Clutter can be one of the primary sources of stress for many women. It infiltrates your living space, takes over your thoughts, and can significantly impact your overall well-being. If you’re looking for a straightforward solution, here’s a week-long guide to declutter your home effectively!
Clutter can truly dominate your life and tarnish your happiness if you allow it. Perhaps that sounds a bit over the top, but take a moment to reflect on it. Think back to the last time someone knocked on your door—did you feel a rush of panic, scanning the room to shove items under the couch? How did that situation make you feel? Did it create a sense of anxiety in your stomach? Clutter is indeed a serious challenge.
For many women today, clutter is a significant contributor to stress and anxiety. Imagine how liberating it would be to let go of that stress by decluttering your home in just one week.
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Understanding Clutter
According to an article from The New York Times titled “The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter,” Dr. Joseph Ferrari of DePaul University defines clutter as “an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces.” Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re about to take a week to declutter your home and regain control over that chaos.
Gather Your Decluttering Supplies
Before diving into your decluttering journey, gather the following supplies that will help streamline the process:
Garbage Bag
Every day, you’ll be discarding items that are simply trash. Having a garbage bag handy allows you to dispose of these items quickly and efficiently, ensuring you can take out the full bag at the end of each day.
Two Baskets
Implementing a two-basket system can significantly enhance your decluttering process. The first basket is designated for items you wish to discard but are still usable. This might include items for family, friends, a garage sale, or donations. The second basket is for misplaced items—those things that belong in a different room. Though typically, you should touch an item only once, taking misplaced items to their proper locations can extend the decluttering process and lead to distractions.
Alternatively, consider having additional baskets for each room in your home. This way, once you finish decluttering, you can simply move each basket to its appropriate space. If you need motivation to let go of extra clutter, check out articles on how to manage clutter and even make money through a garage sale.
Music
Put on your favorite playlist and turn up the volume! Music serves as a powerful motivator, helping you stay focused and engaged in the decluttering task at hand while keeping distractions at bay.
Coffee
Finally, if you’re a coffee enthusiast, brew a fresh pot of coffee. A little caffeine can kickstart your decluttering efforts.
Getting Started with Decluttering
Before commencing your decluttering session, it’s wise to take ‘before’ pictures. While not mandatory, they serve as a useful visual reminder of your starting point and can motivate you as you witness your progress. They’ll also remind you of how cluttered your spaces were, and what those areas contained.
Let’s kick off with some simple tasks to get you in the decluttering mindset. If you complete all tasks for Day 1 and still feel energized, feel free to move on to Day 2. As the week progresses, the decisions will become more challenging, so anticipate that each day may require more time.
Day 1: Surface Declutter of Your Entire Home
On Day 1, your goal is to declutter all visible surfaces throughout your home. Surface clutter includes any item that doesn’t belong and is sitting on floors, countertops, tables, or any other flat surface easily visible from a glance.
The two most common types of clutter you’ll encounter on Day 1 are trash and misplaced items. If you find an overwhelming amount of clutter, consider breaking Day 1 into two segments.
Trash
Start by focusing on the trash segment. Grab your garbage bag and begin at one end of your home (I usually start in the laundry or utility room) and work your way through to the master bedroom. Move through each room, scanning for and tossing any trash until you’ve covered your entire home.
Trash should be easily identifiable and shouldn’t require much deliberation. If you find yourself hesitating, move on for now. Common trash items include opened packaging, empty boxes, broken items, empty food containers, stained or torn linens or clothing, and empty toiletry bottles, to name a few. Once you’ve finished the last room of the house, tie off the bag and promptly take it out to the trash can outside.
Misplaced Items
Next, grab your basket and walk through the rooms again. This time, focus on items that belong elsewhere in your home. Concentrate on the obvious surface items—you’ll tackle the hidden clutter in drawers and cabinets later. As you move through each room, drop off items you’ve collected in your basket from another room. For example, if you pick up your daughter’s sweater from the kitchen stool, return it to her room while decluttering.
Do NOT backtrack. If you’ve already cleared the kitchen but find dirty plates in your teenage son’s room, place them in the basket and continue moving through the house. If those plates require immediate attention, feel free to take them to the kitchen, but stay focused and avoid distractions.
Once you finish decluttering the last room, walk back through the house and return any misplaced items to their designated spaces. The easy part is complete—Day 2 will require you to start making tougher decisions about the items you wish to keep or discard.
Before you continue, don’t forget to download our free printable list of things to declutter for more inspiration!
Day 2: Main Living Areas
On Day 2, focus on your main living areas, including the living room, family room, dining room, and any other gathering spaces aside from the kitchen. As in Day 1, have your garbage bag and baskets ready. This is where the real decision-making begins!
Home Decor
Begin by scanning the walls for any decor items you’re willing to part with, such as photos, wall art, shelving, and window coverings. Add these to your ‘get rid of’ basket. Once you’ve tackled the walls, shift your attention to shelves, tabletops, buffets, hutches, accent tables, and entertainment centers. Remove items that belong in different rooms or that you’re ready to let go of.
Keepsakes and Entertainment
Next, sift through your knick-knacks, china, DVDs, video games, and other miscellaneous items that may have accumulated in these spaces. Discard anything damaged or out of place by placing them in the appropriate baskets. For the remaining items, ask yourself these questions to help decide what to keep:
- Can I remember the last time I used this?
- If I saw it in a store today, would I buy it?
- Is there someone else who might need this more, since it’s just sitting here gathering dust?
If you’re struggling to decide, take a look at our post on decluttering your living room for a more detailed walkthrough.
Once you’ve completed the decluttering of your main living spaces, tie off the garbage bag and take it out. Next, return the items in the ‘belongs in a different room’ basket to their respective rooms. Finally, determine what to do with the items in your ‘get rid of’ basket and place them in their designated spots until you can take action. If you need help deciding, check out our articles on what to do with clutter and how to host a money-making garage sale.
Day 3: Bathrooms, Laundry Room, and Linen Closets
On Day 3, focus on the bathrooms, laundry room, and linen closets. These areas often become catch-alls, but sorting through them can be relatively straightforward.
Bathroom Decor
Begin by evaluating any decor items that are outdated or that you simply no longer like. This could include pictures, shelving, shower curtains, and window coverings.
Toiletries, Linens, Laundry, and Cleaning Supplies
Next, check the shelves, medicine cabinets, and base cabinets. Discard expired items and any obvious trash. Remove items that belong in other rooms. Go through everything else and decide what can be eliminated.
Pull out any stained, worn, or tattered towels and linens. Depending on their condition, consider donating them to an animal shelter. Review your first aid, laundry, and cleaning supplies, discarding expired items and anything you won’t use.
If you’d like a more detailed guide, check out our post on decluttering the bathroom for additional ideas.
Once you’ve finished decluttering, dispose of your trash bag, return misplaced items to their appropriate rooms, and organize the items you’re getting rid of in their designated spots.
Day 4: Bedrooms and Clothing
Day 4 can be particularly challenging for many individuals. While the bedroom itself may not be as daunting, the dressers and closets often bring emotional and mental fatigue.
I recommend quickly addressing the bedroom decor before tackling the drawers and closets.
Bedroom Decor and Miscellaneous Items
Check for any decor items you no longer want and place them in the appropriate basket. This includes pictures, window coverings, and decorative pillows. Don’t forget to check your nightstands for any trash or items that can be discarded.
Clothing
Now it’s time for the clothing. Start with your smallest drawer, pulling everything out and placing it on the bed. Sort through each item and identify anything that should be thrown away or donated. Return the remaining items to the drawer and move on to the next.
Once all drawers are sorted, turn your attention to the closets. Again, remove everything and evaluate each item individually. We often stuff items in the back of our closets that we should have discarded years ago. In my last closet clean-out, I was shocked to find that I eliminated half of my clothes—some were too big, some too small, and others were styles I no longer felt comfortable wearing.
Be ruthless when decluttering your closet. Only keep items you truly love and wear regularly. Don’t overlook your shoes—donating those pairs you seldom wear can free up space. Once you’ve sorted through your keeper items, dispose of your trash bag, return misplaced items to their appropriate rooms, and organize the items you’re letting go of in their designated spots. If you have extra time, consider deep cleaning your bedroom!
Day 5: Kitchen Declutter
Day 5 can be daunting for some, as the kitchen often serves as the heart of the home, bustling with activity and multiple functions. Prepare your garbage bag and baskets once again.
Small Appliances
Start by scanning your countertops for any items that are seldom used or need to be stored away. Toasters, blenders, and knife blocks can often be put out of sight when not in use, or sold at a garage sale if they’re rarely utilized.
Food Inventory
Next, examine your refrigerator and remove any expired or old food. Do the same for the freezer, checking for freezer burn, and then move on to the pantry. Dispose of expired items and consider donating unopened foods that your family won’t eat to a local food bank.
Linens, Silverware, and Gadgets
Go through kitchen drawers and discard any torn linens or damaged silverware. Check for duplicate items or things you never use. Be aggressive in purging kitchen gadgets; you’ll likely find several you forgot you had.
Dishes and Cookware
Next, assess your cabinets, tossing any broken or damaged dishes and cookware. Donate any cookware or gadgets that remain untouched. Lastly, tackle that junk drawer—don’t argue! Eliminate unnecessary items and give everything an actual home. If you can’t find a designated spot for something, perhaps it’s time to let it go.
If you’re struggling to declutter your kitchen, follow our step-by-step kitchen decluttering plan for guidance.
Day 6: The Garage Challenge
Day 6 brings you to the garage, often the most cluttered area in many homes. In my experience, the garage becomes a dumping ground for items waiting for donation, rarely used items, or things without designated homes.
Before beginning, I recommend warning the rest of your family to retrieve any items they wish to keep.
Trash and Cardboard
Start by collecting and disposing of any garbage. Break down cardboard boxes and stack them for recycling. If possible, have someone take them to the recycling center right away.
Visible Surfaces
Clear off any visible surfaces by putting items away, throwing them out, or placing them in the trunk for donation.
Storage Areas
After clearing visible surfaces, tackle cabinets, storage closets, or toolboxes. Eliminate duplicates and dispose of damaged items. Finally, review any storage bins, especially those you haven’t opened in years. If you don’t need the items, don’t hesitate to let them go.
Day 7: Office, Paperwork, and Digital Files
It’s the final day! You’ve put in hard work, and now you’re nearing the finish line. As usual, grab your garbage bag and baskets. A shredder may also come in handy.
Office Supplies
Clear off any visible surfaces and remove items that belong in other rooms. Organize your office supplies to determine what’s truly necessary. You might find that ten pens are sufficient instead of thirty!
Gather electronics, extension cords, and charging cables into one spot. Discard any old or unused items.
Paperwork Management
Now, address your paperwork. Retain tax documents for the last seven years, but shred anything older along with bills or bank statements that are more than a month old. Most of this information is available online. If you’re not comfortable tossing it, consider scanning documents and storing them digitally on a thumb drive or external hard drive. Organize keepsakes and photographs into albums or special boxes, or scan them for digital storage.
Digital Decluttering
Now that you’ve organized your physical papers, it’s time to declutter your digital files! Start by tidying up your email; file important messages and delete those you no longer need. Then, go through your photos—delete duplicates, blurry shots, or any images you no longer want. You may be surprised at how many files you can eliminate.
Celebrating Your Success
Now that you’ve completed your week of decluttering, sit back with your favorite beverage and reflect on your achievements. You began with a thorough surface declutter, then moved on to the main living areas, bathrooms, laundry, and linen closets. You faced tough decisions in the bedrooms and clothing areas, tackled the kitchen, conquered the garage, and finally addressed office paperwork and digital files.
It’s a significant accomplishment, and you’ve completed it in just one week! Enjoy your newly decluttered home, but remember to establish habits and routines to maintain this newfound organization. If you’d like to share your decluttering journey with before and after pictures, click here to send me your story, and I may feature your transformation on the blog.
Enjoy your serene, clutter-free home!
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