Decluttering Ideas (Checklists, Challenges, and More)
If you want to declutter your home but don’t know where to begin, our decluttering ideas are a great place to start.
We have curated a selection of decluttering guides and checklists you can use to give you inspiration and detailed plans to follow.
Decluttering Rules That Actually Work
The 12-Month Rule: If you haven’t used it in the past 12 months, you likely don’t need it. It can apply to clothes, kitchen appliances & gadgets, and other household items. Make exceptions for specialty items or sentimental items.
The One In, One Out Rule: Whenever you buy something new, try to donate, toss, or recycle another item.
The Monthly Donation Box Rule: Set up an empty box by the entryway (or another convenient spot in your home) at the start of the month. Throughout the month, add items you want to donate. Drop off the box at the end of the month. Repeat every month.
The 10-Minute Rule: Do at least 10 minutes of decluttering or organizing every day. Keep a list handy of 5- or 10-minute tasks you could accomplish.
The Clear Flat Surfaces Rule: If you keep all visible surfaces (e.g., kitchen countertops, coffee table, display shelves) clean and mostly clear, it will make your home look tidy with minimal effort.
The Everything Has a Home Rule: Find a place for every item. Throughout the month, take a few minutes to walk through the house and return items to where they belong.
The Leaving the Room Rule: Whenever you leave a room, don’t leave empty-handed. Take at least one item that doesn’t belong there. For example, take a coffee mug back to the kitchen. Take clothes that need washing to the laundry area.
The Make It Fun Rule: Try to gamify the process by doing fun decluttering challenges and finding what works best for you. For example, you could declutter by color. You could declutter during commercial breaks. You could pretend you have guests coming over in an hour and do as much as you can in that time.
Get the Decluttering Rules printable here.
Things Most People Forget to Declutter
- Old magazines and catalogs.
- Instruction manuals that are also available in digital format.
- Reusable grocery/shopping bags you don’t use.
- Receipts you don’t need.
- Cords and chargers that no longer work or you no longer need.
- Dried-out markers.
- Batteries that no longer work.
- Candles that are almost finished.
- Spices that are no longer good.
- Flimsy wire or plastic hangers that you don’t need.
- Decorative items you don’t like.
- Expired skincare and makeup items.
- Worn-out socks.
- Old greeting cards.
- Dried-out paint cans.
- Boxes from past deliveries.
- Takeout sauce packets.
- Mismatched container lids.
- Clothes and shoes stored away.
- Holiday decorations.
Get the ‘Things Most People Forget to Declutter’ printable here.
Fun Decluttering Challenges
Read the ideas and get the Decluttering Challenges printable here.
10-Minute Surface Decluttering
Read the ideas and get the 10-Min Surface Decluttering printable here.
Mini Decluttering Wins
Get this printable alongside room-specific ones here.
See more decluttering ideas and monthly calendars here.
We’ll be adding more decluttering ideas throughout the year, so bookmark this page and revisit often for more inspiration.
