How to Declutter Paper Piles

If you struggle with random papers overtaking every space and room in your home, this article on how to declutter paper piles in your home will help. Get tips on how to efficiently and quickly conquer the paper clutter for good!

Paper clutter can be stressful, especially if you’re running late or trying your best not to miss appointments or commitments with your kids.

That’s why a guide on decluttering and organizing your paper clutter will help with your home office organization.

Paper is the clutter gift that keeps on giving. No matter how organized you are, I am sure you have at least one stack of papers in your home that is waiting for you to go through.

The world we live in today is full of papers that are always coming into our homes. Papers for work, receipts, school schedules, and so many random notes on scrap pieces of paper.

Imagine how much neater your home would be if you have an area that was meant to hold all the papers.

A centralized location for each paper source that will keep things in place until you have time to sort through and deal with them.

How can we control paper clutter at home?

The first and most important step for decluttering paper piles is to set up landing areas for the different papers that come into your home. Whether you have one basket or a few, this one tips alone will help you to control the paper mess.

1. Mail Basket – Keep in your kitchen to toss mail into. Keep a trash can nearby so you can throw out all the junk mail immediately.
2. Kids Papers – Have a basket for all your kids’ papers and projects. This is especially helpful if you have more than one child. Each can have their own designated basket, or they can share one together.
3. Receipts – Keep a folder or envelope in your purse to store receipts and place them in a designated drawer or basket when you get home.
4. Bills – Set up a tote, basket, or drawer to hold incoming financial papers until your bill-paying day.
5. Wall Calendar – Keep a basket near to your calendar to hold appointment cards, invitations, and birthday reminders.
6. Command Center – Keep all papers in one centralized area in an organized way.

D/M Pro Tip: Create a clutter free habit of going through papers each evening. This will allow you to keep up with paper clutter and allow you to be more timely with responses.

An Easy Home Filing System can save you hours of frustration—no more hunting for missing bills or important papers.

Gather and Sort What you have

Before you can get starting organizing, you will first need to get all of your papers piles into one centralized area.

Start by walking your home and gathering up all the papers you see lying out. I like to use a laundry basket for this step as it is easy to carry and holds a large amount.

Once you have all the paper piles in one place, find a comfortable spot and begin sorting through what you have collected into specific piles.

1. Junk Mail – This can be tossed as is.
2. Papers to be Shredded – Papers that you no longer need but should be shredded before tossing.
3. Papers that Need Attention – Any papers that need attention before filing.
4. Current Papers to be Filed – Any papers that do not need further action but you will need to keep for future reference.
5. Older Papers from Previous Years – Put all these papers into a box and label. Put them into a storage area that is out of the way.

Easy Hacks to declutter paper piles in Your home

Decluttering and organizing your paper clutter can be an overwhelming, but with these hacks will jump start your progress and keep the paper piles away going forward.

Hack #1. Toss any Junk Mail 

Junk mail is a big problem for many people, and since mail comes into our homes daily, this can be a clutter headache.

Receiving unwanted advertisements or credit card applications in our mailboxes can quickly take up space in our homes.

The trick to junk mail is to deal with it right away. When the mail arrives do a quick sort pulling out any mail you can easily see if junk or an unwanted advertisement.

Tear it up and toss it into the trash bin. This is a great clutter-free habit to add to your daily routine as it stops unnecessary stuff from gathering.

Hack #2. Shred weekly

Not all mail is junk. Some of the papers coming in may not be needed but have personal information contained on them. This could be our address, birthdate, or financial numbers.

To ensure your financial privacy is kept, it is best to shred these papers before tossing them into the trash bin.

You can do this manually with scissors or you can use an electric paper shredder.

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If you do not want to shred papers every day, you can put these items into a basket labeled “SHRED”. Each week make time to properly deal with these papers to ensure you keeping up with these items.

Stop wasting time searching for misplaced bills. Learn How to Organize Bills and Paperwork at Home and make your life so much easier.

Hack #3. Have an Action Container

Set aside a specific spot for all the papers that require your attention or action—like an RSVP for a party or a financial document that needs signing. This ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

Make it a habit to sort your daily mail and pull out anything important. Place these items in your designated action zone, such as a basket, file, or drawer near your home office.

Having this system keeps everything organized and easy to find when it’s time to tackle those tasks.

This will also eliminate the need to go through every piece of mail daily and in turn free up time to do other things.

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Hack #4. Create a Filing Routine

Most, if not all, of the important papers that come into the home will need to be kept in a filing set up.

Filing is one of those chores I tend to put off as long as possible. To help keep papers together until I am ready to file, I have a basket setup near to my filing drawer.

As I finish taking action of a paper, I put it into the file basket. At the end of each month, filing papers is a part of my routine and allows me to reset things for the new month ahead.

Make sure you have the right files to organize all the important papers for your home and family. The key is to strike a balance—enough files to stay organized but not so many that it becomes overwhelming.

Keep things simple and practical so you can stick with it.

Tips for Setting up Home Files

Check out this video showcasing the filing system we’ve relied on for years. It’s all about keeping things simple, so it’s easy to stick with and helps you find what you need in no time.

HAck #5. Have a Tax bin

Tax documents can show up at any time during the year, so it’s important to keep them from getting lost in the shuffle. Set up a dedicated file just for tax papers to ensure they stay organized and easy to find.

Once your taxes are filed you can house them in a separate tote so you can easily find them when needed.

This simple system will save you time and stress when tax season rolls around.

Hack #6. Store family/home papers

Keep your personal documents safe and secure until you need them. Important papers like birth certificates, property deeds, diplomas, and car titles require extra care due to their value.

Consider these secure storage options to protect them from damage or loss:

• A fireproof safe
• A fireproof storage bag
• A safe deposit box at your bank

Choosing the right storage solution ensures these essential documents stay protected and accessible when needed.

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Hack #7. Kids Memorabilia

School papers can quickly pile up if you don’t have a plan to manage them. Expanding file folders are a fantastic solution for organizing keepsakes for your kids or grandkids.

With 12 sections, they’re perfect for storing papers from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

These folders provide plenty of space to hold meaningful items from each year, allowing you to create a well-organized and cherished collection for every child. It’s an easy, practical way to keep those special memories safe and manageable.

How Long Should you Keep Financial Papers

When decluttering paper piles, timing matters and the length of time you should keep financial papers can vary depending on the type of document. Here’s a general guideline:

1. Tax Returns and Supporting Documents: Keep for at least 7 years. The IRS typically has three years to audit your return or two years to claim any additional tax, but it’s wise to keep them longer in case of any discrepancies.
2. Bank Statements: Keep for 1 year, unless needed for tax purposes, in which case, keep them with your tax records for 7 years.
3. Pay Stubs: Keep until you reconcile them with your W-2 form and annual Social Security statement.
4. Investment Records: Keep for as long as you own the investment, plus 7 years after you sell.
5. Receipts: Keep for 3 years if they are related to tax deductions.
6. Bills: Keep until the payment is verified on your next bill, unless needed for tax purposes.
7. Home Purchase and Improvement Records: Keep for as long as you own the property, plus 7 years after selling.

These are just general guidelines, and specific needs may vary based on you and your family’s personal circumstances or legal requirements. Always consult with a financial advisor or tax professional for advice tailored to your situation.

Hacks are one of my go to solutions for keeping things from getting out of control especially when it comes to papers. Use these tips on how to declutter incoming mail and papers and keep your home from getting paper messy!

Having a system for incoming papers will help you to keep your home free of clutter. Use these hacks on how to declutter paper piles in your home and take the first step towards keeping things more organized in your home.

Tired of endless piles of papers taking over your home? Learn more about Decluttering Paperwork and take back your space today.

More Decluttering Resources Here: 

• How to Clean Out a Junk Drawer
• How to declutter your home office
• Weekly Planning Basket