How to Declutter Your Home Quickly with These Organizer Secrets
Proven methods to make decluttering rooms easier and how to declutter your home quickly while still having fun.
My family knows when I’ve officially had enough of the clutter in our house. I get a crazy look in my eye, pull out a trash bag, and I transform into a swirling whirlwind of decluttering frenzy.
If you stand still long enough, I might shove you into a donation box, just sayin’. There is something so positively freeing about purging a closet or drawer that has driven you crazy for months.
BUT there are some important tricks to remember to make the decluttering job quick and efficient, so I’ll walk you through all the best secrets for success.
The Most Important Home Decluttering Tip
Make it fun.
Yes, that’s the rule. If you absolutely despise this house chore, you’re probably thinking, “I solemnly swear I will not have fun.”
How to Declutter Quickly
But here are some tricks to make the home decluttering job easier (and dare I say enjoyable):
- Blast your favorite music (turn on that 90s hip hop Spotify station and let ‘er rip)
- Set a timer for 15 minutes right before you start
- Take “before” pictures of the places in your home you need to declutter
- Begin with only one small space (like your mail pile or a junk drawer)
After jamming your way through decluttering that little drawer for a few minutes, I bet you will have caught “the bug”. It’s infectious, and it will most likely motivate you to keep decluttering.
You know what’s even more satisfying? Take an “after” picture once you’re finished purging and compare the progress to your “before” picture. It’s an amazing feeling that will encourage you to keep going.
Why Declutter?
But maybe you’re thinking, why do I have to get rid of the stuff in my house in the first place?
The reasons can help motivate you.
Owning Less Means More Free Time
If you can devote less time to managing all of the stuff you own, think about all you would be able to do with that extra time. Cleaning isn’t exactly a fun chore already, but having to clean around lots of clutter takes much longer.
Owning less also means having less to organize. That means you can find items more easily. And being able to find items easily saves time and frustration.
Owning Less Means Less Stress
Does looking around your cluttered kitchen or haphazard bedroom cause a feeling of dread for you? A cluttered home also means a cluttered mind.
When decluttering, don’t think that you’re losing your belongings. Think about the daily stress relief you are gaining.
Owning Less Means Spending Less
It’s true. How many times have you bought something because you couldn’t find an item you needed buried somewhere in a cluttered closet?
The act of decluttering also trains your brain to make smarter purchases later. “Do I really need this extra thing in my house?” In the end, your house is less likely to be filled up with items you don’t actually need in the first place.
5 Tricks to Declutter Your Rooms in a Weekend
1. Make a Zone Checklist
Make a list of all of the rooms or places in your house you need to declutter starting with the smallest area first. Why the smallest? Because that giant room with the most clutter feels overwhelming, right?
Start small and work your way up so that you gain momentum. By the time you get to that final big room, you will have the rest of your house already decluttered. That will give you the motivation you need to tackle such a big job.
2. Fill an Entire Trash Bag
Walk through a room in your home and grab items as quickly as you can that you can donate. Don’t think too long about the items. Go with your gut and make a decision based on your first reaction to that item.
3. Label 4 Boxes as “Trash” “Donate” “Relocate” and “Keep”
Having designated boxes will help streamline the decluttering process to make the job more efficient. As you finish each room, take those boxes immediately to the donation center or dump. Having those items completely removed from your home will keep you moving.
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4. Pretend You’re a Guest
Walk into your front door and look at your home as if you are a visitor. What do you notice? What sort of first impression does it have? Jot down any items that should be removed.
5. Recruit a Friend or Family Member to Help
If you have a hard time letting go of items, go through a room or two with a friend or your spouse. Let them suggest items you should donate or throw away. You can defend if you want to keep the item, but your excuse has to be good enough that your friend or family member agrees that you should keep it.
6. Set a Timeline
Make a time block schedule for your decluttering. If you want to tackle the job in a weekend, write down time frames to focus on each room. (Example: 9:00-11:00 Declutter Your Bedroom | 11:00-12:00 Living Room | 12:00-2:00 Garage)
If you feel you need more time, make a timeline with dates instead and plan for decluttering each room in your schedule. Write them down on your calendar to hold yourself accountable. (Example: January 7th Declutter Your Bedroom | January 8th Living Room | January 9th Garage)
How to Keep Your Home Clutter-Free Forever
It’s all about good habits. (My family and I are far from perfect at these, but we’re always working on them.)
1. Be conscious of what you’re bringing into your home and how often you’re adding items.
2. Declutter on a regular basis. Set a timer and walk through your rooms once a week to quickly donate/toss items you notice at first glance. Do a deeper declutter once a month or every three months so that items don’t pile up over time.
3. Remove an item for every item you bring home. This will prevent you from racking up on clutter again. If you buy a new shirt, remove an old shirt from your closet to donate and so on.
Questions to Ask Yourself As You Declutter
Sometimes it’s just plain hard to know if you really want to get rid of an item and you’re worried that you’re removing too much from your home.
Here are some questions to ask yourself that can help guide your decisions:
1. If I were moving to a new home today, would I pack this in a box to take to my new place?
2. Have I used this item in the past year?
3. Do I have a definite plan to use this item soon?
4. Is this item damaged? If so, do I plan on fixing it in a timely fashion?
5. Do I own multiples of this item or have similar items?
6. Is this item worth sacrificing the storage space?
7. Does this item make me feel joy?
Whole House Decluttering Printable
Need a guide to get you started? You can get my 7-page Whole Home Declutter Checklist to help you tackle every area of your life (including digital clutter like unused apps and old emails).
Checking off each item as you work room by room is so satisfying.
After decluttering, organizing your home to make it more easily accessible becomes SO much easier because you’re only storing the items that are useful to you and your family. Cleaning and organizing feels way less like a chore when you’re only working with the necessities.
Here is some organizing help, when you’re ready for it.
More Home Organizing Project Ideas
- Storage Solutions That Transformed Our Garage Makeover
- Bathroom Linen Closet Organization Ideas That Totally Work
- Secret Toy Storage in the Playroom + the Chicest Amazon Storage Furniture
- 5 DIY IKEA Storage Hacks We’ve Used and Recommend
- Our Full Kitchen Organization Makeover
- Nursery Organization Tour
- 7 Laundry Room Organizing Solutions
However you choose to start decluttering your home, I hope it fills you with excitement and joy. It’s hard to get started, but once you do, there’s nothing quite like the freedom it provides.
My decluttering job for the new year is nearing the end over here, and I feel practically weightless now that it’s almost done. It’s an amazing feeling to have closets purged and drawers organized. I can’t think of a better way to have a fresh start.
