Today, I’m sharing 15 decluttering hacks that are designed to help you clear out the clutter – and the chaos clutter causes – quickly and efficiently. Leaving your home feeling organized, calm and refreshed.
Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tips and tricks, you can simplify your home and make it easier to maintain a clutter-free home too.
Whether you’re tackling a single drawer or your entire house, these decluttering hacks will transform the way you approach decluttering so you can make the most of your decluttering time. Let’s dive in!
1. Start with a small space
When you’re ready to clear the clutter, it’s tempting to want to take on everything at once. But that can often lead to burnout and leave you with a big mess of half-finished decluttering projects.
Instead, pick a small area, like a single drawer or shelf, and focus on decluttering one small space at a time. Not only will it help you avoid burning out or feeling overwhelmed, but seeing quick progress in these small spaces will motivate you to keep going and tackle the next space!
Pro tip: Use a timer and spend just 10 – 15 minutes on your first task. Small wins build momentum and 15 minutes feels less intimidating when you’re getting started.
2. Follow the “one in, one out” rule
When you’re decluttering, what you bring into your home is just as important as what you’re getting rid of. You’ll never make progress decluttering if you keep bringing more stuff into your home.
First, start by reducing the amount of shopping and new stuff you’re bringing into your home. Then, to keep clutter from piling up, adopt the “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, get rid of one you no longer use, need or love.
This simple habit prevents your belongings from multiplying and continuing to cause clutter in your home.
3. Use the four-box method
When decluttering a space, bring four boxes labelled: keep, donate, trash and relocate. Place each item into the appropriate box to make decisions faster and easier.
Then at the end of your decluttering session, put everything in the keep box away. Add the items in your donate box to your “holding zone” where you keep things in between runs to the donation center. Or load it straight into your vehicle and drop it off at the donation center the next time you’re out. Recycle or throw out anything in your trash box. And finally, put items in your relocate box away where they belong.
It's important to finish each decluttering session by emptying your four boxes so they don’t sit unfinished adding clutter to your space.
Pro tip: Be honest with yourself while you’re sorting. If you haven’t used something in the past year, it likely belongs in the donate or trash box.
4. Declutter by category, not room
Instead of decluttering room by room, try tackling one category at a time. For example, clothing, books, kitchen gadgets, etc.
This method, popularized by Marie Kondo, helps you see how much you really own and prevents duplicates from hiding in different spaces.
Plus, switching up the way you declutter is a great way to get out of a decluttering rut and freshen up your decluttering journey.
5. Use the hanger trick for your closet
One really easy decluttering hack that everyone should try is the hanger trick to help you declutter clothes.
Flip all your hangers backward in your closet. After wearing an item, re-hang it with the hanger facing the correct way. After a set amount of time, like 6 months for example, donate anything still on a backwards hanger.
This trick makes it easy to identify clothes you are never choosing to wear.
6. Digitize paper clutter
Paper clutter can cause a lot of clutter and stress for many of us. And paper clutter can pile up quickly so it feels overwhelming to deal with.
An easy way to say goodbye to stacks of paper is by scanning important documents and saving them digitally. You can use cloud storage services to keep files organized and accessible, without needing to keep piles of paper in your home. Then you can recycle or shred the originals unless they are legal documents where you need to keep a physical copy.
7. Make decluttering more fun
It’s easy to put off decluttering because it’s boring, stressful or not enjoyable. A good way to combat this is by pairing decluttering with something you enjoy. Put on your favourite show or movie, listen to an audiobook or podcast, or put on your favourite music while you declutter.
Breaking up the task makes decluttering feel less like a chore and makes it more likely you’ll be motivated to get it done.
8. Use the “20/20 rule”
It’s easy to keep clutter you don’t use or love because you’re worried you might need it someday. These “what if” thoughts make decluttering feel scary.
A good rule to use is the 20/20 rule. If you’re unsure about keeping an item, ask yourself:
- Can I replace it for less that $20?
- Could I replace it within 20 minutes?
If the answer to both questions is yes, let it go. This rule helps you let go of things you’re holding onto “just in case” because you can prove to yourself they are easily replaceable.
And just remember, the vast majority of the time, you’ll never need to replace these items. This rule just reminds you that it won’t be the end of the world if you do need to replace the odd item here or there.
9. Keep a donation box handy
One key to helping you declutter successfully is making it as easy as possible to get rid of clutter once you identify it.
Keep a donation box in a convenient spot, like your closet or laundry room. Whenever you come across something you no longer need, toss it in the box. Once the box is full, drop it off at your local donation center and start again with another box.
10. Try the “one-touch rule”
A very simple way to reduce clutter and mess is by using the “one-touch rule”. The goal of this rule is only to handle items once.
For example, instead of dropping mail on the counter, sort it immediately into recycling, filing or action piles. Or instead of setting a sweater on your bed to deal with later, hang it back up or put it in the laundry basket right away.
This habit prevents clutter from accumulating in the first place. Helping your home stay tidier, more often.
11. Declutter as you clean
You don’t always need to set aside time specifically for decluttering. You can also add decluttering into your day while you’re doing other tasks.
For example, combine decluttering with your regular cleaning routine. When you’re dusting shelves, remove items you no longer use or love and put them in your donation box. Or while you’re tidying up, get rid of things you don’t use or love instead of putting them away to deal with later.
Cleaning and decluttering together save time and effort, helping you remove more clutter from your home in less time.
12. Create organization zones
One key way to keep your home clutter-free is making sure everything has a specific home to keep it. Designate specific zones and homes for different activities or categories in your home.
For example:
- A charging station for electronics so all cords are kept together, easy to find and use.
- A designated bin for incoming mail to prevent paper clutter from piling up.
- A basket for daily essentials by the door so they are easy to find and stay tidy.
When everything has a home, it’s easier to maintain order in your home.
13. Use the “backward decluttering” method
If you have a hard time deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, try the “backward decluttering” method.
Instead of pulling everything out a once, first pull out only the items you use regularly and know you want to keep from a drawer or shelf. Anything left behind is likely something you don’t use, need or love and can be donated or discarded.
14. Use a “maybe box” when you’re struggling to make a decision
If you’re struggling to let go of certain items, put them in a “maybe box”. Store the box out of sight for a certain amount of time, maybe 1 to 3 months from now. If you don’t need or miss anything inside the box, donate or discard the entire box and know you’ll be just fine without those items.
A maybe box is like a decluttering safety net, letting you experiment living without items you’re unsure about to test if you’ll miss them or not. It can help you be more ruthless as you’re decluttering without fear holding you back.
15. Give yourself a “clutter-free zone”
Choose one area of your home, maybe the kitchen counter, dining table, entryway, bathroom counter or bedside table, and commit to keeping it 100% clutter-free.
Not only will you create a clutter-free space you can use and enjoy. But it also helps you develop the habits you need to keep your home clutter-free and can motivate you to expand the clutter-free mindset to other areas.
Decluttering hacks
Decluttering doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming. With these 15 decluttering hacks, you’ll have some new tools and strategies to try to help simplify your home and enjoy the benefits of a clutter-free life.
Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but creating a space that feels calm, functional and supportive of the lifestyle you want to have.
Which of these decluttering hacks will you try first? Share your favourite or your decluttering success stories in the comments below. And don’t forget to save this post for later – your future self will thank you!
