A Quick-Win Decluttering Strategy
Are you feeling overwhelmed by things that seem to multiply when you’re not looking? It’s no secret that stuff accumulates more stuff. I know every time I manage to free up an extra drawer or cupboard, I have to be really vigilant lest it become a new junk drawer or fill right back up with clothes. How quickly a once-organised home can feel cramped and chaotic again…
In this post, I’m sharing a quick list of 53 things you can declutter today. Most of the stuff on this list is just taking up valuable space in your home and, once removed, should give you an immediate sense of accomplishment. The beauty of this is that you can tackle these quick wins in minutes, rather than spending an entire weekend on a massive clutter project. Decluttering made simple, so to speak!
Many of the hardest things to declutter are items we hold on to “just in case” or for sentimental reasons. Most people will find the things on this list easy to part with once they recognise they aren’t serving them anymore.
Clearing Kitchen Counter Clutter Fast
The kitchen is often ground zero for clutter, so it’s a great place to start with some easy-to-declutter items:
1. Coffee mugs – Most households have far more than they need. Keep one mug per person plus a few for guests and sort out the rest.
2. Tupperware without matching lids – These lonely containers tend to accumulate in cabinets and drawers. If you haven’t found the lid in three months, you likely never will.
3. Expired condiments – Check expiration dates on everything in your refrigerator door. Those specialty sauces you used once for a recipe two years ago? Time to let go.
4. Kitchen gadgets you haven’t used in over a year – We’re talking about that specialty utensil you bought for that one recipe you made a grand total of… once. These gizmos are just taking up drawer space. Pass them along!
5. To-go containers – While reusing takeout containers can be practical, most kitchens have far too many. Keep a few high-quality ones and recycle the rest.
6. Excess water bottles – Most households have accumulated more water bottles than they could ever use. Keep your favorites and donate the rest to a local school or shelter.
7. Chipped plates and glasses – These items are not only eyesores but can be dangerous. Dispose of them safely.
8. Old dish towels – Stained, torn, or faded kitchen towels can be repurposed as cleaning rags or disposed of.
9. Duplicate cooking tools – Multiple can openers, vegetable peelers, or measuring cups? One high-quality version is usually enough.
10. Unopened kitchen gadgets – If you haven’t used that bread maker or juicer you got two Christmases ago, you likely won’t start now. Sell it on eBay or Facebook marketplace.
11. Cookbooks you never open – Keep only the ones you actually use and donate the rest if they’re in good clean condition. If not, chuck them into the paper recycling bin.
12. Plastic bags – We all have a collection of plastic bags stuffed in another plastic bag under the sink, amiright? Keep a reasonable amount and recycle the rest.
Decluttering these kitchen items makes an immediate visual impact and even your daily cooking routine might feel a bit more efficient!
Bathroom Items to Declutter Today
Bathrooms also easily become cluttered with products we never use. Here’s what to declutter:
13. Old towels and linen – Threadbare towels can be donated to animal shelters or cut into cleaning rags for the household or for waxing the car.
14. Expired makeup and skincare – Cosmetics have shelf lives! Check your makeup expiration dates and toss out anything that’s past its prime.
15. Hotel toiletries – Unless you’re actively using them, these sample-sized products just create clutter.
16. Half-empty bottles – Combine duplicates where possible and dispose of products you didn’t like.
17. Old medications – Sort out expired prescriptions and over-the-counter remedies to bring back to the chemist or pharmacy for proper disposal.
18. Hair accessories you never use – Those fancy hair clips, barrettes and bands you never reach for are just taking up space!
19. Dried-out nail polish – If it’s separated or goopy, it’s time to say adios.
20. Unused gift sets – Any unopened bath gift sets from three Christmases ago? Donate them to a shelter while they’re still good.
21. Old toothbrushes – These should be replaced every few months anyway. 😬
22. Outdated hairstyling tools – If you’ve upgraded your hair dryer or straightener, don’t keep the old one, send it off to the electronics graveyard. Your local shopping centre might have a recycling drop-off point for such small household appliances.
Creating space in your bathroom immediately makes your morning routine much more pleasant and efficient. You’ll actually be able to find the products you do use and love.
Closet and Wardrobe Decluttering Checklist
Your closet might be the most rewarding space to declutter. It’s probably also one of the most difficult areas to tackle because we tend to think we have to do it all in one go. You don’t though! (Heck, you can even take an entire year to do it like I did in my 52-week closet cleanout.)
Here are items you can confidently remove today:
23. Clothes you haven’t worn in years – If you haven’t reached for it since the final season of Game of Thrones, you probably never will again.
24. Fancy outfits for imaginary occasions – Be honest about your lifestyle (brutal, I know). Those fancy outfits for events that never materialise are just taking up valuable space.
25. Uncomfortable shoes – No matter how cute they are, if they hurt your feet, you won’t wear them.
26. Stretched-out or pilled sweaters – These items no longer look good and probably don’t make you feel good in them either.
27. Single socks without matches – Got a sock drawer collection of singles? Time to say goodbye, mate.
28. Scarves and accessories you never wear – If you grab the same few favorites time and time again, aren’t the others just clutter?
29. Clothing with tags still attached – If you haven’t worn it in six months since its purchase, it’s likely you never will.
30. Items that no longer fit – Holding onto clothes that are too small often makes us feel worse, not motivated.
31. Worn-out underwear and socks – Ditch ’em and treat yourself to some new panties and socks next time you hit the shops, ok?
32. Excessive hangers – Keep what you need for your current wardrobe, ask a neighbour if they’d like the rest.
33. Costume jewelry you never wear – Keep the pieces you actually reach for and let your daughter, niece or the teenager next door have the rest.
34. Old purses and bags – Most of us use the same favourites over and over again while the rest collect dust. You might have some with good resale value!
Office and Paper Clutter to Dispose Of
Paper and office supplies tend to pile up faster than almost anything else:
35. User manuals – Almost every manual is available online now. Take a photo of the model number for your note-taking app, and recycle the paper manuals.
36. Old pens that don’t work – Test each pen and toss the duds.
37. Instruction manuals for gadgets you no longer own – These are obviously unnecessary, yet we all have them for some reason!
38. Magazines you’re never going to read again – Recycle old issues of periodicals.
39. Expired coupons and old receipts – Unless needed for warranties or taxes, these are just taking up space. If you do need to hang on to them, scanning them into your notes app is the way to go!
40. Business cards – Scan important information into your contacts and throw out the cards.
41. Old calendars and planners – Transfer any important dates and let these go. If you’ve used them as a diary like I do, you can also scan them at the end of the year and file them away in your digital archive.
42. Cables and chargers for devices you no longer have – These mysterious cables are a junk drawer enigma and they serve no purpose. Let ’em go.
43. Software CDs and DVDs – Most software is downloadable now, making these discs obsolete.
44. Duplicate office supplies – How many staplers does one home need? Keep your fave and give away the others.
45. Dried-out markers and highlighters – Test them and toss any that no longer work. Ditto for any other art supplies you can declutter.
46. Old greeting cards – Unless deeply sentimental, these can be recycled after you’ve enjoyed them. You could also scan them into a digital file to look at any time you like again!
Clearing paper clutter can have an immediate impact on your mental clarity and I find it helps create a more productive workspace. Digital alternatives for most paper items make this a relatively easy category to declutter. I like doing bigger rounds of paper decluttering when it’s too hot outside or as a rainy-day organising project.
Sentimental Items: The Hardest Things to Declutter
Sentimental items are often the most challenging to part with, but sometimes even these can be decluttered relatively quickly:
47. Gifts you don’t like but feel obligated to keep – The gift-giver wanted to make you happy, not burden you with clutter. It’s totally ok to let go of unwanted presents.
48. Souvenirs from places you barely remember – Um, when did I have pizza at a place called Jimmyjongoo’s in Dingenskirchen? Where the heck was Dingenskirchen again? Keep only your most meaningful travel mementos.
49. Children’s artwork – Select a few special pieces to frame, photograph the rest and then let it go. If your children are grown though, I would them first if they’d like it before you toss it out.
50. Old greeting cards without personal messages – Those signed with just a name don’t carry significant sentimental value. You know, like the ones your financial advisor sends you every year.
51. Inherited items you’ve never used – You can still honour family memories without having to keep every item you’ve inherited.
52. Trophies and awards from long ago – Take photos before parting with these bulky items.
53. Collections you no longer actively enjoy – If you’re no longer adding to the baseball cards or appreciating the stamp collection, I would seriously consider selling it to another collector.
When handling sentimental items, I like to remind myself that memories live inside us, not in the objects themselves. Often, the items that make you feel particularly connected to special memories are few, while others are just taking up space. Be selective about what deserves room!
Moving Beyond 53 Things to Declutter Today
As you work through this decluttering checklist, keep in mind that the goal isn’t just to create physical space but to get back a bit of breathing room. Each item you remove is one less thing to clean, maintain, or think about. Nice, huh?
You might find that decluttering these things creates a momentum that makes it easier to make decisions about other possessions. You can always work your way towards more challenging categories at a later stage.
You don’t need to tackle all 53 things at once, by the way. Even removing five items today can get you in the swing of things. Usually when I start doing this, I find myself naturally identifying other stuff that no longer deserves space around my home.
Once you’ve tackled these 53 things to declutter today, consider making it a habit to regularly evaluate what’s coming into your home. Clutter has a weird way of attracting more clutter when you don’t intervene!
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