50 Quick & Easy Decluttering Tips!

Photo byMarj Bates

I would much rather spend my time at the beach than doing chores around the house! There are many things I would rather do other than clean my home! With these 50 quick & easy decluttering tips you will spend much less time cleaning your home too and more time having fun!

Implementing just some of these cool tips will free up some much needed time.

Start small with a single drawer or shelf. The reason it is easy to declutter a kitchen junk drawer is we are seldom emotionally attached to broken elastics, bits of string, and other unnecessary ‘junk’.

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes to declutter a small area. This works because we tend to stay hyper-focused when we have a very short time to accomplish things.

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Use the “one in, one out” rule for clothes and other items. Look at it this way…when you get decluttered if you always remove an item when bringing in another item you will never be cluttered again. Will we do this every time? Of course not. Remembering the 1 in 1 out rule is a good starting point.

Donate or sell items you haven’t used in over a year. I love donating goods! I have my favorite causes. I put together a handy Resource Guide to help you donate almost any item you are considering donating.

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Keep a donation box or bag handy for easy decluttering.

Get rid of duplicates of items you don’t need. You will find when you are decluttered you will no longer have many duplicates of things. It is especially wasteful to think you are replacing a perishable food item only to find you have 1 or 2 already and one will likely go bad.

Keep a minimalistic wardrobe with versatile pieces. I started wearing only a black top and jeans many years ago and will never go back to having a closet full of stuff I never wear. Capsule wardrobes seem like a middle ground between the extreme way I dress and a cluttered closet.

Use vertical space with shelves and organizers. How smart is this! There are many vertical organizers to choose from, at myriad prices, including stand-alone, floating shelves and shelving made specifically for corners.

Organize items by category, such as books or kitchen supplies. Repeat after me- ‘sort, sort, sort’. This is a good easy step to begin getting organized. Sort and bring the things to the room they belong in.

An example is to put all the coffee mugs and glasses you own in the kitchen, and sort the mugs and the glasses in your cabinet or wherever you keep them.

Digitize paper documents to reduce clutter. Going paperless also is a great way to start eliminating paper clutter.

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Store seasonal items in labeled containers. Some folks buy special containers to store their Christmas decorations. Be careful not to store clutter.

Get rid of as much clutter as you can before you start buying totes and storing things. It is a slippery slope!

Some folks keep a “maybe” box for items they are unsure about. This is great if you go back to the maybe box a few months or a year later and discard these things you have not used and likely forgot about.

Use clear containers for easy visibility. Clear containers work nicely for kitchen food pantry containers, especially when you are making a shopping list or reordering.

Get rid of expired or unused items in your pantry. Local food pantries appreciate unused and not expired pantry items. If you have things you will not use it will be met with gratitude by the clients of the food shelter.

Use drawer organizers for small items. The variety of drawer organizers available today is numerous. They come in all sizes, including adjustable designs, wood, metals, plastics, and many finishes.

17 Keep your countertops clear for a more spacious look. I love my kitchen counter that I paid a ridiculous amount of money for and I want to see it so I keep only a coffee maker and bean grinder on the kitchen countertop.

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Check out more Tips in another article I wrote Tips & Tricks for Clutter-Free Kitchen Countertops

Take advantage of under-bed storage. Again be careful not to store clutter or ‘maybe’ boxes.

Use a designated spot for incoming mail, papers, and keys. I put my key fob in the same place every time I enter my home. I also utilize keyless door locks and have never lost a pair of keys.

Don’t hold onto broken items you won’t fix. You know the pile of stuff I am talking about. Do you have a pile of sewing projects and another pile of chipped things needing a repair job? I used to.

When I realized it only took a couple of minutes to make repairs and put the item away I made this a new habit.

Hang pots and pans.

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This is my favorite decluttering rule, keep only items that are necessary, functional or beautiful.

Digitize your music and movies to save space. This is not a difficult thing to do. Amazing how much space this one tip can free up.

Keep a donation bag or box in your car for easy local drop-off.

Don’t hold onto clothes that don’t fit or flatter you. Except for occasionally worn ‘must keep’ outfits why keep a closet full of clothing you have not worn in years because you do not really like the item you won’t wear it – especially if it is so tight you cannot wear it.

Use an e-reader for books to save space. As an avid reader, the amount of space I have freed up is phenomenal. I Love books! It was a difficult process for me to get rid of as many books as I could.

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What made the process of donating books easier was my library was grateful to receive these books. For tips about how to declutter your books read How To Declutter Books And Organize Bookshelves

Use hooks for hanging items, such as jackets and bags.

Keep a donation bag or box in your car for easy local drop-off.

Use a hanging shoe organizer for small items like socks, accessories, toiletries, and crafts. There are a variety of hanging storage that live discreetly on the back of a door.

Keep a separate space for sentimental items. Sentimental items are where most people have a difficult time decluttering. For more tips check out this article I wrote about decluttering sentimental items.

Store off-season clothes in vacuum-sealed bags after discarding as many as possible.

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Donate excess blankets and linens to a homeless shelter. Think of the lives you have an opportunity to make just a little bit easier.

If you are still resistant to going paperless a file organizer for paperwork and bills will help to keep you clutter-free if you take care of paper as it comes in.

Get rid of kitchen gadgets you never use. You know the ones I mean, like an avocado slicer and electric fish filet knife. I mean really – a knife is a knife. How does the electric knife know it is cutting a beef or fish filet?

Store pots and pans by size for easy access. Store seldom-used appliances and kitchenware in out-of-the-way places – if you plan to use them. Save the convenient storage spaces in the kitchen for things you use regularly.

Use a pegboard for organizing kitchen and workshop tools.

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Keep your fridge and pantry organized with labels if you find this easier.

Get rid of excess cleaning supplies. There is no need to keep cleaning supplies you have used and do not like. Also, you may have containers with only a small amount left. Use it and discard it.

Again if labeling helps you to stay better organized, store bathroom items in labeled containers.

Use a spice rack for easy access to spices. I had a useless sliver of a cabinet right next to the oven that was screaming for a pull-out spice rack! I bought this for under 100$.

Photo byMarj Bates

Use a shower caddy for organizing toiletries.

Get rid of excess mugs and glasses.

Use a jewelry organizer to keep jewelry tangle-free. Try hanging necklaces and using earring displays because if your jewelry is displayed you will wear it more often.

Store wrapping paper and supplies in a designated container. This makes gift wrapping easier especially if you keep a fresh roll of tape and all the ribbons in this container.

Use a bookshelf for organizing shoes. If this fits in a closet even better!

Use a rolling cart for portable storage. Put a butcher block top on top of a rolling cart and you will have extra work space.

Keep a “go bag” for emergencies. This bag can hold chargers and anything you cannot live without- maybe a supply of medicines.

Use a magnetic strip for organizing metal items like knives.

Get rid of excess throw pillows and blankets. When you can’t get comfortable on your couch because there are too many pillows or the pillows are uncomfortable you know it is time to do some weeding.

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Finding storage solutions does not have to be expensive. I always look for a free alternative first. The these free cardboard containers hold some of my sorted yarns nicely and out of the way in a manner I can see them at a quick glance.

By implementing these tips you will find maintaining your home to be a much quicker and easier process! Plus donating extra unused household goods is a really nice gesture and will be much appreciated by the receiver.

See you at the beach!

Photo byMarj Bates

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutterer and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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