A Year of Decluttering … 15 Minutes a Day

It doesn't matter what day of the year that you start. These focused decluttering tasks take just 15 minutes a day. Not only will you have less clutter next year at this time, you'll also develop consistent practices that will help you become an organized person. 

by Susan McCarthy

Did you start the year with a trash bag in hand and big plans for decluttering and organizing your home?

Realizing that a quarter of the year has gone by and that you’re not quite a quarter of the way through decluttering your home can be, how shall we say it, discouraging.

Decluttering is likely to take much more time than you anticipated. Making decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of isn’t as straightforward as you thought it would be. 

In retrospect, on some days, you kept everything and simply rearranged it. 
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You feel frustrated. Maybe even frozen because you don’t know what your next action should be and if it will make a meaningful difference in your home. 

Declutter in 15 Minutes a Day

How easy would it be for you to block off a seven or eight hour a day each month to devote to decluttering? This might seem like a totally doable goal, but in reality, it’s difficult to pull off.

• You’re predicting that this will be a high energy day…and you’ll sustain that level of energy from the beginning to the end. 

 

• It’s intimidating to walk into a cluttered room. Where do you start? Here? There? How about here? But working over there might go faster. 

 

• The longer you declutter, the likelier it is that you’ll get distracted. You’re putting your hands on a lot of stuff. Some which will entice you to look closer and you’ll lose track of the bigger picture. And a lot of the people in your life will start wondering where you are and what you’re doing.

And so, while an entire day of decluttering seems like it would be ideal, it can be a challenge to schedule it and then accomplish everything you’d like to in that time.

On the other hand, doing a small decluttering task 15 minutes a day, every day of the year, adds up to over 90 hours of effort in the year. That’s roughly the equivalent of that full day of decluttering once a month. 

And while seven or eight productive hours of decluttering in a day can be a challenge, a 15-minute decluttering task is something you can pull off…even on a busy day. 

365 Days of Decluttering

Below you’ll find an item to declutter every day of the year. It doesn’t matter if the date on the calendar reads January 1, April 1, or October 13. 

You’ll declutter more than 365 items during the year. The item of the day may inspire you to declutter 10, 12, or 52 pens, CDs, tee shirts, socks, etc. 

There isn’t a theme of the month. By moving around to different locations in your home each day, you’ll keep your perspective fresh. 

This isn’t a comprehensive plan for tackling everything in your home, which would be much more systematic. You’ll declutter a lot of stuff from a lot of categories over the course of a year. 

• Want to go faster? You can just do the tasks for two or more days. Want to go slower? Declutter one item that fits the day’s category.

• If an item doesn’t apply to you, cross it off. On those days, you can repeat a category you didn’t finish, or you can jump ahead to the next item.

• One 15-minute decluttering session isn’t going to transform your home. The consistent practice of evaluating what you own is important because it will help you stay organized for life, not just for a week or a month.  

How to Find the Time to Declutter

Remember, fifteen minutes is better than zero minutes, which may be what you are currently clocking in each day.  Doing a little bit of decluttering everyday will add up.

And, there may be days that you get caught up in a task and spend an extra five minutes going through gym tee shirts and you empty half a drawer – which is so worth a fraction of your day. 

Don’t think that you should add time to each day’s task or force yourself to do a little extra. Overdoing can kill your momentum.  

Those ten-to-fifteen minutes are meant to be an insignificant amount of time. You worked late? Had a dentist appointment? Forgot you need to do laundry? You have a lot of things on your mind. 
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Decluttering shouldn’t stress you out – remember, you don’t have to declutter you are choosing to declutter so to improve your home and your life.

How to Gain 15 Minutes a Day So You Have Time to Declutter
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• Go to bed 15 minutes earlier and wake up 15 minutes earlier to do the task first thing in the morning (without losing any sleep).

• Sneak it into your day’s other tasks. While getting dressed in the morning, sort through your shirts; while the coffee is brewing, declutter your mugs. 

• Spend 15 or so fewer minutes on social media.

• Use time you would have spent shopping or browsing online. If you get rid of three items but then buy five new things, you really aren’t on the track to getting organized.

• Do the task right before dinner, before you start to relax.

• Go immediately from cleaning up after dinner to decluttering. The key is to keep moving.​

What If You Miss a Day…or a Week?
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No problem. Life happens. Skip over that day’s task to save it for a day when you have more time or when another day’s task doesn’t apply to you. 

However, if this was just an average crazy-busy day, (you weren’t trapped in the doctor’s office for three hours, you weren’t in a car accident, you didn’t end up in the hospital), then do something so you don’t lose momentum. Yes, decluttering one thing a day counts as progress!

And if you’re not at home while on a business trip or on vacation, start up where you left off. Don’t worry about trying to catch up right away. 
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Someday a meeting, class, or event you were going to will get cancelled and you’ll decide to declutter for 30 minutes. Another day you’ll feel particularly energetic, and you’ll do a little extra decluttering on that day as well.

What If You Want to Do More?
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Of course! You may decide to spend two hours every Sunday afternoon decluttering your basement or garage. Maybe you spend a weekend on a closet makeover. 
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Still, do the mini task of the day. Remember, consistent effort doesn’t just help to declutter your home…it helps to create the mindset of an organized person. ​

What Do I Do with the Stuff I’m Decluttering?

If an item is a strange color (or smell), worn out, stained, damaged, or otherwise icky, toss it in the trash (or recycling bin, if appropriate). Check with your town or trash company for guidance on hazardous waste. 

Stuff that’s in good condition, but you really don’t need, can get donated to a charity or sold or given to someone who wants the item. The biggest limit on how you can get rid of stuff is time.
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Decide where you’ll donate items or how you’ll sell them, right now, so there’s no question about where that box of items is going or when you’ll have a yard sale.

Prepare for a Yard Sale

If you want to have a yard sale at some point, set up boxes in your basement or garage that you can easily access. 

When you decide you want to sell something, take it to these boxes. If you want to develop some order, have a kitchen box, a clothing box, etc. 
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Please don’t make a pile of loose stuff in your closet or in the corner of the room. You want to move the item clearly from the “clutter” category to the “yard sale” category.

Prepare to Donate Items
If you want to donate an item, have a box (this one could be in the corner of a room, or a closet, or even in the trunk of your car) to put the item in. 

Don’t worry about sorting items. If it could be damaged, wrap some newspaper or paper towel around the item. When the box is filled (not overfilled), take it to the thrift store you’ve already identified.
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You could bring in extra pens to work or send them to school with your kid, so they can give them to their teacher. Books and current magazines can be left in the break room at work (maybe with a “free” note attached). Don’t just dump stuff, be thoughtful.

Prepare to Sell Online
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If you want to sell items online, do it the day you decide you want to sell the item or make this your weekend task. Try to avoid having more than ten items piled up waiting to be sold because it will be harder to motivate yourself to sit down and handle this task. 

Also, set a time limit … if the item hasn’t sold in two weeks or a month, whether you’ve posted it for sale or not, out it goes.

Other Actions that Will Help You Get Organized

One. If a task can be completed in one-minute then do it when you notice it needs to be done. Wipe that smudge of butter on the counter now. Toss the junk mail as you walk in the door.

Two. Every day, aside from the task of the day, get in the habit of a 10-minute tidy-up. By that, I mean that you walk around your home looking for items that are out of place and move the items you’ve touched that day to their appropriate place. 

For example, put your dirty coffee mug in the dishwasher or sink. Toss or file the mail. Put the day’s newspapers in the recycling bin. Don’t spend more than 10 minutes on this task
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This isn’t meant to be cleaning or organizing. If your home is disorganized, this action will feel like a drop in the ocean. You are forming a habit. 
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Get everyone over the age of three who lives in your home to do this. Set a timer. Blast some music. Try to do this at the same time every evening.

Three. Use up what you have…don’t buy anything…and follow the one in/one out rule. If you have bottles of shampoo, unread books, craft supplies you haven’t even pulled from their package, focus on using this stuff. Which means – don’t buy anything. 

Yeah, yeah, the sole is peeling off your sneakers and you don’t have another pair in your closet? Buy a pair of sneakers. You don’t need sneakers, but you happen to see a pair of aquamarine-color sneakers on sale? Don’t buy them. Think about all the money you will save! 

If you do buy something (and I’m not talking about food or grooming products or other things that will get used up), get rid of a similar item. 

This is not your task for the day. This is a habit to develop for the rest of your life. Bought a new book? Get rid of an old one. One in/one out means that new items create a zero-impact on your belongings.​

365 Ways to Declutter Stuff from Your Home

​Obviously, you don’t need to get rid of every item on this list. Just because you see the word “socks” doesn’t mean you need to get rid of all your socks…just the ones with holes, no match, or that aren’t comfortable, whatever the reason. ​

You can use decluttering to limit what you have so that possessions fit in the storage spaces you have available.

1. Dried out and excessive pens
2. Apps you no longer use
3. Excessive mugs
4. Baking pans and supplies you haven’t used in over a year
5. Take-out condiment packets
6. Excess plastic shopping bags
7. Magazines that are more than three months old
8. CDs you no longer listen to
9. Take 15 minutes to clear the trash from your car
10. Expired condiments and food that’s stored on the refrigerator door
11. Freebie tee shirts that you’re never going to wear
12. The VHS tapes and VHS recorder sitting in your basement
13. Old utility bills
14. Horrible looking or excessive decorative pillows on your couch or bed
15. Shoes that don’t fit and never fit
16. Old calendars you’ve kept for reference
17. Expired food in the refrigerator
18. The contents of your wallet
19. Lip balm, lip stick, lip gloss
20. Old cameras and accessories 
21. Books you’ve never read
22. Old food in the freezer
23. Greeting cards you’ve received that don’t contain a special handwritten message that you find meaningful
24. Socks
25. Old appointment cards
26. Instruction manuals (particularly if you no longer have the machine)
27.  A gift that you don’t want. 
28. Broken scale
29. Loyalty cards that you don’t have to show at the store
30. Expired medications
31. Old to-do lists
32. Framed photographs you no longer want to display
33. Old vitamins and supplements
34. Unused items in the sewing kit
35. Expired herbs and spices
36. Photos you don’t enjoy looking at 
37.  Pencils and colored pencils
38. Mystery cords and cables
39. Plastic food storage containers
40. Dish towels 
41.  Unnecessary duplicate kitchen utensils
42. DVDs
43. Tarnished costume jewelry
44. Saggy underpants
45. Foods you don’t like
46. Perfume, cologne, or aftershave that you won’t wear
47. Cassette tapes
48. Unnecessary manicure tools
49. Old newspapers
50. Gift cards
51.  Dead plants  
52. Paper clips
53. Sad bras
54. Expired coupons (any print coupons)
55. Takeout menus
56. Excess glassware
57.  Pet toys
58. Expired food
59. Markers and highlighters
60. Packaging from items you can no longer return
61.  Rings
62. Excess cleaning supplies
63. ‘As Seen on TV’ items that don’t work
64. Phone books
65. Old sponges
66. The freezer
67.  Phone chargers to phones you no longer have
68. Costume jewelry you don’t wear
69. A piece of furniture
70. Clocks
71. Save the date announcements after you mark the date in your calendar
72. A knickknack you don’t like
73. Remote controls to things you no longer own 
74.  The worn out bathmat
75.  Bracelets
76.  Pinterest pins you’ll never try
77. Random nails and screws
78.  Old towels
79.  Something that makes you feel sad
80. Excess plates
81.  Wedding favors from other people’s weddings
82. Broken or excess umbrellas
83. Jeans that don’t fit 
84. Duplicate tools
85. Frayed paint brushes
86. Extension cords and power strips
87.  Excessive cleaning cloths, wipes, paper towels
88. Pushpins
89. Excess flatware
90. Old eyeglasses 
91.  An outfit you don’t wear
92. Purses you don't’ or can’t use
93. Old toothbrushes
94. The fancy soap you never use
95. Necklaces you don’t or can’t wear
96. Candy and gum
97.  A kitchen gadget you don’t use
98. Old or extra sheets
99. Useless smartphone or cellphone accessories
100. Old and unused eye makeup
101. Worn out or stained washcloths
102. Clothing with attached price tags
103. Old hair accessories
104. Blankets that don’t get used
105. Cookbooks you don’t refer to
106. Plastic cards (from stores or anyplace else)
107. Broken lamps
108. Touristy knickknacks
109. Space buttons
110. A just in case item 
111. Stained clothing
112. Articles you’ve printed from the internet or pulled from magazines
113. Clothes hangers
114. Promotional swag
115. Extra scarves or ties
116. Old grooming products
117. Ratty makeup brushes 
118. Broken or rusted tools
119. Cans of paint for colors you no longer have in your home
120. Something you dislike
121. Plastic take-out flatware
122. Stretched out or stained tee shirts
123. Hair products
124. Loofah or mesh sponge
125. A piece of exercise equipment that you don’t use
126. Garden tools in poor condition
127. Unused outdoor play equipment and toys
128. Earrings
129. Canvas bags and shopping totes
130. Artwork you don’t like
131. Shorts
132. Saved TV shows you’ll never get around to watching
133. Something meaningless
134. Broken lawn, patio, or beach chairs
135. No longer used sports equipment
136. Ratty flip-flops
137. Worn out wallets
138. Expired sunscreen
139. Baby items when you don’t have a baby
140. Stretched out swimwear
141. Baskets
142. Broken and scratched sunglasses
143. Coloring books
144. Something you don't’ like
145. Another item you’ve been keeping just in case
146. Something broken
147. Something from the basement or garage
148. An old broom or mop
149. Air mattress and sleeping bags
150. Scissors
151. Loose change (cash it in!)
152. Gather photo albums and boxes of photos to one location
153. Half-finished craft projects
154. Damaged garden ornaments
155. Something you need to return to someone
156. Stationery
157. Worn out sneakers
158. Bookmarked webpages
159. Music that you don’t listen to
160. Clothing you no longer wear
161. Extra vases
162. Saved blogs and newsletters
163. Half-empty boxes of cereal
164. Old textbooks
165. Refrigerator magnets
166. Business cards
167. Kids’ artwork
168. Empty boxes
169. Pots from garden plants
170. Lanyards
171. Hanging file folders
172. Unnecessary file folders
173. Old potting soil
174. Materials for former interests and hobbies
175. Releasing the idea that you should return to a former hobby or interest
176. A broken vacuum
177. Catch-all bowls and baskets
178. Duplicate exercise equipment
179. Phone contacts you don’t call
180. Extra staplers and excessive staples
181. Luggage
182. DIY supplies you haven’t used
183. Water bottles
184. Something that annoys you
185. Laundry baskets and hampers
186. Show programs
187. Broken lawn mowers
188. Outdated technology
189. Toss one thing from your bathroom
190. Toss one thing in your bedroom
191. Digital books
192. Leftover seasonal and party-themed plates and napkins
193. Politely refuse an invitation
194. Something from the attic
195. Another thing from the attic
196. Contents of your purse/backpack/briefcase
197. Baseball caps
198. Medicine chest
199. Something that annoys you
200. Deflated sports and play balls
201. Eliminate a task from your to-do list
202. Something from the car’s trunk
203. Stuff for the yard sale that you haven’t held 
204. Eliminate one thing from the hall closet
205. Take something off your bedside table
206. Eliminate one thing from your pantry
207. Photos
208. Something from the car’s glove compartment 
209. An event on your calendar
210. Choose 5-10 things you want to spend less money on
211. Email inbox
212. Smartphone apps and folders
213. List 10 thoughts swirling through your mind
214. Games with missing pieces
215. An obligation
216. Return to a decluttering task you didn’t complete
217. Items on a wish list
218. Talk to friends about limiting gift giving
219. Talk to friends about limiting gift giving
220. Something from under the kitchen sink
221. Orphaned items
222. Show some gratitude and thank someone
223. Return to a decluttering task
224. A regret
225. Notebooks and pads of paper
226. Photos
227. Something someone left at your home
228. A gift you don’t want
229. Old computers
230. Lighters and matches
231. Grill tools
232. Old appliances
233. A complaint
234. Ticket stubs
235. Sticky notes
236. Summer clothing you never wore
237. Pool toys 
238. The need to some something (relax!)
239. Old lunches and backpacks
240. Boxes and rolls of tissue
241. Broken toys
242. Ice cube trays
243. Cancel a subscription
244. Digital files
245. Plan meals using up the food you have
246. Address labels
247. Reference books
248. Sweatshirts and hoodies
249. Pots and pans
250. Gifts from exes
251. Memorabilia that isn’t special
252. Worn-out area rugs
253. Picnic basket
254. Nylons, pantyhose, tights
255. Makeup bags you don't’ use
256. Junk mail 
257. Memberships
258. School papers
259. Outgrown furniture
260. Hats you don't’ wear
261. Awards and trophies
262. Broken and unused kitchen utensils and appliances
263. Bottles and cans for deposit
264. Fake flowers
265. Books you’ll never read again 
266. Gaming consoles and games
267. Belts
268. Aprons
269. (Kids’) art supplies
270. Anything that doesn’t need to live in your car
271. Brochures
272. Accessories for items you no longer own
273. Notes from personal and professional development classes, workshops, and meetings
274. Another just-in-case item
275. Three-ring binders
276. Address book
277. Something from under the bed
278. A task you’ve been procrastinating
279. Something that makes you feel guilty
280. Old journals and diaries
281. Memorabilia you don’t look
282. Discover what _____ is worth
283. Clothing +/- two sizes
284. Air fresheners
285. Vinyl records
286. Anything that you’ve updated
287. Pages saved on Facebook
288. Travel-size products
289. Boots
290. Magazine subscriptions
291. Nail polish
292. Sweaters
293. Toys the kids don’t play with
294. Directions you’ve printed from online
295. No bread for the day
296. Social media accounts you don’t use
297. Afghans
298. An electric grooming item
299. No sugar for the day
300. Gather your important papers to one location 
301. Something that belonged to a parent or grandparent
302. Bottles and jars
303. Costumes
304. Gloves and mittens
305. Emails from stores
306. Towels
307. Broken folding chairs and tables
308. Stained napkins, placemats, and tablecloths
309. Potpourri
310. Candle stubs
311. Wrapping paper scraps
312. The desire for perfection
313. Winter hats
314. Something in your bedroom
315. Extra serving bowls, plates, utensils
316. Rolls of masking tape
317. Past holiday letters
318. Old receipts
319. Just-in-case items
320. Trash/recycling barrels
321. Something broken
322. Old pet cages and aquariums
323. Specialty teas and coffees
324. Give up dairy for the day
325. The ads for Black Friday sales
326. Shopping
327. Something from the attic
328. Decorations you don’t display
329. Another just-in-case item
330. Recipes you meant to try
331. A knickknack you don’t like
332. Simplify something
333. Leftover recipe ingredients
334. Extra rolls of transparent tape
335. Tins from tea, cookies, popcorn
336. Coasters
337. Stuff on the coffee table
338. Caffeine
339. The recycle bin on the computer
340. Old text messages
341. Stuff saved for kids’ crafts
342. Something from the basement
343. Something it’s time to get rid of
344. Something you don’t know where it belongs
345. That really odd thing
346. Extra coats
347. Freebies from charities
348. Plastic storage bins
349. Organizing tools that didn’t do the job
350. Mail order catalogs
351. Something hanging on your walls
352. Email trash bin
353. Social media
354. Leftovers
355. Fill a bag of trash
356. Something from the garage
357. One thing
358. One more thing
359. Give yourself five minutes to declutter as many items as you can
360. Excessive duplicates
361. Materials for projects you didn’t do this year
362. Make plans to use gift cards
363. Outdoor décor that has seen better days
364. Yankee swap and Secret Santa gifts
365. That resolution you’ve had on your list for years.