If you’ve been looking for an easy way to declutter your home, I’ve got a list to help you make it happen. Grab some boxes and maybe a couple of extra hands to help you get started today. We’re going to look at 20 items you can declutter from your home that will get you on the fast track to an organized, clutter-less home. Are you in?
Don’t be overwhelmed when it comes to decluttering your home. It’s actually much easier to do than you think. In fact, once you get started it can be hard to stop. Just in case you needed a little help, today I’m sharing a list of 20 items to declutter from your home today that will get you started. You’ll be amazed at how much better your home will look once you get rid of the unnecessary stuff you’ve been holding on to. Not to mention, you’ll feel much better, too. Ready to get started? Ready…set…go!
- Clothing – If you have pieces of clothing in your closet that are stained, torn, no longer fit or haven’t worn in 6 months, it’s time to say goodbye. Take them to the nearest thrift store and you’ll even get a tax deduction from it. Remember, it’s better to have a smaller amount of clothing in your closet that you want to wear than a closet full of clothes you can’t or don’t want to wear.
- Toiletries – Look through the lotions, shampoos, conditioners, hair products, skincare products and cosmetics in your bathroom and toss any you no longer need or use.
- Matchless and broken items – Socks with no mate? Broken earrings or mugs? What useless items have you been holding on that need to be thrown out today? I bet we call can name a few!
- Food – Go through your pantry and fridge and throw out all expired foods. Box up an unwanted non-perishables to donate to your local food pantry.
- Kitchen appliances – We’re not talking big items here, but small kitchen appliances like coffee makers, can openers, toasters, etc. When was the last time you fired up the George Foreman grill or waffle maker? If you can’t remember, it’s definitely time to get rid of it.
- Gifts – Just because someone gave you a gift doesn’t mean you’re obligated to keep it. If you don’t like it and can’t put it to use, place it in your donate pile.
- Items belonging to others – Who’s stuff are you holding onto for them? Is it your best friend’s box of books or your child’s notebooks from college? Give them a call and ask them to come pick it up by a certain date. If they don’t come claim their stuff, toss it. You gave them their chance. (Mom- if you’re reading this I promise I’m coming to pick up my old teaching supplies very soon! :))
- Prescriptions and medications – Go through your medicine cabinet and toss any expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
- Cleaning supplies – Do you have a bucket full of cleaning supplies you never use? Go through your stash and toss any cleansers and gadgets you don’t plan on using.
- Beauty appliances – Get rid of any hot-rollers, curling irons, flat irons, or other hair gadgets you don’t use.
- Books and magazines – OK, this is a hard one for me since I love books and my bookshelves are stacked with them! But I do admit it’s good to go through your collection periodically to get rid of any books you don’t plan to read or read again. Same with magazines….we tend to hold on to them a lot with the intention to revisit them later but never do. Just toss them!
- DVDs and CDs – I bet there are DVDs in your home you’re no longer interested in watching or CDs you haven’t listened to in years. You’ll feel so much better once you place them in the donate pile and get them out of your home. Trust me!
- Sheets – Is your linen closet packed? You really only need two sets of sheets per bed, so get rid of any extras. Same goes for pillow cases.
- Games and puzzles – What games have you not played in years? Is your puzzle collection growing and growing and you can’t remember the last time you put one together? Move them to the donate pile, too!
- Cords and plugs – Do you have a box full of extra cords and plugs and don’t know what they belong to? If you haven’t used them by now, chances are you never will. Go through them and keep any you plan to use and get rid of the rest.
- Cards – I love cards, but there’s no point in keeping every single one you’ve received. I keep the special ones I want to keep with all my keepsakes and toss the others out after a couple of weeks.
- Knick-knacks – What knick-knack items do you have sitting around collecting dust that you really don’t care for? Go through them and get rid of any of them you don’t love. You’ll have less to dust and your home will look less cluttered.
- Electronics – Collect any electronics you never use like laptops, game systems, iPods and cellphones. Try selling them on eBay or take them to a pawn shop or consignment shop. You may actually make money on this one!
- Paper and receipts – Go through the paper clutter on or in your desk and shred any paperwork/receipts you no longer need. File the rest.
- Junk drawer – Make a habit of going through your kitchen’s junk drawer periodically to throw out unneeded items and put others in their proper place.
Don’t stop now! I bet there are plenty of other items you can declutter from your home today. What items would you add to this list?
Great suggestions! As I read through I was mentally checking off each one that I accomplished during our last move! I’m pretty impressed with my progress! haha! 🙂
Yay! So glad you’re already one step ahead…way to go! 🙂
I love this list, Christie! We live in a small one-bedroom apartment, but it’s incredible how much stuff we accumulate! I love to go through our apartment with a garbage bag every so often.. haha!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves to trash her stuff…:) So glad you like the list!
These are such great suggestions! Will definitely put some of them to use!
Thanks, Maya. so glad you can use these!
Love the list. I have been meaning to remove a lot of these items from my home. The only things I would have trouble getting rid of would be my books, magazines, and clothing.
Yes, my book collection has been weeded out, but I’m a bookworm so there are a lot I refuse to get rid of. So glad you like the list!
We just purged our clothes and linens now that winter is over (I hope…this spring weather is starting off awfully chilly!) and are moving on to desks and files next weekend. I’m actually surprised by how many towels and sheets we tossed or donated. They are just two of those things you don’t really think about but then when you clean you realize you should have done it years ago.
Yes, I need to go through my linen closet. I’ve started tossing old sheet sets and now I have to go through curtains and such. It’s so refreshing once it’s done, isn’t it? I’m glad you’re getting it done!