This declutter challenge will get your home back in order without completely overwhelming you and feeling like a never-ending job! (affiliates included)
Even though I despise clutter, it keeps finding a way back into my life over and over again.
30 Day De-Clutter Challenge
When we moved here a year ago everything was in it’s spot and there was nothing out of order. I liked it that way and the whole place just felt fresh and clean.
Fast forward a year later and I’m looking at the television stand with DVD’s strung out all over, 4 junk drawers instead of one, and a big pile of who knows what on the counter.
It’s time to get back on track. If I want to live in a place that feels calm and un-busy I need to fix it.
The Declutter Workbook
This goes right along with what we’re doing here – it’s the perfect addition to keep you on track while you’re decluttering.
Let’s get started!
- Empty out one junk drawer
- Purge your closet of the things you no longer wear
- Go through your movie collection
- Clean out your television stand
- Go through your mail pile
- Clean off your kitchen table
- Purge two kitchen cabinets
- Discard old books
- Clean out your wallet
- Clean out your purse
- Purge your makeup drawer/bag
- Clean out empty/almost empty containers in the shower
- Purge your bathroom cabinets
- Go through your families shoes (donate what doesn’t fit)
- Purge 2 more kitchen cabinets
- Organize your linen closet
- Purge your medicine cabinet
- Go through your freezer and dump old items
- Clear off your kitchen counters
- Empty another junk drawer
- Go through your fridge and dump old items
- Purge 2 more kitchen cabinets
- Get rid of unused accessories (jewelry, hats, etc.)
- Clean out your car
- Discard kids unused toys
- Organize toys that are left
- Go through board games and electronic games – donate unused
- Organize and discard cleaning supplies
- Purge 2 more kitchen cabinets
- Clean! Get your newly organized home all sparkly
To print this list, download it right here.
When you’re done and your home is as organized as it’s ever been, I suggest printing off this cleaning schedule and follow it. That will keep everything tidy and not at all overwhelming.
You’ve worked too hard to have your house be a mess again!
While you’re at it, you could do the 30 day happiness challenge at the same time! You should also check out Make Over Your Mornings if they are as crazy as mine were.
Good luck!
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Great ideas . I found out I could put like items from a junk drawer onto Ziploc bags and when finished the drawer is a whole lot easier to clean out the next te. It is much easier to find an item that I need when working on a project.
I’ve begun doing this with pill bottles to keep my purse more organized. It seems as if everything is easier to find.
Eye glass cases work great in your purse too. They stand up and stay in place well. I have 1 with pens and pencils and another 1 with mascara, eyeliner, chapstick and lipstick in it.
Awesome idea! I have four of them and I can donate the glasses inside them as well. Why am I holding on to them??? Thanks.
Do you have a link for a printable version of this declutter calendar?
Thanks!
I just right clicked on the calendar sheet portion & did save as & it saved just the 30 day calendar
Thanks for the double post, but maybe not everyone is using a computer with a right click option.
I am using my IPad so I just snap a picture of it and it goes to my picture file. From there I can send it where I want to!
I do this a lot with recipes I want to try, that way I always have the ingredients list when I am groceries shopping on my I Phone.
That’s a great idea!!
Yes, that is what I do too, I take a screen shot which automatically saves to my photo gallery and print from there. Easy 🤗 To take a screen shot simultaneously press the home button and the shut down button on your iPad or tablet momentarily, release, you will hear the shutter sound. I am not sure if all brands of tablet computers work this way, but 2 other makes I have had prior to my iPad did.
No need to get snippy. On an iPhone tap and hold the image and select Save Image. It should save to your camera roll. On Android tap and hold the image and select Download Image. It will save to your downloads.
There is no need to be snarky. However, you might want to use this awesome tool called Google. If you type ”how to print from X device, plugging in X for your device”, you most likely find what you need. And since you didn’t divulge you’re device in your snarky comment, it would be difficult for someone else to answer that question.
Haha.. thank you for this!
If you have a mac with a single click mouse, move mouse arrow to where you want to have the “right click” menu appear. Then hold the Control key down while you click once on the mouse. That brings up a “right click” menu. Move mouse arrow down to the command you want to use.
Thanks, that worked for me!
Paper and pen or a wall calendar and pen always works!
Like that Idea!!
Also if ur on an android ph u can screenshot it or if u hold down the pic of it to save it also
Thank you!
Thank you!
I just saved it then printed it. Or print the wordy version below the picture/calendar.
You could screen shot it, send it to yourself then print it out.
I was able to press pic of calendar and it asked me Save Image! Then it is saved in your photos!!
I hope I can figure out how to print this. Thanks for helping!
I too am looking for the printable version of this? Thank you
I just right clicked on the calendar sheet portion & did save as & it saved just the 30 day calendar
As I posted on previous post “Save Image” comes up when I right mouse click on picture!!
Love this and this will be so helpful. Is there a way to get a PDF to download this so I can post it on the fridge for all family members to participate…..great summer projects while kids are home.
My question is off topic ..
Where did you get a family that helps you
😉
Haha. They don’t have a choice. Turn all electronics off, turn up the music and make it fun.
Can this come up on my phone as a reminder every day
Use your calendar function on the phone. “Make appointment” with yourself for each task. My phone allows me to set n alarm so I don’t have to actually look at the calendar function. You can also repeat the “appointment” daily, weekly, or what ever.
wow thanks for organizing my thought pattsro
Whaddya mean, DISCARD old books? *lol* I think I’ll sub in 8. Buy new bookshelves and reorganize the tumbling piles of books on all flat surfaces (I’ll get to the floor books later)… 😉
Yes!!! Can’t bear to discard books! Maybe give a few away…Maybe!
I take mine to the church and give away
I donated about 200 books to the local library.It was a40 yr. Collection.very eclectic.Most were non fiction.
Wish I had been around to go thru them. I love old books too.
I love books too! I collect certain authors and I’m not be able to part with any of mine.
Love this. Most are already done but there’s Lways room for improvement. I’m in 💞
Great idea, just what I needed to get me started….Wish me luck…
Kim
I used small Christmas tins to organize my junk drawer. I put similar items together. Pens/scissors, tape/paper clips, etc… The small tins work really well and it keeps all of it from being mixed up or being pushed to the back of the drawer.
I use old top stub check book boxes. Perfect size for a few things in my 6 drawer Ikea office file drawer cabinet. Along with a few long Rubbermaid trays and little Rubbermaid squares that hook together (stuff I had but probably yard sale finds w/b possible) and an old silverware sorter from a yard sale. Now corralled are: paper clips sorted by size and color, stamps, post it notes, envelopes, color flags, staple remover, staples, erasers, tape measure, tape, USB thumb drives, rulers, reading glasses, You know, all the stuff that used to be lost forever in the discombobulated drawer.
Z
I’m just passing on the best idea for DVDs. Throw out the packaging and put them in a book with sleeves made for that purpose while you are going through them. It takes up so much less space. I alphabetized them too. It makes it easier to find them again. Happy purging!
I’m doing this with my CD’s. So much more compact!
lol. sounds like you have a “few” books too. and flat surfaces are danger zone.
My problem is not kitchen cabinets it’s 4 bedroom closets and 2 bedrooms that have become closets themselves. Everything from crafts to toys for the grandkids, gifts for future giving and clothes for future wearing. It would take more than one day of available time to start on any of these.
Paula you should not pre shop for future gift giving and clothing wear, some is okay but if u have 4 bedroom closets and two bedrooms that have become closets you have a big problem, hire a professional to help you out and or get therapy, you are not alone and this is not uncommon but it also is not healthy. Good luck 👍
I find your reply insulting and offensive. Perhaps there is a very logical reason to some of the items are piled up. Poor health temporarily or death in family and items are to be distributed. You practically called her a border. Maybe you are OCD and can’t help yourself.
Ginny, this is exactly what happened at my house. The loss of my Mother and two Sisters in a short period of time where I was the one to go through everything. So hard to let go of a lot of family heirlooms….or holding on to them for others that live out of state until I can give them their items. It’s very over whelming…add that I have a very small house and now I have fit 3 houses of family items in it, with a POD in the driveway. This list although great, wish there was a list for people in a situation like myself. Glad to know there are some out there that do understand this.
If it is paper or pictures scan them for use by everyone. Stuff I don’t know. Still dealing with it.
Cindy from Louisiana
Three houses in one. So much stuff, it’s hard to know where to begin.
i understand. death, divorce, moving, chronic illnesses…its overwheming. One day at a time. prayers n hugs
Calling Genie a OCD made you looks exactly the same you acuse her.
Her advice is good. No reason for find offensive!
Welcome to America the place everybody feels offended by whatever. The trend now is to be offended by anything you feels like. Btw sorry if i offended you. Was not my intention.
I mean, Ginnie calling Lisa comment offensive.
Lisa, like Ginny, I also find your comment insulting, offensive, presumptuous, and judgmental.
Telling people what to do and then, without saying as such, calling them hoarders, is rude and hurtful. It takes a lot to diagnosis somebody as a hoarder. Besides, a hoarder would be embarrassed and would never admit to hoarding on-line – anyone can see that post. Chances are slim that their friends might see the comment, but it can still happen.
Regarding hiring a therapist/psychiatrist – perhaps you might like to foot the bill? Paula might not have enough money.
To go further, do you know Paula? Have you seen her home? Do you know how many people share her home? Did you ever think that perhaps she purchases Christmas gifts throughout the year so she is ahead of the game come Christmas time? Maybe the same for birthdays. Do you know how many kids/grandkids she purchases for? She might get great enjoyment out of purchasing gifts for others throughout the year. Additionally, there are many people who pack clothes away so the kids are wearing hand-me-downs.
Had you ever give any thought that perhaps Paula has a disorder like autism or one of the many functonal disorders like attention deficit disorder or executive function disorder? Depending on the person, some of these people have every intention of being organized, etc, but there is a disconnect in the brain between that desire and it actually taking place. Some of these folks have every intention of getting rid of things, or doing whatever it is that needs to be done, but it takes time for that person to actually put that thought into motion or they do the task but are unable to accomplish their dream goal. People judge these people, saying they are hoarders or depressed or whatever else, when they are not.
One thing I did notice is that you overlooked Paula’s comment abt the kitchen cabinets. It’s rare that a hoarder keeps a portion of their home absolutely neat and tidy.
Although there are other points, my one last point is that maybe Paula is just being sarcastic when she says she has so much stuff. Perhaps she doesn’t have as much stuff as she lets everyone else believe.
Again, none of this is our business, nor is it for us to be judge and jury!!
I m a horder! Have ADD and 5-7 kids living under my roof! Lets add some therapy! Lol. Life is rough, before you pick at someone else’s habits, fix your own! After you have perfected your own faults, Go stick your head in the sand! Cuz the rest of us don’t want to hear your insults!
I’m sorry… but Paula … (i believe ) was looking for constructive criticism and received it from Lisa ) So what the f@$ck is the big deal on this!!!???? If you ask…. you will get an answer OF ONE’S OWN OPINION!!! CAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU JUST FU$#ING ASKED FOR!!!!!!! If it’s an honest straight forward answer then why are ppl criticising??????? DON’T ASK, IF YOU DON’T WANT THE TRUTH!!!!!!! SIMPLE ANSWER!!!!! 🙁
I too have an overwhelming array of items. Since I am now 73 yrs old, I am trying to change my thinking about having so much “stuff”. My sister and I have felt duty bound to house our grandparents’ stuff and our mother’s stuff. I am starting to listen to The Minimalists pod casts. It is helpful to me. My only other alternative is to move every 2 years because I’m more likely to get organized with every move. LOL
SO hard to say ‘goodbye’ to Mom’s & Grandma’s stuff… but I am working on it, one eBay sale at a time – hard to see what my precious memories sell for tho! 😕 Little by little.
Read the book “Downsizing the Family Home” some good ideas in there…
I read somewhere that while it is difficult to part with sentimental items a great idea is to take a picture of the item. On the back of the picture, you can write down, who you got it from, the memories you have with this piece and hang it on your wall or put it in an album. I really love this idea and it takes much less space!!!
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing.
I understand how hard it is to let go. Ky mom passed away Feb 2019 .Iam the only child so I did not have to worry about who gets what. I was Lucky because I did not move her stuff over to my place. Dad and she had lived their for 69 yrs. The easy part was the clothes. I just went threw them if they were stain up
I threw them in a a tote . the rest I I put in garbage bags . I did not want to sell my mom clothes or donated them to to be resold for a big profit. So I donated to a church that gifts them to people in need. I did have an estate and garage sale. so some stuff. My step kids were ask to come pick out anything they wanted for a keepsake. I gave them 2 weeks come get the stuff and they had to take it with them because i was not storage unit. LOL . things were going pretty good then I had a stroke in Aug. My husband had altimeters and was put in a home. I had friends come out of nowhere to help. I was taken over to mom in a wheel chair. Then it struck me so over whelm. The Lady where I was staying older them me Iam 69. Said Max you do not need stuff for memories. She said remember it served its purpose. we staret in back bedroom I decided I wanted the daybed in my house. we had drawers of sheets table clothes ect. I kept 2 sets of twin sheets. for the day bed. she had few new sets of queen which I kept for my couch her couch wicth make into bed queen size. the dresser i sold on line . the sheets I gave away. that room was cleared out we put everything the couch daybed in that room move dresser and stuff out. then the next was bathroom so much shampoo i save all the cleaning supplies set then in the bedroom. save few nice towels especially hand towels. The neighbor had a big dumpster and offered to bring it over so we could finish filling it. then it happen I saw a couple of things that know one would want had no use for and it was just stuff severed it purpose. I told my friend I get to throw the first item in the dumpster. I did and when that it was like a wait of my shoulder It became a game. as stuff was being hauled out it was pitch, heave or saved.then in the mean time I had relapse and went to VA hospital where I was at until Nov. when I got home my goal was to decutlter my own home and bring the stuff i saved from mom. in the mean time My husband passed away Dec 2019. wow now to start all over. I ran across this candler went one more step i put down a time to work on that project morning being my best time i put bed closet 9 – 11 then then after a lunch and nap and therapy i do 3-4 I tackle this and i can say I meant my goal. I took down the full size bed in my guess room that was so full of junk Harry and I garage sales and resold. I got 2 twin beds in one room for grand-kids to stay but I took some of the little things like skullition keys and old thimbles and making shadow box to keep shakes to hang on the wall. the room i took down my full bed i set up with my puzzles and crafts and i got an file cabinet got all my warranties deeds and 2 drawers empty that iam going to put my crafts instructions in and some old magazines want to keep . Iam happy it took me 3 months but mom house is sold and mine is organized day by day. I was lucky to have such good friend she uses rags in her bus so she took them home to cut up for her boys. IT CAN BE DONE 2HRS -3 A DAY. i SORTED OUT PICTURES IN FRONT OF TV AT NIGHT. i HAD DUPLICATES AND DUPLICATES i SORTED THEM BY PUTTING THEN IN ENVELOPE WITH THE NAME OF THE PERSON I WANTED TO GIVE IT TO I HAVE 5 ENVELOPES IN MY FILE BOX TO BE GIVEN TO MOM SISTER AND MY COUSINS AND THE KIDS i HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THE ONES I KEPT BUT THEY ALSO IN FILE CABINET WITH MY NAME ANOTHER TASK FOR ANOTHER DAY
A few years ago we started a family tradition of no new gifts. All of us have too much stuff so we delved into our own belongings and gave them away. I gifted to my daughter some of my gorgeous jewelry. I gave my son his father’s fishing gear. It started a trend with my son’s friends. They gave each other unused art supplies, favorite comics and music albums. To get rid of big stuff, I checked with my children about certain furniture. If they wanted it, they got it. Why wait?
Dear Kathleen,
You know that clearing out your kitchen needs doing only once, twice a year, tops. That leaves the rest of the year to tackle those closets and bedrooms.
I, too, think a professional organizer is called for, here. However, they can be a bit expensive, so if you have a friend or relative you can trust, have someone come over and be brutally honest with you and your treasure trove. It is entirely possible many of the things you have hung on to may have gone out of style, clothes, hobbies, decor. Think poodle skirts, paint-by-number and macrame.
I wish you luck, and if you lived close, I’d come myself!
Where do you live i need your help! I have adked friends and family just to come and sit with me while i do it. Im very ADD and very forgetful so i start but then head off to another room and 2 hrs later i have to go to my bedroom for something and then realize i walked away from it again. I find it very interesting about the loss pf love ones that might start all this. i was getting a divorce had to leave my bigger house to move into my rental which is alot smaller by 3 rooms a one extra garage. However my dad passed away and then my mom. I ended up with ALOT of their stuff i couldnt just toss it out so i know its my fault but now i too feel like a hoarder im trying dillangently to get through it but its been over 7 years!! But alot has improved but still i hate the clutter! But its interesting that it kinda started with a death of a love one or a death of a relationship humm??
I once asked a psychologist speaking to a women’s group why people start collecting and hoarding. He said it often begins with a period of anxiety or grief. There were about thirty women in the group. Almost all of the women laughed and raised their hands when he asked how many of us were dealing with this type of situation. He said he was, also. Many people do. My current therapist told me people with ADD or clutter issues often start collecting too many things and clutter when they have a difficult time deciding what to do with things. It was the decision making process itself that caused difficulty. Also, he said many ADDers, like me, would like to walk into their own homes that are neat and orderly. I would love to be able to have a clean organized home. When I give things away I feel so much better and freer. With too many things, many things I own get “lost on the sauce” and go unused or expire before I find them to use them. I have often replaced what I cannot find, adding to the items I own. My brother and sister are hoarders. My mom is drowning in the clutter my brother has caused in the apartment he shares with our elderly mom so he can help her. I have also read that sometimes fear of poverty causes people to clutter. They may feel that in the future they may need something and if they do not save what they have now they may not be able to get what they need in the future. I started cluttering when I lost a child to stillbirth. I started collecting articles about health and pregnancy so that I would never need to experience that devastating loss again. The depression I went through and the inability to make decisions or to function well increased the clutter. I wish I had known about depression and its effects back then. I wish I never started collecting for the future. I have offered to pay for an organizer to help my brother and sister and mom. I have tried this myself and to be honest, the first three were not helpful and cost so much. The last one was great. We made headway. Once I have a pattern as with my kitchen dishes, flatware and pots I love following the pattern and those things stay in order–always. I love this calendar. It gives me an external focus or control and order. Thanks for posting the calendar. I think we all are trying to help each other here. Personally, I like what Lisa said to try to help to Paula because I have seen the pain and chaos and low self-esteem associated with myself and the people I love when their lives are overcome with stuff rather than with fun and the ease of trying to go through the day. It is very upsetting when one cannot find keys, phone chargers or a clean place to sleep in our own beds due to clutter. I wish you all peace and gradual success in cleaning up and in opening up and freeing space.
This is so me!
I was so overwhelmed and tired but seemed to not be abled to muster up strength, that I hired my cousin who does house organization business. This company was birth from her being OCD. She involves you in the purring and cleaning up so you won’t feel like she is throwing away your stuff. Also teaches you how to keep it organized. I’m quiet pleased.
I just used a Professional House Organizator. Best thing I could have done. It was worth the dollars. We worked out a great payment plan. We did two clothes and my bedroom. Later, we are going to do kitchen.
My Organizator was patience and involved me in the process. It made it easier to part with items that needed to. I would recommend her to anyone. I was hesitant in recommending someone who I thought would be extremely difficult. But she is doing great and has been able to get done what family could not get her to do!!
I use the “2 season” rule. Every season, I clean out out my closets – (2 closets, one for summer, one for winter with the “current” season in my bedroom closet)…. If I haven’t worn something in 2 of the past seasons…out it goes! I give my grandchildren first choice on anything before it is donated…..
The Mandy is that she never asked she just states what was in her mind about herself and her living arrangements. She never asked for someone to tell her she needed therapy and to be treated since her living arrangements aren’t healthy. That’s the problem.
I am in looks eazy
If you have children, give them a job. Kids like helping and feeling needed. Give them lots of praise and telll them how proud you are of them. It will soon become a habit folding and picking up. Remember praise, praise, praise!
What about the rest of the house this only hits on Kitchen and Bathrooms mainly. Where do you fit in Basement, Coldroom, Livingroom, den/office?
I believe it is a start. Maybe find a blank 30 day calandar and the concepts from the first 30 and fill it in for your whole house.
I love how do-able each days activity is. I’m finding that creating order is boosting my creativity.
I am substituting things I need to do for things that I don’t need to do. For example, I have way more bathroom cabinets to purge than can be done in one day, but my TV stand has nothing on it but electronics, so on that day I’ll do some more bathroom cabinets. I don’t have a mail pile (I have little pockets of organization around the house, so my mail is actually under control), so on the mail pile day I’ll clean out my pajama drawer, which is ridiculously stuffed. Just an idea.
Thanks for this encouraging article. As I have about 5 times the amount of things than I need, I’m going to work at this 2-3 months.
Me too !!!
You could also sell or give away a lot on let go.com or Facebook marketplace!
You’re on holiday and shouldn’t be thinking of such things!!! I suppose the Little House promoted this.
Hope everything is going well.
The pictures with Kira looked good and obviously you are no the starving!
Mum has gone to choir and I’ve got Georgia here – she has a cold and off school.
She was chuffed with the top Mum got from Macy’s – went on and on about how cool it was. She was also fascinated with the Japanese lollies you gave her and asked us to thank you.
No doubt you will both be pleased to get back to work to relax!,
Once again, thank you both for a great holiday – will be in touch later.
Dad
This blog is great. I love this challenge and am starting it today. Thank you Judith (Comment section) for your tip on taking screen shots. I never knew that and it worked beautifully!
How about including some electronic housework? Clear out/file emails. Clear out/delete old text messages on mobile phone. Delete old, unused stuff on computer. Create folders and file to keep relevant stuff.
Wahoooo on the electronic clean up time – daily would be ideal.. I have 40k docs in my Outlook inbox, probably 20k in my Outlook outbox, probably 200,000 in dozens of folders. All since 1999 and 3 computers ago.
I can review and handle about 1k emails at one sitting. This looks like maybe a 90 day job. So much is family comments about ancestry issues and our fun times as children. Client communication and instructions. Needs to be filed and sorted. Tomorrow, tomorrow!!
De-clutter is a real challenge around here, this 30-day you set up will hopefully help us get everything organized. I really like these type of challenges cause they almost always actually work lol. Thanks for sharing!
Good system!
Why can’t I print off that 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge calendar? That would be great to put on my fridge!
Soon after I discard it, I need it! Now I have to go buy a new one.. and anyway, that item probably belonged to my great-grandma. (before she gave it away to get rid of it.)
That’s the logic we use.
I have that problem a lot, too. Soon after I pitch it, I or someone in my family needs it.
Thank you
FYI, anyone looking to get rid of kids books. I don’t know where you are from but where I’m from the children’s hospital takes kids books. You can maybe call your local hospital and ask. As far as clothes, we have a couple of non profit places around here that help the homeless, or poor people or people who have had a fire in their house and have nothing but the clothes on their backs. They do not charge for anything. I would also think that women shelters could use the clothes too, and since they usually leave in a hurry, I’m sure the children don’t get to take much with them, so books would work for that situation too.
Good Luck with your decluttering.
Day 6 never ends. I come into the kitchen the next day and have to start over. 😉
Wish there was a way to add this to my Google calendar
It doesn’t link to the maid service or is it recommended to pick up day labor?
Because there is NO way working and not getting home till 6:00 and doing a thing M-F. !
I am a mother of 10 children. We have slot of stuff! Plus I coupon and shop cheap. But what I’ve done is created 100ft of shelving for my stockpile(will be moving it to a temp reg building soon)2×4 shelves in the garage for toes of items closets are an open concept that we built which forces you to keep organized. Kitchen same way. No cabinets in kitchen only shelves and old dresser drawers hung on the wall. If it’s not hiding it’s not messy. I time myself. 10 min to clean everyday in every room. Then I pick 1 room a day and deep clean it. Also with so many in the house I have to wash at least 1 load of laundry a day. We also have a family closet. No more little ones playing “dress up” with clean clothes. #qponmom
I would love to see a picture of your kitchen and other storage creations:)
Love the conceptbof a family closet! We do not do that but close enough. Most of the childrens clothes end up staying in my room anywaybcause I end up not putting away laundrybright away somendays and it stacks up. However the 4 children do share the same closet and dressers. I have a small dresser for socks. Then one big dresser for their school shorts/pants play pants and pajamas and med dresser for their underwear. Their shirts are all hung by size.
This is brilliant, thank you so much!
Why can’t I print the declutter calendar? Sure doesn’t help me otherwise!
Declutter.
Thanks for the post on getting us started on decluttering.
Thanks for the post and helping us get started on decluttering.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I am completely overwhelmed working two jobs and have my mother living with me. I don’t even know where to start with the little spare time I have. So I have never started! This gives me a goal to shoot for and breaks it down into doable pieces. I might not be able to do so much every day but at least I have a goal. Thank you!!!
I’m doing exactly that today funny I’m seeing this. I have all these Christian books like new. I will be taking old shoes hardly worn because I have a bone spur growing that won’t let me wear them and all these lotions and creams to toss because I joined a wonderful company that gives me products toxic free. Young Living Essential oils instead of my perfumes cologne that made me sneeze. I’m pruning in many ways. Closets with old memories I choose not to visit anymore. God is good!
I do different projects, depending on my mood. Instead of following the numbers in order, I just print it out, select a project and then cross it off. It works for me, since mood in everything when decluttering. Some days you are feeling it and others you are not, so trying to do something big on a not day is hard for me. Hope that helps somebody! Select and cross out…just printed the form so I can start again! While it seems to be a never-ending battle, I am making progress.
How do I go about getting a printable version of this- I’ve tried subscribing – but I’m just going round in circles liz.
Thanks
This is a spectacular schedule for someone who has no outside work, no weekend plans, extended family that they take care of, meals to plan, shop for and make, or children. But it IS good to see a blocked and calendared list of tasks; it seems doable, even if not in a single month
This is a great start, but I personally don’t think I could do my closet in one day ( it’s messily cluttered with cloth and more) And don’t think it’s do able for most people espeacially if working and kids:(. Or those like my self who have mobility problems and have to rest often or would be Bed written with pain:( I guess u could stretch it out to 2 days but who wants to leave clothes out everywhere on bed / floor all night lol…. could use some better tips too… like is it easier just to empty your closet bare and start that way…. or is there a better way lol
One thing I am going to do more of is shop in my own closet. Empty one drawer or section of a closet at a time and then put back what I really like and store away or give away what is left and that does not comfortably fit in the drawer or closet. I want to be able to find my favorites easily. I wear my favorites almost all the time and the other things I do not use makes it harder to find the things I want to use.
I know you are very young, but I wonder if you can guess which of your oft-used words reminded me of The Holocaust?
Also, instead of “discard”ing books and perfectly good toys, why not “donate” them along with clothes, shoes, jewelry, small appliances, other kitchen items and furniture? Or here’s a better idea: put it all into a big box, by month, and hold it for a year or so. If you haven’t looked for it by then, donate anything useful.
Thank you for your time.
I like doing one thing a day.
If you want a printable version click to open in a new tab.
It will open with just the clutter calendar and you can print from that.
This is for a desk top application
Your website sucks. Quit trying to load our computers with malware.
I am very excited to try the declutter my house!! I am starting 8/1 and see how far I get. Passing it along to friends to do too! Thanks so much!!
Here’s an idea that works for me when I feel I don’t have enough time to tackle, let alone complete, a project: I break it into smaller chunks of time so that I am on a steady road of accomplishment toward my goal. I call it “15 minutes to glory”. I can organize one shelf in a closet, or one drawer, or one desk file folder, in 15 minutes. They key for me is to do something toward the goal, then stop for that day. Several benefits: that one shelf or drawer or file has been improved, I stuck to the task and accomplished it so I am proud of myself, and I have a belief that in time my project will be successfully completed. I often set a timer for 15 minutes to remind me of my plan. Over the years, the 15 minutes to glory method gave me the time to complete writing three books and many other projects that were important to me.
Is there a link to print the 30 day calendar? Thank you
I so need this to get me in gear.
Old books GO TO,THE LIBRARY as a donation!!!!! It’s sacrilegious to throw books away!!!!!
Yes im keen to do this challenge.
This is a great idea and I’m going to try it. But where do I give my suffering when I get done? The thrift store?
I have been tying to DeCLUTTER my LIFE and I get so overwhelmed… which do I do first!? They all need doing but… I seem to find my way to the couch and watch a movie:) Am getting a lil better but not enough.
Am looking forward to get going with this procedure and also the book above……..
and I like the Blog thing:)
How about you clear some of the AD CLUTTER of your pages!! I can’t even figure out how to print the calendar because too many ads pop up every where. I wont be back to this page.
I selected and
copied the LIST, then pasted on pages on my computer, then printed. (two copies, one to put on refrigerator, and the other to put in my home office so it is always in front of me)
You forgot the building/shed/garage!
Cleaned out purse, debunked junk drawer and pulled out clothes this week before even seeing this. Also posted posted dad’s clothes that have been sitting in garage. Want to donate to vets. I like this schedule! Thanks Hope!
When I try to uncluttered I ultimately get bogged down early with the task as I began to read old letters, cards, books, notes, etc and end the day without having accomplished any task at all, but then I have 40+ years of my clutter, children’s clutter, grandchildren’s clutter and family clutter..
I know it has been well over a year since you wrote this comment. How far have you come in accomplishing this? Also is there any way you could just sort out who the letters are from into little boxes that you could display on a shelf for the time being then go through each box at a later date once all the rest of your decluttering is completed? That is if you haven’t already concoured the task…
Not many guys here on this blog but I want to say thank you for the 30-day calendar idea. My wife & I are in attempting to de-clutter and downsize now that our son is off to pursue his PhD in Organic Chemistry. I made a promise to not leave him a ton of junk that he won’t know what to do with after we leave this earth. When a parent passes, it is very easy to be left with a huge amount of “stuff” that you or your spouse are emotionally attached to and do not want to depart from. Making the decision to downsize prior eases that burden on the kids. This is my main goal in de-cluttering, not to mention to be better able at finding things around the house.
Wish me luck.
This is awesome! I have had to start “decluttering” my mom’s 80 years of possessions, she saves EVERYTHING. Its beyond difficult because its so unorganized. Important papers mixed in with junk, jewelry galore, way too many clothes and so on. I have a few of her tendencies, but do the declutter thing from time to time. This has made me realize I do not want my kids to have to do what I am doing for my mom. Way too much time and work. Making it more difficult, she is stressing out over us eliminating her things – a necessity as she is unable to be alone and will be moved to an extremely smaller space soon. Good luck to you – and everyone trying to do this. My kids are college students and I have asked them to purge their closets and dressers which all have done and there are many bags in the garage ready to “go”….. now its my turn – I guess on my days off the next month or so!!
It sounds like you have been talking to my daughter’s. They tell me to clean out almost every six weeks.
People who grew up during the depression with little money and those who grew up anytime in poor families tend to hold tightly to anything that becomes a possession. I had to pare down dramatically after my mom died and I moved north, and it was NOT a “freeing experience” as some folks here have said–I find myself looking for things I no longer own and having to purchase things I got rid of….I believe I will continue to live with my excesses from now on.
Hi. This is great!! Can you email me a copy of the calendar so I can print It? Thanks.
I wish I had that many kitchen drawers to clean. I only have two. And I wish my freezer wasn’t already empty and I could afford to refill it.
Clean put your table? What that means? To discard the table runner and flower vase?
Love this. Will start working thru these areas.
I’m doing this as I read. I’m half done with my house and am so so ready to celebrate when it’s done and just might rent out the spare junk room never mind the junk drawer. 😱😓😳☠️☠️☠️, done.
Excellent! But, what if your spouse is a “hoarder”? This is a stumble block.
What worked a miracle for me was my husband’s gift of new carpet throughout our home. I had to take everything out of the house. The workers moved the furniture, but I cleaned out drawers, bookshelves. Everything. After the carpets was installed, I only returned to each room what went. If I did not use it, did not need it, did not want it, I did not return it to the house. I gave some away, had a yard sale and sold some. I have so enjoyed my uncluttered domicile. I can’t tell you how freeing it is. I still work hard keeping stuff out of my house. I make tough choices when I shop. I don’t care if it is on sale, I probably don’t need it if I did not go shopping for it.
#2 cannot be done in a day and I have assigned #6 to my cat, who does it already….
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I have started 30 day challenge so far going ok. My question I’m in need of suggestions on how to get rid of stuff we no longer use/ wear but was all expensive . I work full time no time for garage sale or ebay ? Do I just get over it and donate ?
Gaylene, Ebay has a program where your Ebay seller handles everything. You get the proceeds. May take weeks or months, depending on what you have. You ship by FedEx. Look on the ebay website.
the problem with trying to sell clothes on ebay, RealReal, or ThreadUp, and all consignment stores in my metro area, is that they accept only 2 year old or younger items, except Chanel and really vintage designers (things from 1960’s and earlier).
I’m with you girl, but what I’m finding is either donate or donate. Be sure to make a carefu liswt of donated items and valuation and obtain a receipt from your charity.
I do de-clutter / downsize volunteer work for a senior center. So I’ve seen it all. It is not a lucrative picture for resellers like us.
And if you have men’s clothes you think you can sell, you are wasting your time. Men don’t do consignment stores or online. A relative of mine had custom made quality suits and shirts and winter coats; no consignment stores will accept.
Consigning is a lot of time reviewing your stuff, making appointments, hauling it there, they reject. Rinse and repeat elsewhere.
See if your community has a program to help less fortunate people get outfitted in order to look good for job interviews, or, if you have gowns and dresses, they may be suitable for less fortunate graduates to go to prom in. Men’s suits for the boys.
Was looking for the print icon so I could post it on my refrigerator, but couldn’t find one. Darn.
By discard books I hope you mean pass them on or donate to library or nursing home or friends.
This purge is my regular Routine. What am I doing wrong? I am constantly de-cluttering, yet the clutter is always returning. I do not want to de-clutter any more. Routine is not working for me! Is there another methot?
To those who ask about downloading and customizing this calendar, you could also custom build your own in an Excel or Google calendar program and insert the daily work project that you want. Retaining the text list above w/b helpful too.
That’s a great idea HelenA! Another way is to just write it onto a regular wall calendar, the old fashioned way. Lol
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Your link to your $1.00 book is not working. but thanks for the calender!
These are great ideas, but the time table is unrealistic for people who work or have a chronic illness. I plan to use this as a guideline. I had already started implementing some of these suggestions before reading this article. It is important to remember this is a guidelune. It can be done in any order on a time line that works for you.
Love this list! I’m starting on March 1.
Bought it and can’t open it anywhere! Want my money returned to pay pal!!!
Can you send this to my email
Another thing you can add…filing cabinet. I just spent 3-4 hours going through ours and discarding unnecessary items and putting things in order by dates. (eg.) Taxes
Hi, I paid the $4.00 for the DeClutter download and its asking me to pay again on my computer. I paid though PayPal on my Cell phone and wanted to print it off on my computer & now it’s asking for more money. How can I get the download without having to pay again so I can print this. Thanks
Not sure if you fixed the problem but couldnt you just send the attachment from your phone to yourself via email?
Thank you forthe declutter info i am going to try and give it a go this will be a challenge for me as i sort of give up and depressed all the time after my mum passed six years ago i havent done anything in my home. I threw myself into voluntary work for charities instead so thank you.
How can I print JUST the calendar or list, without getting the other pages with it/them???
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Dude, I’m totally in on this! Thank you for posting it.
I purchased the 30 day de-clutter challenge. It won’t open in any of my apps. I even downloaded the app Gumroad and it won’t open in that either. I’m very disappointed that I payed money for something that doesn’t work. All I wanted was to be able to print it out and use it. I feel robbed.
I love your blog, but was very disappointed in the $4 workbook that I purchased. I have basically the same worksheets that I made up for myself to rid my house of clutter and am also using Marie Kondo’s book (good suggestion for others!).
Keep up the good work on tips for organization and have a good day!
J
P.S. I tried to do this privately, but couldn’t find a correctly formatted e-mail address.
I felt bad those weren’t able to open the file so I decided to bite the bullet pay the $4 and see if I could open the file (have a little computer knowledge) and help those that couldn’t open the file. However it opened fine for me. I clicked Download button (not the other) went into my downloads and opened the file, then unzipped all the files.
On the Mac there is an arrow in the upper right hand corner and click on that then the file – which will put a folder where you have to open each file individually (kind of a pain). On PC – not sure but I remember the process being the same.
How much is the declutter workbook? When I click the link, it goes directly to a page for me to enter my payment information. I’d like to know the cost ahead of time.
I think it says $4.00 off to the side….is that the price for the entire workbook?
I’m in and starting the d clutter program
I would love to print off the 30 day calendar, but that one doesn’t seem to have a printable link.
Great idea thanks for sharing. Going to use it 🌻🌻🌻
Great idea thanks for sharing. Going to use it 🌻🌻🌻
I want my $4.00 back!!!! This is a ripoff. It won’t download.
Love your calendar very inspiring.
I bought the declutter handbook and paid 4.00 but what downloaded was a bunch of numbers and not anything that could be read.
I need to declutter something terrible
.
How do I download or print the challenge? Also, I bought the workbook but it came as ZIP and I don’t know how to print it all at once. Thanks.
I made this as a part of my new years resolution to start in the kitchen and go from room to room . I wrote down each day what I did and it was amazing to see how much i did get done. It does work much better when it’s raining and you are stuck inside…. I am ahead of my plan with plenty more to do… then heading back for round two… Once it’s gone you don’t miss it… so more is on the way out… retired and less is better… love it and love having what I need… still a little more from kitchen needs to go…. clothes on their way out and purses and shoes… drawer by drawer and room by room… It’s awesome… I call it the moving game…
Love these ideas!!!
Love these tips. I’m a housekeeper of over 25 years and this will really help everyone and not stress them out.
Going to try it.
I was unable to download. Can it be emailed?
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LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Why can’t I print out the can’t I print out the 30 day challenge callenge?
Why does it say on the page that the course is $39, but’s when you go to enroll it’s $97?
I think this a wonderful idea. Now for Food..
I love your list, but you forgot one: clean out your china cabinet and get rid of anything you don’t need.
You say the declutter course is $39 or two payments of $20. But when you choose enroll it is $97. I would do it at $40 but not more. Lots of free info out there if willing to research. Thank you.
great ideas and I have been doing the 30 day challenge I hope everyone has a great Sunday !!!!! Thank you for the great awesome ideas!!!!!!
Discard old books? You are not going to Heaven with that attitude. Donate, please!
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I would love to be able to print this. I’m going to a club meeting and this fits ito the topic being discussed.
Sounds like a great way to get everything in order.
Thanks for the great tool.
make a “31” … clean the garage (7x a year)
Hey!
I can’t download the printable, it keeps redirecting to an empty page!
Don’t ‘discard’ old books…donate them!!!
I need these to motivate me!
Thank you, sounds like a plan
I’m excited
Hello Liz, None of your printable links are working. I paid for and tried to download the workbook and am unable to open it. Can you help me?
I paid for the declutter workbook but couldn’t download on my phone. Is it possible for you to send to me in an email?
I can’t open your file that I paid for.
Want to buy a wedding dress?
what about tbe coat closet, medicine closet, china cabinet, garage, basement, sewing room, laundry room, file cabinet,
You forgot the linen closet, but this is a great start!
wow…. i like it very much…. gonna practise it right away. Startying tomorrow.
thank you again for sharing this
This is a great idea but I’ll have to make up a few of my own. I don’t have that many kitchen cabinets…lol
Wow truly excited, trying to do impossible so this is very useful.
Thx, Liz! Very encouraging for me!
Thx, Liz! Very encouraging for me! FYI- check your spelling and grammar.
Hi will certainly do the clutter challenge just saw it tonight love it thank you
I downloaded the declutter workbook but it is in MACOS and it won’t open on my Android phone or from my google drive on my computer. Can you send a windows version to my email please?
This is a great idea! Going to try it…
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Printable checklist link keeps crashing 😿
Hey – I’m working with a company that is looking for sites that have content relating to clothing and I came across yours.
Any chance you’d be open to hearing about a way you could link to a merchant and make money in the case someone clicks on the link and purchases something?
Just wanted to see if it’s something you’d be interested in hearing about! If not, I hope you have a great day!
I have tried to get different “free”samples and have taken many surveys and I have never gotten anything in the mail why is this? My mother always told me ain’t nothing free in this world and all these adds just confirm it!!!!
It is my new years resolution to finally declutter our house. Will be using this for the month of January.
Thanks, Liz!
You should use productivity apps to help you declutter your life. I used some apps like Trello and they really helped me.
Wow this is the first time I’ve seen this nice long article layout on Tested. Very cool, I love the look. Very interesting article too!It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found
Cool challenge, thanks for sharing useful information! I have long understood that the size of the house does not matter, if every thing does not have its place, then sooner or later there will be a mess. Therefore, I began the general cleaning with decluttering and determining a convenient and logical place for each thing.