best way to declutter

People often ask, what is the best way to declutter a home? And my answer is always baby steps. Breaking things down and working in 10-20 minute pockets of time is the easiest way to create a home you love.

How to declutter without the overwhelm and stress all while making progress like never before.

BEST WAY TO DECLUTTER

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of decluttering your home? If so, it’s understandable. Cleaning out the excess can be a lot to tackle all at once, luckily, I am not going to ask you to do that. I have a new approach to decluttering that you might love.

Best Way to Declutter Your Home

There is an old saying, how do you eat an elephant? The answer is one bite at a time. Funny, yes, but completely true. When you can break things down and focus on just that one step until it is done, you will make progress almost on autopilot.

#1. Choose a Room

When you can put your energy and attention on just one room at a time until it is done, you will see your home transform before your eyes. Choose a room to start in, and here’s a tip….do not pick your worst room. Keep it easy so you can get a win under your belt.

Easy Rooms to Declutter:

  • The Guest Bathroom
  • The Entryway
  • The Linen Closet

#1. Break It Down Into Smaller Projects

Instead of trying to do everything at once, break your project down into smaller tasks. Start with one drawer, shelf, or cabinet and work until you have completely decluttered everything in that space. This will make it feel much more manageable, and you’ll be able to see your progress more easily.

#3. Set up Sorting bins

This is an important step, and one many folks skip over. When you can have specific containers to put the things you are sorting, it will take away the stress of decision-making because the containers do the deciding for you.

What sorting containers should you have when decluttering?

There are 5 containers to have when working on a decluttering project. Let’s go over each one so you can better see what their purpose is.

  1. Toss – Anything that is trash, broken, torn, stained, or no longer works.
  2. Donate – Anything you want to give to the donation center in your area.
  3. Put Away – Anything that belongs in another room or area in your home.
  4. Keep – Anything that will stay in this room.
  5. Give Away – Anything you want to pass on to a family member or friend.

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#4. Sort

I like to sort differently than other folks because I find it is easier to make decisions when there must be a definitive answer.

How it works:

  1. Pick up the first item in the areas you are working on.
  2. Put it into the bin where it belongs.
  3. Every item you touch must go into a bin. Do not pick up a new item until you have emptied your hand. This will ensure you are really and truly decluttering and organizing this space.

#5. Work in small pockets of time

A task we are avoiding is much easier to do when we know it will only be a few minutes. Set a timer on your phone for 10-20 minutes. During that time, be focused only on working in the area you have chosen. Keep going until the timer goes off. At that time, you can walk away for the day or work another 10-20 minutes.

#6. Clean

This is another step that sometimes gets overlooked, but cleaning an empty area is quick and easy and allows you to have a truly clean slate to organize.

#7. Use Containers

Finally, incorporate containers in an efficient way. The goal of a container is to hold similar tools, so it is easy to return things when you are finished using them. The easier it is to return things to their home, the less you will leave lying out.

baskets of towels and soaps in a linen closet

Decluttering doesn’t have to seem like an overwhelming task if you take the time to break it down into smaller projects and focus on one area at a time. By following these tips, you’ll be able to make decluttering easier and find the best way to keep your home clean and organized.

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2 Comments

  1. This is how I tackle decluttering to. My home is a wreak right now. It’s been a hard year on my home. So I have resovled to spend no more than 15 minutes at a time, it do no good ro burn out now. I declutter then clean what ever space I need to be in at that time. I hope that i have the house under controll again by the end of the year.

    1. I know how hard it can be sometimes, Diane! I love your plan and I do think it is one you can make progress with!
      All the best,
      Tracy Lynn

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