5 Easy Steps to Completely Declutter your Home

5 easy steps to Completely Declutter your Home in 1 week

I live by this minimalism quote: “You only need what you will use”.

When my home is cluttered I feel stressed. Clutter and mess make me anxious. (This might be the OCD side of my personality, but I know some of you can relate.) It is much harder to keep a clutter free home when you have children. In 2016 I watched the documentary “Minimalism”. It changed my life and a way of thinking towards my belongings. I began a journey towards minimalism and living with less. I learned that 1-2 good quality items are more valuable than 20 poor quality items. This concept could be applied to my wardrobe, my décor, my toiletries, my kid’s toys, etc.

It took me a week to completely declutter and I am so much happier with less. I love the clarity and simplicity of my home now. I am no longer a slave to my things and I have learned to take care of the few things that I have. These following 5 steps will help you getting started. Decluttering is about getting rid of the unnecessary and treasuring the concept of “letting go”. The best place to start is with your wardrobe.

Declutter & Organize Your Clothes

Start with your clothes. Go through all your drawers and closets. Clear out as much as you can into a bag for donation. I use a 30gal trash bag. Sift through every piece of clothing. This also goes for your shoes. Clear them out! Keep only what you will use on a consistent basis and what is fashionably versatile. If there is a piece of clothing that just never really fit right, toss it. You know that piece of clothing that you have been holding onto in hopes that you will gain or lose weight? Toss that too. If something has sentimental value, take a picture of it and donate it. Find a local thrift shop or Goodwill near you. This may take you 1-2 days depending on where you are at with your laundry. If you haven’t worn it more than twice in the past year, put it in the bag.

Declutter & Organize Your Big Living Areas

The big living areas include (dining room, living room, backyard). Go through furniture, decoration, knick-knacks and pillows. Toss whatever seems extra. Now go through your kids toys. Donate what they do not use often, what they will not miss and what they have out grown. Kids do not need a million toys. The less toys they have, the more opportunity there is to tap into their own imagination. Kids will learn to entertain themselves if they are given the chance.

However, if it’s seasonal decorations that you plan to reuse when the holidays roll around, make sure to store them in proper containers. For example, keep your Christmas tree in one of these upright tree keeper bags, so it stays nice and lovely when you put it up in December. Store your delicate glass ornaments in padded bags, as well, to keep them from chipping or breaking. Proper storage for fragile items can help you save not just space but also money. 

Declutter & Organize Your Kitchen

The kitchen is usually the most daunting task. Start with the refrigerator and the freezer. Clean out any old food, over frozen items and unwanted condiments. Clean it all out with Clorox wipes or your favorite cleaner. When you have completely cleaned out the fridge, move on to the cabinets. Keep the daily dishes, the good Tupperware that has a lid, and the cups that you will use daily. Get rid of the appliances that you don’t use on a monthly basis. If you haven’t used that bread maker in a year, you’re probably not going to. Donate it.

Go through your pantry items, donate your cans to a food bank if you do not have a meal planned for them or if they have been there for more than 6 months.You only need what you will use. After the cabinets are clear of excess, proceed to the kitchen drawers. My kitchen drawers seem to be “catch all” drawers that end up getting filled with the most random of things. Empty them all and only put back what you need. Toss or donate the rest. Don’t forget to vacuum out and wipe the drawers before you put a few things back.

Declutter & Organize Your Garage or Storage Areas.

Start in the back left corner of the garage or storage area. Keep what you will use monthly and donate the rest. Just clear it out! Do not keep something in hopes of use. If you aren’t using it, you probably will not. You will feel better when it’s gone and your garage/storage area will look clear and clean. This may take a few days if you have both a garage and storage unit (or shed). Stay consistent and press on through this decluttering process. Remember to donate your pile right away.

Declutter & Organize Your Drawers

This is the final and most important step because it means decluttering the usually “unseen” items. Start in your bathroom and go through your drawers. Toss out anything that you do not use daily. Proceed to your end tables and nightstands. Toss out the things you do not look at or access daily. If you have any extra junk drawers in other areas that you haven’t covered yet – now is the time. Empty these drawers completely if you can. This last step will give you so much mental clarity knowing that the seen and unseen places of your house are cleared and organized. 

Lastly, when all this is done, clean your house. Sweep and mop the floor, dust the surfaces, Windex the windows and mirrors, wipes down the bathroom and kitchen, vacuum the floors, do all that you do to get it clean. If you have excess dust you might need to enlist the help of air duct cleaning services. Make your home a cleaner and healthier environment.

A big tip I can share is DO NOT wait to donate. Give it away as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to start sifting through and putting things back. Take a drive to your local goodwill and donate at the end of each day if you need to.

More Minimalist Inspiring Content

I have a ton of articles around here about minimalist and how to declutter your life! One of my favorites is the one called “3 Reasons Why Your Kids Don’t Need Toys“.

I also have a fun post about how to get started: HOW TO BECOME A MINIMALIST. Here I explain how stress free a minimalist lifestyle is and how to start your journey.

I’m on YouTube

If you want more Minimalism content in video form, I’ve got a YouTube Channel! It’s awesome. I’ve for cleaning videos, decluttering videos, apartment tours and a full playlist on how we build our current Tiny House!

Congratulations, you have taken the first steps to a happier more minimalist lifestyle. The less belongings you own, the less anxious you will be, and the more peace you will find. It sounds crazy, but it really works.

I wish you a clutter free New Year.
Peace & Love.
xo