Take a Few Simple Steps from Messy to Amazing
Your version of "cluttered" may be different from mine, especially if you have toddlers or pets, or if you're dealing with a chronic illness or mobility issues. But the same steps can get each of us from chaos to calm. I promise you'll be satisfied, so let's get started!
But before you lift a finger to declutter, ask these two questions:
- How do you want to feel in your home?
- What matters to you in your life?
Maybe these questions seem obvious, but if you're overwhelmed by clutter, they may be questions you haven't considered for quite a while. Take some time to think about what would make your home feel comfortable and supportive for your life, and what you need your spaces to do for you. Then picture the people and/or activities you want to make a place for or be reminded of, and how that can happen in your home.
Now you're ready to begin the decluttering steps.
5 types of clutter
Most clutter belongs to one of these five categories:
- trash
- dishes
- clothing/laundry
- things out of place
- things that don't have a place to belong
One at a time, you're going to deal with these things. First, grab a bag, and go around each room to pick up trash. I mean literal, obvious trash or recycling, like used tissues and Taco Bell receipts, not things you no longer need or want. We'll get to those later.
Once the trash is in the proper bin, it's time to pick up any dishes that are lingering. Whether it's a coffee mug or a snack plate and fork, get those things into the dishwasher or sink. No need to wash them yet – you don't want to get sidetracked.
Now you'll pick up clothing. Either it's dirty and needs to go into a hamper, or it's clean and needs to be put in a drawer or hung up. Don't worry about running a wash load yet – you'll do that later. But do notice if you're short on drawer space or if your closet is really crammed. You might need to schedule a wardrobe declutter.
After these three quick passes through your home, you're probably already noticing that things look calmer and tidier. In fact, if you do these three quick chores every evening before bed (and teach your kids to do them too), you're going to feel much better about the way your home looks and feels.
Related article: 8 Simple Steps to a More Relaxed Morning
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Declutter by category, from the surface to the depths.
Now it's time to deal with the stuff you've bought or otherwise accumulated that's crowding your space. Some of it has a place to belong, and some of it doesn't. Some of it is in the open, and some is hidden away. Some of it is useful, beautiful, or sentimental, but plenty of it isn't.
We're all prone to amass things on a whim, an impulse, or just in case we need them someday. The desires to possess something attractive or to prepare for an unknown future are very human, but they can lead to piles that make everyday life messy and frustrating. Decluttering counteracts that.
There's a reason I like decluttering by category. When our brains have to keep switching focus, we tire more quickly. Really! It takes more cognitive effort for our brains to switch from one task to another. It slows us down and makes us have to backtrack and remind ourselves of what we were doing. We become less decisive, more stressed, and more likely to leave the job unfinished.
So let's say your home office is a mess. Get a box for donations, a box for recycling, and a box for "I don't know" items. Deal with any trash, dishes, and laundry. Then begin on the surface, with what you can see, and do one category at a time.
- First, gather all the papers into a pile. (You'll sort through them in a bit.)
- Next, gather the books. Put away the ones you consult often, and recycle manuals you no longer need or that are available online.
- Then deal with tools, such as scissors, staplers, or paper clips. Do you have too many duplicates? Put them in a box for donation. Put the tools you need where they belong.
- Next, deal with cords and peripherals. Again, put duplicates in a box (some can be recycled), and put away or reorganize the ones you need and use.
- Finally, look at the ornaments on your desk such as photos, candles, plants, and the like. Choose your favorites, and re-home or donate the rest. Why not set a numerical limit so you can really focus on what you care about without crowding your desktop?
Go back to your pile of paper, and sort out what you need to keep (such as bills to pay, receipts for this year's taxes, current insurance or investment statements, unexpired warranties, notes about upcoming appointments, etc.) from what can be recycled. Put bills in an "action" basket, dates and times on a calendar, receipts and statements in a file. If you sort through papers every day before you leave your office, you'll feel much more confident about how well you're managing your life and responsibilities.
Your office is the same as any cluttered area. Some items need to be trashed, recycled, or donated. Some have a place to belong and need to be returned there. And some items don't have homes yet. You might need to create a file, obtain a basket for "action" items, secure an appointment calendar, or buy a digital photo frame so you can display all of your favorite pictures without taking up too much space.*
* This blog is reader-supported, with NO ADS. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission.
Once you've cleared the surface (what you can see), make a plan to go deeper – to the hidden items in drawers, cupboards, etc. Remember that you'll have fewer files to organize if you get rid of the things you don't need to keep (tax files older than seven years, for example). You'll have fewer tools to organize if you get rid of duplicates and things you don't use (candidates include the pile of rubber bands or your old Rolodex). In fact, always declutter before you organize.
Should you keep it or toss it?
If you get stuck as you declutter your office, kitchen, wardrobe, or anywhere else, ask yourself three questions to help make decisions easier.
- Assuming this item is usable, do I remember the last time I used it?
- If I didn't already own this item, would I spend money to buy it again?
- If this item was destroyed in a disaster, would I be upset and replace it?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, you can declutter the item without fear. If you're still unsure, add it to your "I don't know" box. Close the box and write a date on it from three to six months in the future. Stow it for now. If you don't think about the items during the on-hold period, feel confident about discarding them. However, if you do need or want something, it's available. Find it a spot to belong.
Organizing principles
Our homes contain active spaces – rooms where we spend a lot of time and do multiple activities, such as the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Then there are the passive spaces, like the guest bedroom and storage areas.
When you create homes for your belongings, remember not to store seldom-used items in active spaces. The turkey platter doesn't belong on an eye-level shelf in your kitchen. Cleaning supplies don't belong in that waist-high drawer in your bathroom. Your twice-a-year ski outfit doesn't belong in the front of your clothes closet, and neither does the box of Christmas ornaments. Keep often-used items in those handy, easy-to-access spaces.
Larger areas will be more useful if you use containers to compartmentalize. This is true in your desk drawer, silverware drawer, and on a shelf in your pantry. For example, spices and condiments on a lazy Susan turntable will be easier to arrange and access than the same bottles just set on the shelf.
However, don't forget to declutter before you run out to buy pretty containers for organizing. That's because pretty containers you don't use or need are the same as clutter!
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Habits to the rescue
Clutter doesn't magically appear. It's the result of procrastination and bad habits. The good news is that habits can be changed, and clutter can be controlled! Once you've gone through the effort to declutter, good habits can keep it from building up again.
I've already mentioned the importance of picking up trash, dealing with dishes, and putting clothes where they belong. I've also talked about the benefits of sorting and dealing with mail and other paperwork. When you keep up with these little chores instead of procrastinating, your visible clutter is greatly reduce with almost no effort.
Pay attention to hot spots – places where clutter accumulates over and over – and create better systems for dealing with them. Maybe you need hooks for jackets and purses in the entryway, or a pretty bowl as a landing spot for keys, sunglasses, and all of your everyday stuff.
Practice doing a quick scan before you leave any room. Simply grab what's out of place and put it where it belongs.
Developing these simple, daily habits is very liberating.
Related article: Three Little Words to Help You Keep Tidy
The question of time
I'm going to be honest – a full declutter of your home will take time. But if you've decided you're ready, remember to work by category, and start with just ten minutes. Don't think in terms of your entire wardrobe – think about socks and underwear, or tee shirts, or jeans, or outerwear. Don't think about your entire kitchen – think about glasses and mugs, or storage containers, or gadgets and cooking utensils.
Another way to find time to declutter is to make it a hobby. Plan for one hour every weekend. Put on some music, declutter, and clean. You'll be surprised how much you can do in one hour, and the result will always be a feeling of satisfaction.
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