I’m a firm believer in regular decluttering of your home, but, ironically so, also a “tomorrow’s another day for decluttering” person. It’s not that I don’t want to start; I seem to get a list of all the spaces that could use a declutter, and then stop because I don’t know which one to start with. Which, as I’ve sifted through the internet, I’ve come to find I’m not alone (yay).
Decluttering is, in essence, throwing away or donating your stuff – clothes you used to obsess over, hobbies you got 3 months into and then gave up, gifts that were meant with good intention but really don’t match your style. No wonder this can get overwhelming, and pair that with decision fatigue, your couch will soon be calling your name, and more dust will settle on the stuff you really don’t want.
To make this seemingly insurmountable task easier, we’ve curated a few tips and tricks to help you get started, and a list of what to clean and declutter.
Tips & tricks to make decluttering easier
Instead of just starting and hoping for the best (I’m guilty of this), we suggest starting with a set plan – one that doesn’t take too much time away from your day and that’s easy to follow.
The 5-5-5 rule
We suggest sticking with this plan for the first few weeks, and, when you’re ready for an intense decluttering, moving on to another. The 5-5-5 rule is simple:
- 5 minutes: Set a timer for 5 minutes – this is the limit to how much time you should be spending decluttering, not more, not less.
- 5 things: When the timer starts, collect 5 things that need packing away, or 5 things you’d like to get rid of
- 5 spaces: Repeat this process in 5 spaces throughout your home
Five minutes may seem like wishful thinking, but it’s the trick that helps soothe your overwhelm, making the action of decluttering achievable. You don’t need to worry about how long the process will take you, and you sure don’t need to worry about how much stuff you’ll be able to clear out of your bedroom either. This rule has already planned for you – all you need to do is start.
Start small and repeat where necessary. And when you’re comfortable spending more time decluttering, simply add another 5 to the list and slowly work your way up to 30 minutes or an hour of decluttering. Or don’t. That’s the beauty of this rule – you have full control over it.
5 Decluttering mistakes
We’ve all been there: you set out to achieve a mountain of a task, only to have cleaned in circles at the end of the day. Alongside the 5-5-5 rule, try to avoid the following 5 mistakes to make your decluttering skills all that much better:
- Don’t remove too much decor – only items you haven’t used in a while, or ones that clash with your style
- Using mismatched storage containers – use the same-sized ones to help you store more efficiently
- Starting without a plan – that’s where decision fatigue gets you. Instead, choose what type of items you want to start with and stick to it
- Clearing surfaces but overstuffing drawers and cupboards – this is counterintuitive, either pack it away neatly or throw it out
- Removing cosy and comforting items – the point of decluttering is to rid of excess and redundancy, not items that make you feel at home
What to clean versus declutter
This is another important aspect of decluttering. Not everything needs to happen at the same time. Stick with the 5-5-5 rule and decide whether you’re going to clean OR declutter – not both.
What to clean
Start with cleaning before jumping straight into throwing things out. If the space you’re working with is dirty or messy, and already cluttered, your brain will tell you the couch is a much better option… A clean space is much easier to declutter. Vacuum first (including behind furniture and in corners), then mop, and finish by wiping down surfaces.
What to declutter
Now you can choose a group of items for decluttering. Think of things like:
- Clothes: this includes ones that don’t fit, are not your style anymore, and ones you keep saying you’ll wear one day
- Accessories: old jewellery, wallets, handbags, shoes, and anything else that hasn’t seen the sun for a year
- Expired make-up and medicine: They’re of no use anyway, so start chucking
- Gifts you’ve never used: The gesture really was all that counted in this regard. Put them in a box and donate to someone who will actually use it
- Hobby equipment: Those hockey sticks lying in the corner? That expensive yoga mat you’ve yet to unroll? These hobbies aren’t going to be picked up any time soon, and will prove more worth to someone in need
- Miscellaneous: This turns into the largest group to deal with, but it is worth the effort in the end. Look for things like old batteries, extra or broken cables and chargers, random kitchen equipment, old or broken decor items, old paint cans, excess pet stuff, etc.
