
7. Worn-Out Passport Holders
8. Worn-Out Travel Pillows
9. Expired Bug Spray or Sunscreen
10. Broken Sunglasses & Cases
11. Old Earplugs
12. Expired Membership Cards
13. Outdated Travel Guidebooks
14. Old Bulky Adapters
15. Worn-Out Travel Toiletry Bags
16. Any Broken or Worn-Out Travel Accessories

Get the Decluttering by Category: Travel & Luggage printable here.

Clothing: A Scavenger Quest

• The one that doesn’t fit anymore.
• The worn-out one.
• The uncomfortable one.
• The one you simply don’t like.
• The one you’ve not worn in more than a year.
• The one that no longer suits your style.
• The one that doesn’t go with anything else.
• The one you’re only keeping because it was a gift.
• The one that doesn’t make you feel confident.
• The one you always skip over.
• The stained one.
• The torn one that you’ll never repair.
• The one with a broken zipper you’ll never repair.
• The one you forgot you owned.
• The faded one.
• The ‘just in case’ one.

Get the Decluttering by Category: Clothing printable here.

Home Decor

• The framed painting you don’t like anymore.
• The decorative vase that’s been empty for over a year.
• The candle holders you never use.
• The decorative bowl that collects dust.
• The holiday decorations you haven’t put up in years.
• The item you dislike and only keep because it was a gift.
• The throw pillows that spend more time on the floor than the couch.
• The decorations you bought on clearance but never used.
• The coffee table books no one opens.
• The bowl that’s become a catch-all for random stuff.
• The framed quote or sign that doesn’t resonate with you anymore.
• Anything that you dislike and makes your place look cluttered.

Get the Decluttering by Category: Home Decor printable here.