EASY THINGS TO DECLUTTER RIGHT NOW!
Want to learn how to declutter your home but feeling a bit overwhelmed by the thought of it? A great way to get started is with some quick and easy 10-minute decluttering projects.
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Disclaimer~ I don’t know exactly how much clutter you are personally dealing with, but generally speaking, all the decluttering tasks I chose should be fairly fast!
Inside:
- YOU DON’T HAVE TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOUSE IN 1 DAY
- Benefits Of Decluttering
- The 4 Pile Rule For Decluttering
- 25 Things that you can declutter right now!
- 1) Shoes
- 2) Medicine Cabinet
- 3) Hall Closet
- 4) Tupperware/storage containers
- 5) COUNTERTOP
- 6) Fridge/Freezer
- 7) Makeup
- 8) Digital Clutter
- 9) Purse
- 10) SOCKS/UNDERWEAR/BRAS
- 11) Loungewear
- 12) Bath/Shower Items
- 13) Paper Clutter
- 14) Junk Drawer
- 15) Nightstand
- 16) Jewelry
- 17) Hats/Scarves/Gloves
- 18) Nail Polishes
- 19) Towels
- 20) Laundry Supplies
- 21) Spices
- 22) Writing Tools
- 23) Board Games
- 24) Pet Toys
- 25) Car Console
- WRAP-UP: 25 QUICK DECLUTTERING PROJECTS TO DO RIGHT NOW
- Resources
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOUSE IN 1 DAY
There are many ways to declutter including extreme methods like doing it all in one day but today we are talking about taking it one very small step at a time.
You absolutely do not have to take on the massive project of decluttering your home in one day or one session.
I think it’s safe to say that for some of us, that is utterly impossible.
And if you’re reading this, you have no desire or intention of tackling it all at once. That’s smart!
You already know that for you, the best way to declutter is not trying to do it all at once because that is way too overwhelming!
Let’s touch on why decluttering is so good for you. Why is it so satisfying?
Benefits Of Decluttering
Why is decluttering so important anyway? Well…a decluttered home can help you feel calmer, less stressed, and more comfortable and happy in your living space.
- Clearing out clutter can boost your mood, sharpen your focus, and even increase your productivity.
- It can also reduce dust, mold, and mildew in your home, making air quality healthier.
- And believe it or not, a decluttered home can improve your sleep quality. I suppose that has to do with that zen feeling you get in a nice, neat bedroom.
I know that I always sleep better in a clean, organized room!
And remember, if you feel like you have no motivation to declutter or feel overwhelmed, you can start with just one task. Hey! Rome wasn’t built in a day!
You just have to start somewhere. Pick one small decluttering project that you know you can knock out in 10 minutes and begin there.
If you can handle doing 2 or 3 of these easy decluttering tasks each day, you will start to notice a big difference in no time. You’ll quickly be on your way to a cleaner living space!
The 4 Pile Rule For Decluttering
I use the 4 Pile Rule for decluttering and organizing clutter and I find it works best for me.
Separate your items into 4 piles. Keep, donate, toss, and maybe.
Remember when your decluttering project is not complete until you decide what to do with your “maybes”.
You must go through the “maybe pile” and decide where it’s ending up!
If you want, you can add a Sell pile if you are planning on selling stuff at a yard sale, on Facebook marketplace, or on a similar site.
We have a huge neighborhood yard sale every year so basically all my donate items originally go in a sell pile and when the yard sale is over, I donate them.
The 4 Pile Rule for decluttering works especially well for clothing and accessories but can apply to other stuff too.
25 Things that you can declutter right now!
Let’s dive into some decluttering inspiration with these 10-minute projects!
1) Shoes
Some of us (me!) have a great love of shoes and shopping for them which can lead to excess.
Ahem…If my husband is reading this, no, I am not admitting I have a problem.
Go through all the shoes in your closet and decide which shoes fit properly, and which pairs you wear all the time. Those are definitely keepers.
But what of the shoes that are falling apart, worn out, uncomfortable, or duplicates? Make your choices to eliminate a few pairs. I know decluttering shoes is hard for some of us but you can do this!
2) Medicine Cabinet
Look for expired prescriptions or over-the-counter medications, products that you never use, and bottles that are empty or close to empty.
Most medicine cabinets are fairly small so they can be decluttered and organized quickly.
3) Hall Closet
The hall or front entry closet can turn into a cluttered catch-all where everyone just shoves everything they don’t know where to put. If it’s a small closet, and not overly cluttered you could probably manage it in a short time.
4) Tupperware/storage containers
Whether it’s Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or the ones from the dollar store…anything that doesn’t have a matching lid has got to go! Toss them into the recycle bin.
Also, look for duplicates.
If you save butter tubs or sour cream containers for leftovers, recycle those too. You will always buy more of these things so too many just makes the cupboard overflow.
Take whatever Tupperware you are left with after decluttering and stack them up nice and neatly. You will feel so much better about the state of the cupboard. Just ask my husband. Ha!
5) COUNTERTOP
You can’t go wrong with a good surface declutter!
Clearing clutter from your coffee table, kitchen countertops, or bedroom dresser gives instant results.
Your house will immediately look cleaner and have a calmer vibe. This is probably the reason why tackling the kitchen counter is one of my favorite 10-minute decluttering projects. I like the instant gratification.
Sometimes we become clutter-blind. In other words, we get so used to seeing our counters piled with “stuff” and we don’t even notice until it gets way out of hand.
I’m definitely guilty of this myself at times but I’m a work in progress, what can I say?
But boy, do I notice a big difference in the look and feel of the room when I do a quick surface declutter. And it really does only take 10 minutes (usually).
QUICK TIP: Consider making a “clutter trap”. Use something like a decorative ceramic or wooden bowl on a counter to put everyday essentials. Think things like your keys or jewelry, and remember to declutter your declutter trap from time to time!
6) Fridge/Freezer
I make it a habit to do a quick fridge declutter once a week on garbage day. I’m not talking a deep clean here, but a fast go-through.
Just scan each part of the fridge/freezer quickly and get rid of old leftovers, expired food items, and the like.
Don’t forget to check the crisper drawers when you’re decluttering your fridge! I find sometimes oranges and other sneaky round fruits can roll to the back of the drawer and hide out.
7) Makeup
Some makeup products last forever (almost) and some definitely do not.
Old foundations and lipsticks can get pretty gross after a while so throw them out if they’re deteriorating.
Mascara is another culprit that can turn clumpy if it’s been in your makeup bag too long. Powders and pencils are good to keep for a long time though!
Declutter and downsize your makeup collection, keeping only products that you love.
Get rid of any applicators, sponges or beauty blenders that are getting old and tattered and could be holding bacteria. As far as your brushes go, now would be a great time to clean them as well!
8) Digital Clutter
Go through your smartphone and delete unwanted photos, files, and emails.
For the photos on your phone that are nostalgic, precious, or other obvious keepers, put them all in one place like on a memory stick or in the cloud.
This can free up room in your phone’s storage without deleting the photos that are special to you.
On your desktop you can also declutter your emails and files as well as bookmarks that are no longer necessary.
While you’re doing a digital declutter of your emails, unsubscribe to emails that are no longer relevant to you.
9) Purse
Decluttering your purse, wallet or backpack is a super easy 10-minute decluttering task! Even if you have a jumbo, oversized purse it’s still smaller than a hall closet, right?
And if you’re a mom like me, a lot of what’s in your purse can go right in the trash can.
You know, candy wrappers, half-eaten snacks, marbles, rocks, pieces of broken Kinder Surprise toys.
Point being, this is a quick win. You can declutter your purse in less than 10 minutes, for sure.
10) SOCKS/UNDERWEAR/BRAS
Nobody needs to wear holey underwear or bras that are just not comfortable! Ditch ’em!
Socks, underwear, and bras are way easier to declutter than the rest of your wardrobe since they are generally not sentimental, just functional.
Also, you’re looking at only a drawer or two to go through, not your entire closet. We all know how overwhelming that task can seem!
11) Loungewear
Ahhh yes…joggers, yoga pants, pj’s, comfies. Whatever you call them, they’re the best! However, they too can accumulate.
You can declutter loungewear with a different rule of thumb. Only make your decision according to comfort.
In other words, if something has a little hole or a stain on it but it is the most comfortable thing you own, keep it if you want.
Things you never wear, items that no longer fit you, or perhaps pj’s that were gifted to you and aren’t your style can all go.
12) Bath/Shower Items
You know, that worn-out loofa sponge or poofy body scrubber that is well past its best-before date? Time for it to go! You really should replace these items on a regular basis anyway.
Also, any bath and body products that have been kicking around too long or that you never use just add to the clutter.
They are simply taking up valuable space in your bathroom
13) Paper Clutter
Declutter coupons, magazines, flyers, newspapers, bills, bank statements, and all things paper.
Shred or recycle all that you no longer need. Magazines can be repurposed for kids crafts, given to family, or donated to a doctor’s office. Your local library may even take magazine donations.
If you still have a lot of paper in your life, try to go through it once a week or once a month so it doesn’t pile up on you.
14) Junk Drawer
There is nothing wrong with a junk drawer, nothing!
But you really do need to declutter it from time to time. Things get shoved in there never to see the light of day again.
I have found that using a divider in my junk drawer has made all the difference!
It keeps it so much more organized and (almost) clutter-free.
15) Nightstand
Your nightstand is a perfect 10-minute decluttering project simply because of its size.
Tackling a nightstand or two, which is going to have either no drawers or a couple of small ones won’t take a lot of time.
Afterward, give them a quick polish and you’re all done!
16) Jewelry
To be clear, I am talking about decluttering costume jewelry, not expensive gold, gems, or family heirlooms.
You can quickly declutter one type of jewelry or one jewelry box. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can do your whole collection.
Get rid of anything that is broken unless you are going to repair it. Ask yourself, are you really going to repair it? (I rarely do…).
Costume jewelry can get old, tarnished, and rusty, and earrings can lose their mates.
Jewelry that is still in good shape can be donated to Goodwill and can find new life bringing joy to someone else.
A great decluttering tip for accessories, (and clothing), is this: If you haven’t worn a piece in quite a while, ask yourself this…If you saw it in a store today would you buy it again? If not, it’s time to part with it. This can really help you decide about items you’re wishy-washy on.
Related Reading: How To Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes
17) Hats/Scarves/Gloves
Cleaning up clutter when it comes to seasonal items like winter gear is another satisfying decluttering project!
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere as we do, you no doubt have a bag (or bags), totes, or trunks where you keep all your winter stuff.
I’m talking the bulky winter clothing: winter jackets, parkas, snow pants, toques, mittens, scarves….Whew! It takes up so much room!
You can declutter and downsize your outdoor winter clothing stash fairly quickly.
Get rid of all the things you don’t need like solo mittens, frayed knit items, jackets that have been outgrown, and anything ripped or damaged that you won’t be mending.
As always, follow the 4 pile method for decluttering; Keep, Donate, Toss, and Maybe.
18) Nail Polishes
Another really quick job is to go through your nail polishes.
Nail varnish can get old, thick, and really yucky after a while. You could probably get this little decluttering project done in as little as 5 minutes.
19) Towels
This one I’ve been meaning to do lately. So many of our towels are mismatched, with thinning fabric, and tattered edges.
Maybe you want to do a complete overhaul of all your bath and kitchen towels like me! This makes it easy, just buy new, matching towels and get rid of the old.
If your towels are in good shape, donate to Goodwill or a homeless or women’s shelter.
If they’re not in such good shape but are still half-decent, check with your local pet shelter, humane society, or veterinarian’s office.
Sometimes they will take donations of blankets and large towels for the animals.
20) Laundry Supplies
Go through your laundry detergents, fabric softener, and stain removers. Assess what you have and start decluttering.
Combine or “marry” partial bottles of the same or similar detergents to gain space.
You may have a lot of laundry products, depending on the size of your laundry room/area, and how many people you do laundry for!
Give everything a quick wipe when you’re finished and your laundry room will feel more organized!
21) Spices
Do you keep all your spices in a neatly organized rack? If so, you can probably skip this one.
On the other hand, if you use a drawer or a cupboard to house your spices, you know it can get a little overloaded.
Empty the whole drawer/cupboard onto the kitchen counter and see what you have. Combine any half packages or bottles and throw away anything that’s too old to keep.
Don’t forget to give the drawer a good wipe-down with an all-purpose cleaner before you restock it!
22) Writing Tools
We all have that jar of pens, pencils, sharpies, and dry-erase markers right? Right? Maybe it’s just me. But if it’s you too, this is a quick one to declutter.
Toss out pens that don’t write anymore, stubby pencils, and dead markers, especially the ones with no lid.
If you have kids, you will have a literal stockpile of writing/drawing supplies as well as about a million broken crayons to contend with.
Decluttering and downsizing your pen and pencil collection should take less than 10 minutes.
23) Board Games
Not everyone has a ton of these but if you have a family board game cupboard, you know it can get a bit cluttered.
Games you no longer want or need are great to donate to charity or to put in your yard sale. They sell like hotcakes! I suggest checking to make sure all the pieces are accounted for and taping up the box before you donate or sell.
24) Pet Toys
Whatever kind of furry friend resides in your house, it probably has chewy, squeaky toys that get kind of (disgustingly) gross after a while.
Declutter your pet toys and get rid of the grossest of the gross.
Dogs and cats can get pretty attached to their toys so you might want to have a backup ready to go before throwing out anything.
25) Car Console
A car’s center console, glovebox, or door pockets can turn into clutter magnets so easily.
Grab a garbage bag and quickly go through all these little spaces in your car. Get rid of all the garbage that has accumulated.
Give everything a quick swipe with an Armor All wipe and you’ll have an instantly decluttered car.
WRAP-UP: 25 QUICK DECLUTTERING PROJECTS TO DO RIGHT NOW
I hope you found some decluttering inspiration with these simple 10-minute decluttering projects.
Remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed, just start with the smallest task you can manage.
Clearing out clutter, even in small steps, can lead to big lasting changes and a cleaner calmer home!
Until next time, K.
Kelly Blakely is the founder and creative force behind Just Our View From Here. As a first-time mom over 40, she brings a fresh perspective to parenting and family life on her blog. Kelly also explores a wide range of lifestyle topics in her writing, including fashion, beauty, self-care, and well-being.
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