Struggling to Find Time for Decluttering?
A lack of time and energy can often be a significant barrier to decluttering, and I completely understand that feeling. However, avoiding the clutter won’t make it disappear; it’s a reality we must face eventually. If you’re ready to tackle it, consider implementing this list of quick decluttering tasks that can be completed in just 10 minutes a day!
It might be hard to believe, but I encourage you to give it a shot. You don’t have to declutter your entire home in one go or dedicate long hours to achieve a cleaner space. While there’s a certain satisfaction in completing a comprehensive decluttering session, that isn’t feasible for everyone. Start in one room and pick a few of the 10-minute tasks listed below. Whenever you have a spare 10 minutes, select another task until that room is clutter-free.
How to Declutter When You Feel Overwhelmed
Clutter can indeed feel overwhelming, leading to a sense of paralysis. Many of us juggle multiple responsibilities—work, family, education, and more—which can make it easy to succumb to that feeling of being overwhelmed. Remember the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Just as your home didn’t become cluttered overnight, you won’t be able to declutter it all at once, but it’s certainly not an impossible task. The key to decluttering when you feel overwhelmed is to take manageable bites, focusing on one task at a time. The easy decluttering tasks below are designed to help you do just that.
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Simple Decluttering Tasks
You really can declutter your entire home in just 10 minutes a day. Here’s a list of tasks that can help you achieve that goal:
1. Clear the Entryway
The entryway is often a dumping ground for shoes, bags, coats, and other miscellaneous items. Start by clearing out any garbage and sorting through mail or paperwork. Create separate piles for each family member and have them collect their items. If you have a designated closet for shoes and coats, organize those items accordingly. Finally, relocate any remaining clutter to its proper place.
2. Tidy a Kitchen Counter
The kitchen is one of the most frequently used spaces and can quickly become cluttered with various items. To make your kitchen look cleaner, start by removing garbage and recycling. Put dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher, then return food, spices, and clean dishes to their rightful spots. Anything that belongs in another room should be moved there. If the counter still looks cluttered, consider whether each item is essential and used regularly.
3. Clean a Refrigerator Shelf
Refrigerators can accumulate messes quickly, especially with a busy family. Begin by tossing out any leftovers older than a couple of days. Check the expiration dates on condiments and discard any outdated items. Group similar items together and combine any duplicates. Don’t forget to check your crisper drawers for spoiled fruits or vegetables!
4. Organize a Cabinet or Pantry Shelf
Pantries often hide canned goods and snacks that can go unnoticed. Remove everything from one shelf, check expiration dates, and discard any expired items. If you find unopened foods that your family won’t eat, consider donating them. When you put things back, group similar items for easier visibility.
5. Sort Through a Kitchen Drawer
Kitchens drawers can become catch-alls for miscellaneous items. Choose one that you rarely open and empty its contents onto a counter. Discard broken items and separate those you can part with. Only return items that you frequently use and that belong in that drawer.
6. Declutter Kitchen Linens
Take out all hand towels, dish rags, aprons, and pot holders. Discard any that are stained, torn, or burnt. Assess what remains and decide whether you need to keep everything you have.
7. Streamline Cookbooks & Recipe Cards
If you’ve collected cookbooks and ripped recipes from magazines, now is the time to evaluate them. Remove any cookbooks you haven’t used in a while and set them aside for donation. Quickly sort through loose recipes; toss those you won’t realistically use anymore.
8. Clean Under the Sink
Whether it’s in the kitchen or bathroom, under the sink can become cluttered. Remove all items and assess what you want to keep. Discard any cleaning supplies you don’t use and toss expired products. Relocate any misplaced items to their appropriate spots.
9. Tackle the Junk Drawer
The infamous junk drawer is a common household feature. Empty it out and quickly discard half of the contents without overthinking it. Keep only necessary items like batteries, notepads, and a few pens. The rest can likely be tossed.
10. Clear Off a Table
Living rooms and dining areas are often cluttered with items left behind. Clear unnecessary items from surfaces, toss old magazines and papers, and remove decor you no longer love. If you have drawers, empty them and discard most of the contents, keeping only what you need.
11. Declutter the Entertainment Center
Examine your entertainment center or TV cabinet. Remove any cords or cables that are no longer needed. Discard old remotes and games that haven’t been used in years.
12. Downsize Your Movie/CD/DVD Collection
With streaming services, many people have collections of DVDs and CDs that are no longer relevant. Sort through your collection and remove any that you don’t watch or listen to anymore. Consider donating them to local organizations.
13. Clear Off a Bathroom Counter
Bathroom counters can accumulate clutter quickly. Start by discarding empty toothpaste tubes and any obvious trash. Remove expired or unused cosmetics and toiletries, and organize hair accessories and makeup into their proper places.
14. Organize the Medicine Cabinet
If you have a medicine cabinet, it’s likely full to the brim. Discard empty containers and check medications for expiration dates, especially eye drops. Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the bathroom.
15. Streamline Shower Products
Your shower can quickly become cluttered with products. Combine half-full bottles, discard empties, and toss any products you no longer like. Don’t forget to remove worn-out sponges and loofahs!
16. Evaluate Bathroom Linens
Go through your bath towels and washcloths. Discard any that are stained or worn out—they can be donated to local animal shelters.
17. Clear the Top of a Dresser
Sort through jewelry, perfume, and miscellaneous items that have accumulated on your dresser. Throw away broken or empty items, donate what you no longer use, and organize clean and dirty clothes into the appropriate places.
18. Declutter a Dresser Drawer
Remove everything from a dresser drawer and lay it out on the bed. Discard any damaged clothing and donate items that no longer fit or are not worn. Return only what you wish to keep.
19. Organize Your Nightstand
Clear away dirty dishes and old tissues. Reduce your book collection to just the one you’re currently reading, and dispose of any old magazines.
20. Clear Out Your Sock Drawer
Dump the contents of your sock drawer onto a towel. Discard any single socks and those that are stained or have holes. Return the remaining pairs to the drawer.
21. Downsize Your Shoe Collection
Gather all your shoes and sort them by type. Discard any that are worn out and sort out any you no longer like or need.
22. Clean Out Nightstand Drawers
Dump the contents of the drawer onto a towel and dispose of any obvious trash. Only return necessary items to the drawer.
23. Declutter a Desk Drawer
Empty a desk drawer and discard trash. Test pens and throw away those that no longer work. Sort any remaining items into their appropriate places.
24. Organize Laundry Supplies
If you have several half-used bottles or boxes, consider which ones you will realistically use. Donate or toss any that you don’t like, and combine similar products where possible.
25. Declutter Your Purse
Empty your purse and remove any trash. Discard old cosmetics and file receipts as needed. Return only the essentials to your purse.
26. Sort Through Your Jewelry Box
Jewelry boxes can hide pieces that you no longer wear. Go through your collection and remove any items that you don’t use. Separate broken pieces for repair or disposal.
27. Organize a Bookcase Shelf
Check your book collection and consider donating any that you’re unlikely to read again.
28. Downsize Children’s Toys
Dump out toys from one storage area and discard broken pieces. Donate any toys that your child no longer plays with.
29. Sort Through Board Games
Evaluate your collection of board games and remove those that are no longer played. Consider donating them to family or friends, and discard any incomplete games.
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Now that you have a robust list of decluttering tasks that can be completed in just 10 minutes, aim to tackle at least one each day. If you find yourself with extra time, feel free to pick another task. You’ll be surprised at how much progress you can make with just a few short sessions each day.
Before you know it, you’ll have a cleaner and more organized space that brings you joy and ease!