This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click through and make purchases through those links, I can earn a commission. For more information, feel free to see our full disclosure.
This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click through and/or make purchases through those links, I will earn a small commission. I appreciate your support to keep the blog running. For more information, please see full disclosure.
Spring is officially here and with the new season comes a new opportunity to get things cleaned up and organized in our homes. I am on a perpetual mission to declutter and organize our home but every now and then I get on a special kick to get the extra things out of our house. Spring cleaning season is one of those times.
I don’t know how we collect so many things. We don’t buy a lot of things. We throw things away. But somehow we still have so much stuff. I feel this every time I misplace something or can’t find something because it’s gotten pushed to the side under some pile.
I am even more aware of this when I toss things into the donate pile and don’t see a real hole where the thing used to be. Meaning, we still have enough stuff to fill our home even without the thing(s) we just got rid of. I think it’s even harder with Little. Baby gear is so big. And we want to have more children so we’ve saved a lot of it. We’ve also loaned some of it out, but more on that later.
So, we’re cleaning things out. I’m not a minimalist, but I don’t like to keep things that don’t have purpose to me either. Today I’m sharing some thoughts on the process of decluttering and some encouragement if the thought of going through your own things seems a little daunting.
5 Tips to Declutter Your Home
RELATED: 7 REASONS TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOME TODAY
It’s okay to start small
Decluttering and organizing your entire home can seem like a daunting task. Especially if you are not already in the habit of it. Don’t let the size of the task or the number of things distract you. It’s ok to start small. Pick a drawer, a cabinet, a corner and start there. As you get into it, the larger areas will start to come more easily. I feel so much better even throwing 10 papers in the recycling bin just knowing that they are no longer laying around the house being useless. Every little bit counts. Starting small also means that you don’t have to spend hours cleaning and organizing. You can do a little bit at a time and still make an impact.
Decide which areas need the most work
While it is okay to start small, you should think about your entire home and decide which areas will need the most work. This will allow you to set some realistic expectations in terms of how long a space might take. It will also allow you to decide which spaces to work on when.
Commit to one space at a time
This is more of a personal preference for me. I like to finish what I start so if I am cleaning out the closet, I want to focus there until it’s done. If you are starting this process for the first time, or the first time in a while, I encourage you to commit to one space at a time. You’ll feel encouraged to see a full space cleaned out and organized. I always feel more motivated to move on once I see a space that is totally clutter free. It pushes me to make the other spaces like that as well.
Decide whether to keep, toss, or donate your things
Once you’ve started the process, you will need to make decisions on your things. I recommend a thorough clean out at least twice a year where you actually touch everything in a space and consider why it’s in your home. Do you use it often? Does it make you happy? Is it particularly special? Do you have a clear purpose for it in the future? These are all important questions to ask yourself.
I don’t like clutter, but I do keep a lot of things that others would toss. When I go through those same questions, there are some things that I just want to keep. Cards are a good example for me. They don’t serve a current purpose, I don’t look at them often, but they are special to me. For those things, it’s good to think of a clear organization system that you can stick to so they don’t start to overcrowd and clutter your space.
Other things need to go. For these items that you aren’t using and can part with, decide whether to toss or donate. Our rule of thumb is that if it isn’t in good enough shape for us to use or for our family to use, we toss it. If it can be useful to someone else, we donate it. Designate a space in your house to make a separate pile for things to donate. You’ll want to document all these things later especially if you will donate them to a charity and receive a tax write-off for them.
Remember that keeping your home free of clutter is a routine not a one time event
The most important thing to remember when trying to get rid of clutter is that decluttering is a routine and not a one time event. Think of it. No one intentionally sets out to fill their home with clutter (I think). But somehow, overtime things just start to pile up. In order to truly keep your home clutter free, you have got to be intentional about routinely going through things. This means being diligent about tossing papers into the recycling bin. It means thinking about the clothes that are already in your closet before buying new things. Or just donating clothes that you don’t wear anymore. Whatever it looks like for you, keeping things organized takes practice and commitment. The one and done mentality won’t work. That said, if you are willing to commit, it is entirely possible to keep things organized and clutter free.
Do you have a regular cleaning routine? How do you stop clutter from piling up in your home? What are your spring cleaning plans?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
7 Reasons to Declutter Your Home & Create a Space You Love
These are such great tips for organization. I love the idea of focusing on specific spaces and making them more useable. You’re so right about misplacing things in the pile! I’m so much happier when everything has a designated place. But, with all the kiddos it can be a challenge (toy clutter is the worst!). Thanks for the motivation! <3 Jamie @mommyinflats
I have to focus on specific spaces, otherwise I get so overwhelmed! And yes – toys are our current struggle right now! Trying to clear out and organize them to create a good rotation for the boys!
Having a good closet storage is where I would start. Discard all the junk and get all the important things organize and categorize in a proper closet storage.
Thanks for the tips! There’s some serious spring cleaning in my future for the new year!
Same here! I feel like it is always an ongoing thing around our house.
I wish I was better at decluttering. This is something i struggle With. I’m going to put this post into life action.
Angela
Oh dear, me too. I write this tips as reminders for myself, too. Although I think we’re getting better at it over here!
I love Spring cleaning and that accomplished feeling I get when everything is sparkling!
Yes! It doesn’t usually last long around here, but I definitely enjoy it while it does!
We always choose one room to start in, otherwise its too overwhelming! These are great tips 🙂
Same here! Otherwise, I feel like we’ve just pulled stuff out everywhere!
I seriously need to do this!! love the tips
I feel like we are constantly working on it over here! Every little bit!
Admittedly, I’m the absolute worst at cleaning up clutter. But I need to really work on my bedroom. It truly is the worst. And these are absolutely great tips at starting out to clearing my clutter!
It is definitely a work in progress around here!
Great tips! I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to papers/clothes/random things that I think I might need one day. I have to go through things several times to finally make a dent into it! My biggest problem has always been not committing to one space at a time – that’s what I need to work on!
Committing to one space is a huge help for me. I also have to go through some things multiple times before actually getting rid of them, but I always feel better once I finally let go of the stuff.
When I find that more than one room in my house needs some love, I find it so important to focus on one task at a time. If I don’t, I usually lose track of what I’m doing and the mess becomes even bigger!
Same – one task at a time make a big difference! Also helps keep you motivated as you see one space start to get cleaned out and better organized!
clutter builds up quickly in my house!! it’s horrible, but these are great tips to tackle it!
Same here – paper/mail/toys/random stuff – it all adds up so quickly! I am in a serious declutter mode over here as we get ready for Christmas and prepare for our second baby!
I love these tips! I HATE clutter, and it can get bad fast, especially when life gets crazy and I don’t have time to keep on top of things. I like to also do some decluttering and “spring cleaning” when changing decorations out each season. It’s a great way to refresh everything!
I completely agree! I try to stay on top of it, but I think the change of seasons is always a good time to really take a good look at things! We’re doing the same now as we get ready to decorate for Christmas!
These are great tips! I need to do a de-clutter soon for Christmas!
Lauren
Yes! We are doing the same thing before Christmas!
Great tips! I do one space at a time and only when my mom is visiting – she keeps an eye on the little people. Pinning!
I totally understand that!
Love the tip about starting small. It’s so much easier if you break a big job down! Keep, donate, or toss is a declutter mantra! Love it. Our house really needs your tips right now.
It really does make a difference. That is a great mantra to keep in mind when organizing your home!
Into fall cleaning around here. We always do one room at a time. Not so over whelming that way.
I agree! We are trying to get our house cleaned too, before the holidays and adding another little on the our team!
For me, committing to one space at a time has been key. Great tips!
It makes a huge difference, right? It is helpful to me to have a space “checked off” if you will rather than a whole house of partially organized spaces.
These are great tips!
Thank you!
These are such great tips! I definitely need to be doing this.
Thanks so much! It is a constant work in progress around here!
Great advice! I’m an organizer by nature and clutter is definitely annoying. I like to start with one space before moving onto the next one.
Finishing one place at a time definitely makes a difference!
Oh my gosh, so this is exactly how I feel. We don’t buy a lot of miscellaneous crap. I regularly go through things. Yet somehow I still feel like we’re drowning in a sea of “stuff”. Thank you so much for this post, loved it!
How does it happen?! So much stuff! And I feel like we are always looking for things to get rid of!
Ohhh man, how I love some good cleaning tips!! So inspirational and I have GOT to carve out time!!
Finding time can be hard! I feel like I am always looking for extra bits of time!
Great advice! It’s so easy to burn out while trying to do everything at once! I like to move from one space to another too. It makes such a big difference!
Thank you! It makes a difference!
I declutter and deep clean seasonally and I can’t even put into words how much I love the free space it creates. I’ve been purging like this since my little one was born and I love being able to create a clean home with a place for everything for him to grow and play in..
I feel the same way! It is so much nicer when things are in place!
These are such great tips! I really need to declutter our kitchen, and in particular our counter by the back door. More importantly, I need to stay on top of it….
Staying on top of it can be the hard part! That’s why I stress that it’s a routine not an event, because it really takes more than once!
I needed to read this today! My summer mission is to declutter our home (including the children’s bedrooms. Ugh!). Thank you!
I’m glad it was helpful! I think kids’ rooms can be the toughest to go through! Good luck this summer; hopefully you’ll be able to make some good progress!
Thank you for sharing these tips, still figuring out since I live alone. I used to make the mistake of starting to clean more than one room in my apartment at the same time instead of separately. And not making a routine of decluttering time to time. Little by little I’ve been trying to correct those mistakes :).
I’m glad you found these tips helpful! It definitely works better for me to go little by little, and to do one room at a time!
Great tips! I think the most important tip is the one about making it a routine to keep your home decluttered, not a one-time thing. This is something that I (and probably a lot of other people) have trouble with.
Same! Many of these tips are reminders to myself as well as it is a constant process around here, too!
For tidying and having 5 kids, we had a ‘upstairs, downstairs box’ and everything that needed going up stairs was dropped in the basket every day and taken up at bedtime, then the process repeated in the morning.
For decluttering, I randomly remove things from the house that I don’t think we’re using or will use and put it in a box in the garage, if we don’t miss it after a couple of months, it gets donated to a charity
We do a similar thing for decluttering. I need to do a better job with the upstairs/downstairs box. I think that is a really great idea!
I think for me it’s not getting overwhelmed and starting with one small area and finishing it! I’m a nightmare for little bits here and there. Great tips and thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
For me, too! Thanks for stopping by!
Fantastic tips….
It is great to start small….I always start with just one drawer or cupboard which then encourages me to do the rest of the room.
#bestandworst
Yes! This is a great idea – to start with just one drawer at a time!
Very helpful!!! If I don’t start small I won’t start at all!!!!
#runjumpscrap
Right? It can be so overwhelming otherwise!
There are 2 rooms I need to declutter. My garage and my grand kids playroom. Thanks for the helpful tips, I will put them to good use:-)
Thank you for stopping by! Good luck with your cleaning!
Your final tip of keeping your cleaning a routing and not a one time thing is so key. I make sure I do some cleaning every single day. It helps it from becoming overwhelming.
This is great advice – to do something everyday!
These are really great tips! Especially, about starting small. I definitely tend to get a little overwhelmed while organizing.
Xo,
Courtney
http://www.courtneyfashionista.com
I feel like you just have to give yourself permission to start small. Every little bit. You’ll pick up momentum as you start to see progress!
That last tip is the one that gets me every time. It’s like a cycle. I can declutter, but then it seems like something else replaces the old clutter. I have to get better! Thanks for sharing!
Me too! This is a reminder to myself as well. It piles up so easily if you don’t stay on top of it!
Great advice! As I’m moving soon, I’m starting to go through the process of decluttering what I own, and it seems like a daunting task! I just need to remember to focus on one space at a time and then it’ll be much easier to see my progress.
Thanks! Moving is a great reason to start to declutter! Just do one room at a time – even as you pack. Separate out things you should get rid of before you move them!
Yes! I love decluttering! Especially since we have a new house. I made it a mission when we moved to only bring stuff we actually use and I’ve slowly been cleaning out our clothes. Okay, mostly mine. But the hubs’ too. My other trick is to make sure that I’m buying things for a reason, not just because they are on sale or they’re shiny, pretty and new.
Same. I think that is such an important point and one that you have to be very intentional about – not buying things just because. I’ve found it actually costs a lot more to me in stress when it creates clutter around me so it’s not even worth it!
I love your tip on focusing on an area. I’ve implemented this into my own home. I find life is much better if I can keep the kitchen counters clean and clutterfree and our dining room table! 🙂
Oh man, the kitchen counters! Yes, yes, yes! This is one area that can really cause me stress because I need to use them! It isn’t fun at all to come downstairs to a kitchen full of dirty counters when you need to cook breakfast!
These are great tips;) That is what I started this week. Starting with my living room. I also have my plan in a notebook for each space.
Thanks, Lucy! That is a really great idea to jot down plans for each space in a notebook! Good luck with your decluttering!
Love this post! You’re so right – decluttering is not one-time event. It’s weekly, daily, even sometimes hourly lol. But so worth the effort when you can start to see the fruits of your labor paying off! I feel like I’ve done 5 or 6 massive declutter binges on our small apartment over the past year and I’m finally starting to feel like I have a handle on things (but there’s still progress to be made!) I know it must be twice as hard to kep things under control with all the baby stuff. Thanks for being a decluttering inspiration!
It is so crazy! We are constantly figuring out the best way to store the gear! One of the things we’ve done that has been really helpful actually is to let friends borrow some of our baby gear. This gets it out of our house for a little bit and allows them to use it without spending lots of $$ on more gear. They always give it back after their babies outgrow it, so it’s not even like we are “getting rid” of it. I am always looking for things to get rid of around here though. Things pile up so easily!
I’m on a mission to declutter this summer, so this is very helpful!
Oh good! Good luck!
Great advice! I’m currently in the pondering-whether-to-start-decluttering phase myself. Haha. 😉 We moved into our house back in August, and I feel like we never really finished moving in, if that makes sense. We still have boxes in the garage, and I haven’t gotten all the storage items necessary to make the new place feel organized. But now, maybe I’ll finally have the motivation (to find the time) to get it done! Thanks! 🙂
Yes! That’s the whole point of the first tip – it’s ok to start small. Just pick one little area and declutter as you go. That is really exciting about your new home! Good luck continuing to get everything how you like it!