HOW TO DECLUTTER SUPER QUICKLY

When you’ve reached a point where you can’t take the mess any longer, you just want to get rid of it all and declutter your home super quickly. Here, I share four tips on how to do just that!

Super Quick Decluttering Tip #1 – Focus on the Initial Sorting Stage

The one thing you want to always have on repeat in your mind to declutter super quickly is to focus on the initial sorting stage of organizing. There are seven steps to organizing and a few of those steps include different sorting stages. This initial sorting stage is the stage where most people get stuck and want to give up. The reason why this initial sorting stage is so important is because this is where you will purge most of the items that are not needed and are cluttering up your spaces. So, remember, in order to declutter quickly, you need to stay focused on that initial sorting stage of purging the excess. Do not worry about creating a perfectly organized space yet. I will explain more on that later but, again, the whole point is to get through this very important sorting stage where most of the decluttering happens so that you can get rid of the clutter as quickly as possible. So, be sure to grab my free 7-step guide to organizing any space and my free initial sorting guidelines chart from my freebie library here.

Super Quick Decluttering Tip #2 – Categorize Further

In my freebie library you can also find my declutter challenge calendar and guide which provides additional tips for decluttering each space in your home. In some areas of your home, to get through that initial sorting stage of sorting your items into keep, elsewhere, donate, and toss, it can help tremendously to also sort your items into additional categories which can provide a clearer picture of what you have. You’re probably like, “What? Didn’t you just say focus on the initial sorting stage?” Yes! In some areas of your home, the initial sorting stage can be more easily accomplished with just a little more categorizing as this helps to break down decluttering larger spaces into more manageable chunks so you can declutter super quickly.

Let’s use the pantry as an example:

• The first step to decluttering quickly is to choose a large surface to set your items on and clear out that area. So, first, you will empty the pantry out onto your dining table, for example.
• Next, you are going to sort those items by packaging type and group them together. You will group boxed goods with boxed goods, canned goods together, jars with jars, bags with bags, etc.
• Then, you are quickly going to use my initial sorting guidelines chart to sort each package category into what you want to keep, what belongs elsewhere in your home, what expired or stale items you need to toss, and what items to donate. These are items that you know you won’t end up consuming before expiration.
• Finally, you are going to put everything back with boxed goods together, canned goods together, etc.

That’s it! Quickly doing that extra step of sorting by packaging type helps to break things down into chunks which are easier to manage regarding purging the items to discard and donate. Again, you are not going to worry about micro-organizing right now because, before we dive deep into organizing your home, it is best to declutter your home first. (You don’t want to go straight to organizing stuff you don’t even need! Why spend money on all kinds of organizing products to store stuff you’re not even going to use!)

Before I share more decluttering tips for other areas in your home, I want to note that all the tips I just shared about how to purge your pantry quickly are included in my free declutter challenge guide along with tips for decluttering quickly the spaces all around your home. After we complete our declutter challenge, we are going to start our true in-depth organizing challenge! So, don’t forget to gain access to my freebie library so that you can be notified when my organizing challenge calendar and guide are available!

Now, onto more quick decluttering tips … Just like I shared for your pantry where you sort by type of packaging, this method works similarly for your freezer, for example. You can also sort by packaging like boxed goods and bagged goods. And, you can also sort by prepared meals, vegetables, fruit, seafood, poultry, and meat, etc. Then, you will discard the expired items and put everything back in these same package-type categories. Then, for your refrigerator, you can sort items into dairy, fruit, vegetables, and drinks, condiments, etc. Then, discard the expired items and put everything back in these same categories. I share here tips on how to organize your refrigerator and freezer, so that you stop wasting food and money! Remember, all those expired items are money in the trash!

Super Quick Decluttering Tip #3 – Do the “Dust Test”

Another way to declutter super quickly is to check if your items are dusty … like those CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes! A hinderance that may be in your mind is thinking of the price you paid for these items. By now, the price is now paid in real estate as these items are taking up valuable space in your home just collecting dust. So do the “dust test” on the rest of your entertainment type items including toys, board games, sports equipment, and video games and purge the dusty items. I know it can be so sad when the kids outgrow the toys but there are so many people who would be blessed if you sold or donated these items.

Super Quick Decluttering Tip #4 – Be Ruthless!

Another way to declutter super quickly regarding your linens is to be ruthless! For example, you really only need two towels per person: one you are using or washing and one spare while the other is being used or washing or drying. You can use this same concept for your bedding. You only need one or two sets per bed that you either wash and replace the same day or you have the spare available to switch out while you get to washing and drying the other set. So, be ruthless and get rid of the ones you know you aren’t using! If you’re a seasonal decorator, I have additional tips on my free guide for how to organize your bedding and other linens. For the towels and bedding you purge, check with your local homeless and animal shelters as they would likely welcome your donations!

Essentially what you will be doing throughout the declutter challenge is getting rid of the excess clutter so we can make space for what you are keeping and set up organized systems that work for you and your household so that you can finally stop accumulating clutter and keep your spaces organized!

Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, you can grab my declutter challenge calendar and guide full of tips and tricks on how to quickly decide what to declutter, what quantities of items make sense to keep, and how to donate the items you declutter. In my next post, I will share even more decluttering tips, especially for your wardrobe. Comment below anything you might struggle with decluttering, and feel free to share this with anyone you think might want to join the declutter challenge.

Happy Organizing!