It feels amazing to live in a decluttered space, but the job itself can be quite overwhelming.
Where do you start?
What should you focus on?
How do you decide what to keep and what to let go of?
How can you find time to do it around work and family life?
My answer to these is the same as my answer to pretty much everything: Look for an easier way, and take it step by step.
There’s no perfect way to declutter, so let’s get rid of that stress right away.
But an easy way to declutter? That, I can help you with. Here are 20 things you can declutter quickly and easily without too much sentimental pressure, overwhelm or difficult decision making.
Choose one to do each fortnight and by the end of the year, you’ll be amazed at how much extra space you have, and how much easier it is to maintain your home!
1. Expired pantry items: This is the easiest and most guilt-free thing to declutter. Get rid of the out-of-date food in your pantry - most likely spices and canned foods.
2. Extra coffee cups: You don’t need 20 mugs for a four-person family. Cap it at eight in case you have company and let the rest go.
3. Boxes you were saving just in case: You can get boxes any time you need them at Bunnings or ask on Facebook and multiple friends will have them.
4. Shop Catalogues: Look online for the latest deals.
5. Old candles: We burn them down ti we can’t light them anymore.. and then they stay in the cupboard for months. It’s ok to let these go and make space for new ones.
6. Expired medicines: Bag them up and take them to your local pharmacy for disposal.
7. Old gluggy nail polishes: The ones that are hard to open and give that thick layer on the first coat? Time to let them go.
8. DVDs: You know you’re streaming instead now!
9. Old notebooks: Do you ever read through them again? If not, it’s time to recycle them.
10. Handbags you haven’t used in the last 12 months: We tend to have one bag for the day, one bag for special occasions. Maybe keep a third for a bit of variety, but you really don’t need more than that.
11. Pens and textas that don’t work: It’s actually really soothing to go through them and test them on paper, throwing out the dry ones as you go.
12. Kitchen gadgets you haven’t used in the last 12 months: You might miss it once or twice when it’s gone, but honestly, you can probably live without it quite easily.
13. Cords and chargers you don’t use anymore: Especially if you can’t remember which item it’s for.
14. Extra drink bottles and lunchboxes: If you get new ones for the kids each year, don’t keep the old ones, they’ll just clutter up your cupboards
15. Old magazines: This is an easy one!
16. Hot hair tools you don’t use anymore: They are taking up space for no reason. Stick to your dryer, straightener, and one curler.
17. Toys that are broken or have missing pieces: No one’s playing with them anymore.
18. Owners manuals for appliances: They’re all online now.
19. Clothes that don’t fit: They’ll be dated by the time you fit them again. Treat yourself to a couple of new nice outfits that make you feel great when your clothing size goes up or down.
20. Old make up: Your skin will thank you for it. Check the label and let it go if it’s past it’s use by recommendation.
I hope you found this list helpful! When you’re ready for the next step, join the free Neat & Tidy Challenge!
x Marissa
