Decluttering: Where to Start?

There is one thing that all of the organizing experts I follow have in common.  Step one to organizing your home is to declutter. No amount of organizing systems or products can create more space in your home, and you have to work with the space you have. So where are good places to start your decluttering journey? 

Kitchen 

The kitchen might be the easiest place to start because what to get rid of is often a no-brainer.  Start with your pantry and fridge. Pull everything out, and throw out anything that has expired. Also, if you know you aren't going to eat either donate it to a food bank if unopen or throw it out. If you are feeling motivated, go through the cabinet and get rid of the mugs, utensils, and gadgets you never use. 

Bathroom/Medicine Cabinet

Another easy place to start is the bathroom and medicine cabinets.  Throw out expired medicine, body care, and makeup.  This is also a great time to get rid of any half-used bottles of lotions and perfumes that you know you are never going to use. 

Kids' Closets

Sometimes decluttering kid items can be tough.  They or you have an emotional attachment to certain toys or books. However, one area I find easier to declutter is clothing. If it doesn't fit, it has to go.  Go through the underwear and sock drawer.  Get rid of anything with holes or is missing its match. I go through my kids' clothing twice a year - right before back to school and in the spring.  

Linens

Do you have any towels that are scratchy or blankets that are no longer soft? It is time to let them go!  Also, I am a big believer that each bed in your house should have only two sets of sheets. One on the bed, and one that can be pulled out and put on the bed in case you have a middle-of-the-night emergency. Get rid of the unnecessary extras. The great thing about decluttering linens is they are easy to get rid of in a way that makes you feel good. Donate it to the local animal shelter! They are always in need of towels and blankets. 

Areas of Frustration

Is there a certain area of your home that always frustrates you? When putting away your t-shirts do you struggle to get them all in the drawer? Do you have to shove glasses in other cabinets beside the one they are supposed to go into? That normally means you have too much stuff in that area and it is time to declutter. That is how I have made decluttering a normal part of my day to day. When I find an area (like a drawer or shelf) that frustrates me, I take 10 - 15 minutes to pull things out and figure out what can go.  Afterward, I always feel amazing, and I have a new functional area in my home.

Tip 

Still overwhelmed by the process of decluttering. I recommend the Toss App. This is a great tool for beginners.  It gives you one decluttering goal a day and then asks you to count and record how many items you got rid of.  It then keeps a running total of what you have Tossed to keep you motivated and reminded of your progress.