4 Essential Steps for Decluttering

It’s easy for clutter to build up over time, especially if you’ve been in your home for a while. And if you are exploring the possibility of moving to a smaller home or just need to eliminate clutter, there are steps you can take to simplify the process.

Step 1. Assess your current situation

Do your belongings no longer fit into your closets? Are unused items stored in your basement or attic? Are you unable to put your car in the garage because it has become a storage room for all your stuff?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a decluttering strategy. Barbara Berman, a certified professional organizer and founder of BB’s Clutter Solutions, says that to make your decluttering process easier and less stressful, you should implement a SMART goals approach, which she defines as specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Berman also suggests that it’s a good idea to double your estimated time to complete each project as it always takes longer than expected.

Step 2. Build an action plan

It’s important to go into this process well-prepared. Develop SMART goals for your decluttering endeavor with the following parameters in mind.

Specific
Remain intentional with your decluttering efforts. For example, instead of having a general goal of cleaning out a bedroom, specify your goals: remove everything from the closets and from under the bed, dust everything off, and sort through what to keep, donate, and toss. Also, stay in one area until everything has been sorted through. If you find things in the wrong place, set them aside and come back to them later.

Measurable
Create criteria to help you to stay in control of each project. For example, if your goal for the day was to purge ten items from your bedroom closet, were you able to do it? If not, determine what caused you to fall short, such as getting distracted or perhaps spending time on other chores that weren’t as high of a priority. Take stock of your accomplishments, and recalibrate if needed.

Achievable
Depending on the amount of work you need to do, be mindful that it may take longer than anticipated for certain decluttering projects. For example, cleaning your garage, basement, or attic will likely be a multiday project rather than a few hours.

Realistic
As Berman suggests, you should avoid biting off more than you can chew. Maybe allocate additional time for larger projects during weekend days and complete smaller tasks throughout the workweek. Just remember, Rome was not built in a day, so you shouldn’t expect to complete all your goals in one day, either.

Timely
As you begin decluttering and downsizing, be mindful of how much time you can allocate to it in your schedule; commit to it by entering a block of time into your calendar, making it part of your to-do list. Also, be sure to pick a time when your energy level is at its highest, especially for organizing areas of your home that need extra attention.

Step 3. Determine unnecessary items

As you begin the sorting process, it’s best to gather items you no longer need. The following list can help you identify things that are only taking up space. Make sure to check with your city’s or township’s ordinances for the proper way to dispose of such items.

Obsolete electronics and office supplies: DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes and players, phones, computers, printers, cords, wires, phone chargers, unused Post-it note pads, broken pens, and empty printer cartridges

Old clothing: unmatched socks, ill-fitting or never-worn clothing, workout clothing, worn shoes, and baby clothes or hand-me-downs

Broken items: yard equipment, outdoor furniture, decorative items, furniture, basketball hoops, bicycles, baby strollers or swings, grills, and old coolers

Paper products: outdated magazines, coupons, take-out menus, calendars, product manuals, and receipts

Bedding: old or worn sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, and mattresses

Kitchenware: mismatched containers and jars, broken, chipped, or excessive dish and glassware, novelty appliances such as a waffle maker, unusable cutlery, and broken kitchen appliances

Bathroom supplies: outdated toiletries, travel bottles, old nail polish, and expired makeup, medications, and sunscreens

Miscellaneous items: wrapping paper, gift boxes, old holiday or birthday cards, old or unused board games and puzzles, books, excess plastic or wire hangers, leftover paint, unused craft supplies, dead batteries, and old exercise equipment

Step 4. Sort and organize

Once you have gathered the aforementioned items, you can start the sorting process for what stays and goes and who it will go to. And the most efficient way to do this is to place your belongings into the following labeled piles.

Items to keep
As you start to move through each room in your home, set aside the things you know you want to keep and will continue to use. However, you may come across something that you’re not sure about. Berman says it’s OK to revisit the item later—you can change your mind if you want to.

Items with sentimental value
If you’re a collector of memorabilia and family heirlooms, keep those most special to you and share the remaining collectibles with your children or other close family members (if they want them). If you have been saving your children’s early childhood artwork, baby clothes, and other meaningful baby items, perhaps offer them to your kids. Also, scan meaningful letters, postcards, and photographs, and save them on your phone, computer, tablet, or a hard drive for safekeeping.

Items to sell, donate, or consign
Consider selling or consigning your unwanted items, such as well-preserved clothing, furniture in storage, books, or other household items you no longer want or need. You can also donate your items to places like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and the Purple Heart Service Foundation. 

Items to shred or recycle
Eliminate paperwork that has accumulated over the years. This may take time, so don’t try to do it all in one sitting. To prevent identity theft, properly discard sensitive documents by taking them to a licensed shredding company.

Items to trash
Keep garbage bags handy for all the things you will be discarding. Once you have removed them, you’ll have a better idea of the type and number of storage containers you will need for items you’re keeping.

Getting started is always the most difficult part of decluttering your home, but once you put a plan in place and set goals, you can move through this process with ease.