Do you need a declutter checklist? We all have that one drawer, shelf, or closet. The place where we put things we don’t want to deal with but know we need to eventually. It’s the pile of clothes on your bedroom floor you swore you would sort through last weekend and never got around to it.
That stack of magazines collecting dust in the corner near your reading chair because you refuse to let them go yet find yourself bored by them every time they’re near. Those old photo albums from high school that make you cringe at some memories and smile at others as they remind you of who once was or what once was important enough for a photo album (even if those past events are no longer significant).
Declutter Checklist
Use this checklist to help with removing clutter from your life. When choosing to keep or toss, consider this:
- 1 Year: If you haven’t used it in the past year, get rid of it. It’s just taking up valuable space in your home and in your mind. Toss it, donate it, or sell it on eBay to someone else who would love and appreciate having this item in their home.
- Size: If it’s too small, too large, or just doesn’t fit right with your home or body, toss it.
- Duplicates: If you have more than one, keep one and give the rest away.
- Love & Joy: If it doesn’t bring you joy and you don’t absolutely love it, get rid of it.
- Replacement Cost: If you can’t remember the last time you used it and it is cheap to replace, toss it.
- Doesn’t Fit in Your Life. Life is constantly changing. If it doesn’t fit in your current life and is something you can easily replace, give it away or donate it.
- Does It Make Life Easier? If not, there’s no reason to keep it.
- Does It Inspire You? If not, you don’t need it.
- Would You Buy It Today? If not, you probably don’t need it.
Kitchen – Start at the top of your upper cupboards and work your way down
Your kitchen can be a cluttered and chaotic place. It’s often the hub of your home, but it can also be a high-traffic area that you’re less inclined to spend much time in. You might spend time cleaning up before guests or family come over, but then as soon as they leave, the dishes pile up again and the clutter starts to accumulate. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – there are things you can do to help keep your kitchen decluttered.
Go through the declutter checklist and see what areas you can free up space.
- Extra & unused, small appliances
- Expired coupons
- Old appliance manuals
- Items that don’t belong in the kitchen
- Empty vases, bowls, containers
- Expired cleaning supplies
- Unused cookbooks
- Scratched or dented cookware
- Dish towels with more holes than swiss cheese
- Worn out hot pads & oven mitts
- Outdated spices and pantry items
- Expired or freezer burned foods
- Gadgets that are never used
- Old or unused dishes, utensils, cutlery, glasses/mugs
- “Junk” drawers – sort and toss.
Living Room / Family Room
A cluttered room is a major cause of stress and unhappiness. When the clutter builds, it can become hard to find anything, resulting in even more piles of stuff. A cluttered environment often leads to people not wanting to spend time at home, which can lead to depression and loneliness. The living room or family room is a central gathering point for the household, so it’s important that this space is inviting and welcoming. Take a look at these areas where you can declutter your living room or family room:
- “Junk” drawers – sort and toss.
- Extra ornaments, knick knacks
- Out of date books
- Broken furniture
- Dead/dieing plants
- Magazines
- Uninspiring décor
- Extra power cords
- Toys that never get played with
- Games with missing pieces
- Outdated technology
- Movies you no longer watch
Bath Room
The bathroom is often a cluttered, yet essential space in the home. It’s where you go to shower, do your hair and make-up, shave, brush your teeth, brush your cat…if you have one.
Declutter checklist:
- “Junk” drawers – sort and toss.
- Expired medications
- Outdated toothpaste or mouthwash with an expired date
- Towels and wash rags with holes
- Almost empty shampoo/conditioner bottles – consolidate and toss empties
- Old razors, toothbrushes, combs, brushes, etc.
- Expired makeup and dried nail polish
- Unused old curling irons, straighteners, blow dryers that are past their prime
- Used lip balm
- Expired sunscreen
- Unused perfume and colognes
- Unused travel size soaps and shampoos
- Old soap or lotion that has gone rancid
- Expired make-up
- Old dried up nail polish
Bedroom
The bedroom is the place where we lay our heads at night and it’s important to make sure that this space is clear and uncluttered.
- “Junk” drawers – sort and toss
- Wire hangers
- Socks without mates or with holes
- Clothes that don’t fit or have holes or stains
- Old shoes you no longer wear
- Outdated décor
- Broken furniture
- Extra pillows
- Extra bed linens
Other
Here are some other things in your home, you can declutter:
- “Junk” drawers – sort and toss
- Old calendars and planners
- Empty boxes
- Take out menus
- Old magazines and newspapers
- Extra cleaning rags
- Candles, night lights, etc. you don’t use
- Ear buds, alarm clocks, old cell phones
- Old paint
- Screws, nuts, bolts, nails, etc.
- Outdated or broken holiday décor
- Unused flower pots
- Anything you purchased and failed to return
If you’re tired of living in chaos, it’s time to get decluttered. I know that sounds daunting and like a lot of work, but trust me when I say the benefits are worth it. You might even find things you never knew were there! It can be easy if you just take one day out every week or so to tackle your clutter problems head-on with these tips.
