Your first step in the right direction doesn’t need to be a big one.
Too often, when we think about decluttering, our minds race to the toughest areas in our homes to declutter. We think about the garage, the attic, or the home office. We wonder about getting rid of sentimental items, or photos, or hobby supplies.
But it can be both time-consuming and frustrating to declutter those spaces. We begin, get overwhelmed, and quickly throw up our hands in disgust.
Instead, start your decluttering journey with an easier step.
Find one small victory. And allow it to motivate you to take the next hardest step… and then the next… and then the next.
Here are 20 “First Step” Decluttering Ideas to Help You Get Started
1. Declutter the inside of your car.
2. Clear off your bathroom counter.
3. Remove ten items from your wardrobe.
4. Declutter the visible areas of your entertainment center.
5. Clear off your nightstand.
6. Walk around your home and fill one box with items to donate.
7. Walk around your home and fill one bag for trash pick-up.
8. Remove old or expired food from your pantry and fridge.
9. Declutter old or unused coats and items from your coat closet.
10. Clear off the top of your refrigerator.
11. Recycle old magazines or newspapers that are left out and piled up.
12. Declutter your underwear and/or sock drawer.
13. Clear five items from your kitchen counter.
14. Remove excess towels and linens from your linen closet.
15. Declutter your laundry space.
16. Clear off the tops of your living room side tables.
17. Minimize your Tupperware (start with anything that doesn’t have a lid).
18. Declutter your shower keeping only what is essential and used daily.
19. Clear out your medicine chest.
20. Return toys to the toy room or bedroom where they belong.
Of course you can only choose one “first” step from the list above to get started. But you don’t need to stop there.
Choose one first step above, and then another, and then another.
And before you know it, you’ll be on your way to owning less and living more.
Brian Keith says
Joshua,
How do you handle old Christmas, Valentines, birthday, Father’s/Mother’s Day, and Anniversary cards? My wife and I are trying to purge 30 years worth from each other and our deceased parents cards, we have no idea where to start and what to toss and what to keep???? Help!!!
joshua becker says
I don’t keep hardly any cards. At the very least, you don’t need to keep any that don’t have specifically personal words written in them.
Becca Smith says
I work 10+ hours a day and am raising my granddaughter, now 14. Yikes! Hard age. She has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety which keeps me constantly going to appointments and making trips back n forth to school from work, etc. I cannot get her to clean her room, plus e gave a dog, cat, and a ferret now. I am so ripped every day and cannot find the energy to get started on my house… Any suggestions would be welcome and appreciated….
Tammy L Sandman says
Allow yourself grace. This is a rough time that will pass. Do dishes and garbage.
Kathy Ferguson says
You have a lot in your plate, so be kind to yourself. Focus on the things that build up like dishes, trash, and laundry. An unmade bed still only needs to be made once. A dusty piece of furniture only needs to be dusted once. Set little decluttering goals based on whatever chore you are already doing. Every time you put away laundry, see if you can find one thing in the drawer or closet that can be donated. Every time you dust a room, see if there is one thing sitting out that could be donated. Consistent “baby steps” do add up, and in time you’ll see a difference.
CCRider says
I go thru Mail and flyers in my car on my way to work and I recycle flyers and envelopes in the recycle before I enter my home. Only necessary bills go inside. When I clean my fridge every 2-3 months I also go thru Tupperware and toss if no lids. I have an oversized garbage bin in my garage for CRVs so that it doesnt clutter up kitchen in plastic garbage bags. I also have in my foyer closet and dust cloth that I grab a few days a week and run thru house clearing any webs or dust. I put on two songs and my goal is to be done by the time those songs are done. Make it fun.
Beau's mom says
As a retuted Healthcare worker I have a stash of what if it happens stuff.. Bandages, meds, even tho some meds are expired I hang onto them because as we all know they’re still usable for several years after expired date.. So I’m retired and we live 45 minutes from Healthcare facilities.. Im holding on only to these.. Have totally decluttered everything else…. Josh what would you do? Just in case yep hate that phrase but oh here’s another.. What if? Might need to use that recently expired Epi Pen but dunno.. The fear of distance to obtain immediate health care response is scary. Should I pitch these expired items and wing it or what? Love your posts and you’ve got this!
Angele says
Great ideas! And I like setting a timer too! 👍
Ju Ju says
#1, 18 and 19 sometimes hard to keep up daily. !!#@
kamoon says
I don’t think those things need to be done daily. Maybe every month? Once it’s done, should be easier to maintain!
Maria says
I try real hard to use up what is already on hand. By doing so, I know I’m doing the environment a favor but also keeping my home tidy, organized and as clutter free as possible. Examples are I use body wash and shampoo I don’t like to keep our toilets clean! A little spritz in the toilet every time and before you know it, you’ve used up another container instead of just throwing it out. It’s a win win! I use orphan socks to wipe down my bathroom floor before tossing. Try to use things more than once before putting it in the garbage can.
Di says
Wish I knew this sooner. I just dumped a lot of containers of such products.
Jean says
The car is one of the last places people think of decluttering. I admit it – I did too! Recently I’ve minimized the number of Tupperware I had lying around, too. I rarely have leftovers, so it made no sense to keep so many.
This is a great starter list, for sure. I know people who can’t even get started, but a list like this doesn’t look so intimidating. :)
Am says
Try and clean the room
Yourself or with her help. It will will reduce her anxiety and depression. She will feel better in a clean room.
Some people think the kids need to do it. If we’re overwhelmed with life and clutter can you imagine them.