If keeping your home organized is a constant battle, then I know you’re ready to start decluttering. But if taking on the task of decluttering your entire house seems like an impossible feat, it’s easy to keep putting it off.
Am I right?
Luckily, there are a few shortcuts you can take to speed up the decluttering process.
So, if you need to get rid of clutter fast, try these quick and easy tips and tricks for tackling the clutter in your home once and for all.
How Do You Get Rid of Clutter Fast?
While it’s true that completely decluttering and organizing your home will take time, there are a few simple tricks you can use to help move the process along.
Don’t overthink the process. If you start wondering which room to start with or if you should ask your mom for advice or if you should decorate, then you’re procrastinating instead of getting down to business.
Set a date you want to start, pick a time like after work or after the kids go to bed and just do it.
That is how you’ll be able to sort through your clutter the fastest.
By following the steps below, you’ll be able to clear out the clutter in your home without spending a ton of extra time in the process.
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1. Get organized
Before you can start digging through the clutter in your home, first you’ll need to make a plan.
The best way to sort through the clutter in each room is to use the three-bin method. Set out three bins or bags and label them: keep, donate, and throw away.
As you sort through the clutter in each space, toss each item into the bin so you know exactly what to do with it after you’re finished sorting through your stuff.
2. Make quick decisions
Many people spend so much time decluttering because they agonize over whether or not to keep each item in the space.
To ensure you work your way through your home’s clutter quickly and efficiently, you have to be able to make quick decisions about each item in your home.
Use your instincts to make split decisions on whether to keep, donate, or throw away each item, making sure not to second-guess yourself after you’ve sorted through the clutter in each room.
3. Work through your home in increments
If you don’t want to spend a ton of time decluttering your home, focus on decluttering small sections of each room to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
Each time you have some free time, pick a small area of your home to work in. Remove all the things from the space, sort through the items, and designate which bin they’ll go in.
After you’ve sorted through everything, return the items you plan on keeping to their designated spot in the space.
4. Start in high traffic areas
Since the high traffic areas of your home, like the entryway or kitchen, are often the places in your house where clutter gathers, they’re the best place to start when decluttering.
Taking the time to clear out these often-used spaces will have the biggest impact on your daily life, giving you a little bit of incentive to keep decluttering the rest of your home.
5. Make a plan
Now that you have an idea of how to tackle the clutter in your home, it’s time to sit down and make a plan of attack.
Start by thinking about the spots in your home that would benefit the most from decluttering. Then, think about how much time you have to dedicate to clearing out the space and how you can fit that time span into your schedule.
To ensure you stick to your plan, add larger decluttering tasks to your calendar to remind you when it’s time to get to work.
6. Get rid of the clutter
Once you start tackling the clutter in your home, the job is only halfway finished. It’s also important that you make a plan for the items that you place in the donate and throw away boxes.
Anything you plan to donate should be taken to your charity of choice as soon as the box is full. And make sure to move the items in the throw away bin to the outdoor trashcan or recycling bin.
Taking the time to remove these items from your home immediately will ensure they don’t continue to clutter up a different spot in your home after you’ve taken the time to sort them.
7. Make decluttering part of your daily routine
While designating a time to decluttering larger areas of your home is a great idea, it’s also important to incorporate the act of decluttering into your daily routine, too.
This will help you clear out some of the smaller areas of clutter in your home and make you get into the habit of keeping your home organized when the decluttering process is finished.
Keep an eye out for items that are no longer needed and get rid of them in the moment. Also try to look out for items you can get rid of instead of putting back as you’re tidying up each day.
8. Keep a decluttering box in your home
Another simple way to encourage ongoing decluttering is with the help of a decluttering box.
Place a box in an inconspicuous area of your home that’s used for decluttering. Each time you see something in your home you no longer need, add it to the box.
And when the box is full, you can donate the items to those in need.
Clutter You Can Clear Out Right Now
If you’re looking for a quick win when it comes to battling the clutter in your home, you’re in luck. There are a variety of things in each room of your home that you can toss right now.
So, grab a trash bag and take a tour through your house. When you see any of these items toss them in the bag to instantly declutter every room of your home.
Kitchen
Your kitchen is probably packed with clutter. That means you can easily clear out a few items from this room to make a drastic improvement with just a little bit of effort.
Throw out these items to declutter your kitchen.
- Expired food and drinks
- Towels and linens that are ripped or stained
- Broken dishes, utensils, and appliances
- Junk mail
- Paper menus
- Condiments and utensils from take-out orders
- Empty or expired cleaning solution
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Living Areas
Since your family typically spends a lot of time in the living areas of your home, they’re often a problem area when it comes to clutter.
Toss these items from your living room to help declutter the space:
- Broken, ripped, or stained toys
- Ripped or stained blankets and pillows
- Old magazines, newspapers, and books
- Broken electronics
- Unused cords and plugs
- Unneeded office papers
- Broken pens and pencils
- Old craft and school supplies
- Broken video games/video game equipment
- Board games and puzzles with missing pieces
Bedrooms
Your bedroom can be a drop zone for a variety of different things, from clothing to linens. That means it can easily become cluttered if you don’t stay on top of the mess.
To quickly declutter your bedroom, get rid of these items:
- Ripped or stained linens
- Clothing that is ripped or stained
- Clothing that hasn’t been worn in the past year
- Shoes that are broken or stained
- Jewelry and/or accessories that haven’t been worn in the past year
- Clothing and shoes that no longer fit
Bathrooms
Hiding away clutter in your bathroom is easy to do. That means it’s probably time to clear out some unwanted items in this space.
To quickly declutter your bathrooms, check your cabinets and closets for these items:
- Old or expired makeup
- Empty or expired toiletries
- Old or empty cleaning bottles
- Old or broken makeup brushes
- Broken hair styling tools and brushes
- Ripped or stained towels and washcloths
Decluttering doesn’t have to be hard. By following this simple guide and taking it one small area at a time, you can get rid of clutter fast and keep it that way.
Once you’ve decluttered everything, your next step is to start cleaning. Use this handy, step-by-step guide to get everything in your house sparkling clean.
