Anora O’Connor can never keep her house clean.
And in her mind, that means she has too much stuff.
She and her husband have been decluttering for more than a year, but—with three kids and their busy lives to keep on top of—there’s always more to do.
“I want to walk into my home and not feel stress and tension,” she says. “I want to walk in and feel glad to be home. Instead of minding the junk and clutter, I want to simplify and mind the things that matter.”
The outpouring of interest in my recent post, 9 Hard Truths About Clutter You Need to Hear, has confirmed what I already believed: Clutter is keeping too many of us from living well.
But now that so many of us are convinced that we need to do something about it, the question is—Where do we start? How do we really make a dent in our belongings? And how do we keep at it without giving up?
Exactly how do we create the clutter-free homes we’re dreaming of?
Life with less stuff is exponentially easier than life with too much. I hope these 10 simple, clutter-clearing strategies help you create the home—and by association, the life—you’ve been craving.
10 Clutter-Clearing Strategies that Will Gradually Make Your Life 100 Times Easier
1. Start with one small area—like your junk drawer.
Get rid of everything you don’t regularly use, organize the things you do, and commit to keeping it that way. Going forward, notice the satisfaction you feel every time you open that drawer. It’s empowering, right? My guess is it will motivate you to do another drawer. And another. And another. 😉
2. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
Clear clutter in one area for 10 minutes, and when the timer rings, you’re done—guilt free. If you happen to want to continue, set your timer for another 10. But keep in mind that every time that timer dings, you’re free to stop, without feeling bad about it for a second. Instead, look at what you got done in just 10 minutes, and allow yourself to feel that wave of accomplishment and growing confidence.
3. Try the trash-bag method.
Do a sweep of your house with a trash bag in hand, seeing how quickly you can fill the bag. You can choose where the bag is headed—trash, recycling, or a donation center. One reader said her record for filling a bag was 45 seconds!
For insurance that this strategy helps you make real progress, plan to do it right before your trash gets picked up or right before you do a donations drop-off. That way you won’t be tempted to change your mind about the clutter you’ve cleared.
4. Keep it sustainable.
I often hear from women who go on a clutter-clearing rampage but burn themselves out so thoroughly that in no time at all, they find themselves right back where they started. In The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo recommends an all-in, no-holds-barred approach to decluttering and tidying up. If you’ve had a lightning-bolt conversion and are certain you won’t backslide, then by all means, go full force like she recommends.
But if you have a life full of things that might get in the way (um… children, a job, a less-than-eager spouse…), keep it sustainable. Do one corner at a time, and practice keeping that space clutter-free before you tackle another.
5. Use “habit tracking” to your advantage.
Research shows that we have greater success with the habits we track.
People who write down what they eat every day eventually see more weight loss over time than those who don’t. People who meditate daily using the Headspace app can watch their “streak” (the number of consecutive days they’ve meditated) grow, and it motivates them to keep it up. When I was working on my book about minimalism, I wrote each day’s word count on a calendar next to my desk, and I found so much satisfaction—and motivation—in seeing my progress.
How can we apply this to our clutter-clearing efforts? Could you decide to find three items to donate every day during the upcoming month and check each day off on your calendar? Could you set a goal to get rid of 365 items in a year and check off a box for each item you donate? There’s power in watching your streak grow.
Here’s a free PDF for just this purpose! Declutter 365 things in a year with this printable.
6. Never, ever start with sentimental items.
Build up your clutter-clearing confidence by starting with things that hold no emotional value. As you gain experience, you’ll be better able to discern the few things you can’t part with. (But again, never start with those!)
7. Create a place for everything—and keep everything in its place.
While you’re decluttering, keep in mind that the goal is to have a designated home for every item you keep. This will make it significantly easier to maintain your new lifestyle going forward, because you’ll know exactly where to put anything away.
I find it inspiring to remember all the times as a child when I asked my mom for a bandaid or a hair tie or a bottle of glue, and she knew exactly where it was. Now I get to do the same for my children; I get to offer them—and myself—a home of order, a place that provides us comfort, consistency, and stability even when the world around us does not.
8. Keep the one-in, one-out rule.
I think a lot of us have thought to practice this with our wardrobes; every time you buy a new top, an old one must go out. But what about your dish towels? Or your bath and beach towels? How about your spice collection, your kitchen utensils, your coffee-mug addiction?
9. Reduce your purchases.
If you’re not vigilant about what comes into your home, you’ll never really get ahead. It’s as much about what comes in as what goes out. Studies have shown that the average consumer is exposed to up to 10,000 brand messages a day. Staggering, right? Imagine how much our brand exposure is influencing our consumption, and consider taking these small actions to reduce your exposure to advertising—and hopefully curb that shopping habit we all struggle to kick.
- Cancel product catalogs and brand mailers.
- Unsubscribe from brand email lists. The (unfortunate) power of those “20% off!” coupon codes cannot be overstated!
- Unfollow any social media influencers who make you feel like what you have is not enough. I don’t think of unfollowing someone as unkind or hurtful. It’s my responsibility to be proactive about what I let into my mind, so while I may appreciate the influencer for what he or she is putting out into the world, I get to determine whether it’s the right fit for me. And if an influencer is promoting more products than I want to see… or if I notice that her content is making me wish for a better home or a nicer wardrobe… it’s okay to unfollow.
Related: 21 Quick Wins to Simplify Your Home Life
10. Celebrate your progress and really FEEL the sense of lightness that comes with it.
It goes without saying that the process of decluttering isn’t easy, even if the results are well worth it. To keep your motivation up, don’t gloss over your small successes. Instead, celebrate them. Focus on how good it feels to live with less stuff, whether it’s as small as a pared-down sock drawer or as big as an entire garage.
Sink into that feeling of lightness and let it propel you forward.
The more ideas the better! I’d love to hear—What strategies have worked for you in your house?
Dear Erica,
I cannot thank you enough for your advice and encouragment. Withfour children and a husband who tends to save things, it gets pretty crazy in our tiny house. Its been wonderful to feel like this whole group of us is working together. THANK YOU for putting this together and GOD bless you!
xoxo,
Marybeth
I’m so touched to hear this, Marybeth! Thank you for being a part of it!!
I’m 67 years old. When I think about all the time and money I have wasted on things I wish I could turn back the clock. Life is so much easier with less stuff. I so admire the younger people who already know this. Great article, I thank you.
Beautifully said, Betsy! Thank you so much for reading!
It took me while to figure out that too much furniture is clutter too. I got rid of so many tables. Coffe table & end tables went first. I now use pole lamps at the end of my sofa. I tore down my huge entertainment center to hold just my TV. It was a junk collector. Pared down my dining table to a small breakfast set. It was always too big for the room. I don’t give dinner parties so it was a waste.
In the bedroom I got rid of one of the chests of drawers. We didn’t need two. The bedside tables have drawers which were fine for our pajamas leaving the chest free for other things.
Eliminated one large craft case full of crafts I’ll never finish
So, think furniture too when you are decluttering. Maybe like me you just have too may pieces.
I love this tip, Eve! Really, just such a great thing to add. Thank you!
Erica, this is an excellent list of guideposts/where to start. I spearheaded what we called “The Great Decluttering of 2018” in our house, and used many of these tips. Luckily my spouse was all in and my kids were reasonably willing partners for their ages. My biggest sticking point that I had to power through was sentimental stuff. We moved in 2017, and I had an army trunk plus several plastic bins in the basement of stuff from my childhood through my wedding. I never had the boxes all in one place before. I spun in a cricle and just went “Oh my God, what IS all this stuff!?!” I powered through it this past summer and I feel SO much lighter. I’ve displayed a few treasured things that have been boxed up for years and made a “life box” out of the trunk, holding things from my birth through adulthood. But it’s ONE box in ONE place. And cleaning out the basement allowed us to buy a treadmill so i can exercise through the winter and keep my chronic illness under control.
This is amazing, Emily! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and congrats on all the progress you made during The Great Decluttering of 2018! Wahoo!
Love this advice! Something I’ve been working on for a few years now is to be gentler with myself. I often talk to myself in a harsh and demeaning way that I would never use with anyone else, especially not someone else that I loved. That inner critic can be nasty. She’s especially good at telling me that I’ve failed… again, and she pipes up a lot when my house is messy and stressing me out- again. One of the best things I’ve worked on doing for my house is to actively speak kinder to myself when my house isn’t as tidy as I’d like. Instead of “You can’t even keep your house clean. What kind of mother/adult are you?” I say, “Well, clearly this system for the junk drawer isn’t working. What can I tweak to stop this clutter from building up again?” Changing this self-talk has been huge on my journey to a simpler, more minimalist lifestyle, giving me the encouragement to keep going and not just give up when my house is a mess yet again. Keep the good advice coming! It’s much appreciated!
THIS. Janis, your comment is the most beautiful and fitting addition to this post! Thank you! I completely agree—We have to be so conscious of our self-talk, and I love how you tied it into the journey to a less cluttered life. Thank you again, and best wishes in the New Year!! -Erica
Hey Just pre ordered your book can’t wait to read it and continue my journey of having less stuff and a more full filled life, and enjoying our home, love reading your posts, tessa
Thank you SO much, Tessa, for the kind words and for pre-ordering! Best wishes as you carry on with your simplifying journey!
Next month, I will be moving to a new apartment, and the thought of going through everything is equal parts exciting and overwhelming. I love the tip of going through the junk drawer first, as that is one that I always open and think, “How did I accumulate so much stuff?!” It is my goal that at our next place, we really are mindful of the things we bring in to it, what we will surround ourselves with, and how we can make joy an ever-present feeling in our days. Starting fresh with a fresh perspective and a minimalist approach doesn’t seem to be an approach where we lose anything; I feel it will make our lives feel abundant and rich. (Also, I just pre-ordered your book – can’t wait to get it!)
Thank you so much, Corey!! There’s really nothing like moving to give you that breath of fresh air / swift kick in the pants! Ha! It’s so much work, but it feels soooo good in the end. Good luck with the process!
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Hi Erica, This clutter clearing techniques really helpful to make the life easier. Thank you.
Just found this article through my Pinterest feed. I would add that taking before & after photos of spaces really inspires me. They aren’t well-lit, staged, or blog-worthy. But sending them to friends on the same mission keeps us all motivated!
That is SUCH a great idea, Jennifer! Thank you for adding that here! (And I love hearing how you found me!) Best wishes!! -Erica
The one in/one out rule for my closet has worked for mr. I will also bag up clothing I think I can part with and hold it for a few months. Then I will donate . I have learned that out of sight/out of mind is very true for me. Organizing hang up clothing by color has also helped create a more zen closet. I also start my declutter in closets because generally things get stashed away that are no longer used and can be donated. If it’s gathered dust for a year, it’s time for it to go.