Before I took up the habit of DIY decluttering quickly, I was constantly cleaning my entire home – most items were rarely found in their proper places. I spent a lot of time dealing with unwanted household items, and a lot of clutter. At the end of the day, things were not in their own places, and decluttering just seemed like a daunting task.
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Table of Contents
- What are the benefits of DIY decluttering quickly?
- How do you begin the process of DIY decluttering quickly?
- 1. Make a Plan and Some Goals, and Start a Checklist
- 2. First Thing is to Pick a Room to Begin
- 3. It Takes Time
- 4. Decide What Things You Want to Keep
- 5. Time to Part Ways
- 6. Try the Box Method
- 7. Make Some Cash on Your Stuff
- 8. Keep Going! Finish Decluttering!
- 9. Hey There, You Professional Organizer, Keep Up the Good Work
- 10. Keep It Going into the Future
- 11. Stay Decluttered with a Decluttering Schedule
- 12. Another Way to Stay Decluttered
- 13. What are More Ideas to Stay Decluttered
On a daily basis, the biggest impact was spending tons of time searching for items that were scattered all over my kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and of course the junk drawer.
The main goal was just to get all the clutter out of the way and deal with a large number of items everywhere another time.
To solve my decluttering dilemma, I consulted some online organization experts about DIY decluttering quickly.
I learned with a decluttering plan, a to-do list, and small steps, a decluttered home is achievable.
In addition, according to the organizing pros, the benefits from my decluttering efforts can change my mindset and, in turn, my entire life.
Although this all seemed dramatic in the beginning, not to mention overwhelming, it was well worth it!
In addition to online research, there are so many resources to help get started with decluttering.
For example, play a decluttering quickly Podcast while you’re doing housework, or read a Marie Kondo book for help.
With these actions, you can get really motivated (and in the correct mindset) for DIY decluttering quickly at your home.
Through these resources, you’ll discover so many new ideas from experts in the field who have completed the process of DIY decluttering, and hopefully, you will be as inspired to declutter your whole house as I was.
For some quick wins in the DIY decluttering quickly journey, and also a great way to begin, is to check out some Podcasts.
The following are three great Podcasts to get you started. It’s a great idea to spend a little time listening to these simple steps offered and their ideas to ultimately declutter fast.
- Clean.simple.free
- The Minimalists Podcast
- The Art of Decluttering
If you give some of these Podcasts a decent amount of time, you will find value in the decluttering process and find it to be an easy way to create an orderly house in the fastest way possible.
What are the benefits of DIY decluttering quickly?
With a vast array of benefits, it’s hard to pick just one.
However, below are some top benefits of DIY decluttering quickly:
- Clean your home in less time
- Reduce anxiety
- Create added living space
- Easily locate your belongings
- Enjoy clarity and a sense of control over your home
- Reduce clutter-induced stress
- Finally, love your home in good condition
How do you begin the process of DIY decluttering quickly?
There is a great step-by-step plan to declutter your home and quickly. We will outline the next important steps.
1. Make a Plan and Some Goals, and Start a Checklist
The easiest way to begin is with a decluttering checklist and set your decluttering goals.
Take a deep breath and make a plan.
Although this process will take a little bit of time, perhaps even a whole weekend, the great thing about undertaking the decluttering task of the entire house is soon you will reap the benefits of a decluttered home.
So – grab a planner and begin the major decluttering project.
2. First Thing is to Pick a Room to Begin
You should begin with the room where you spend the most time.
Is it the living room? Kitchen? Home office? Laundry room? Whichever room – that’s the beginning spot.
Why? Once you’ve finished decluttering the busiest room in your home (and have less unwanted items and less stuff around), the sense of peace will be so fabulous and that will motivate you to get the rest of your home decluttered – and quickly.
In a nutshell, it’s not always quite as magical as I just made it sound but think of it like the snowball method of decluttering.
Get one room checked off the list and you have the motivation to move on to the next.
In a nutshell, it’s not always quite as magical as I just made it sound but think of it like the snowball method of decluttering.
Get one room checked off the list and you have the motivation to move on to the next.
3. It Takes Time
One of the great decluttering tips, to make sure you stay motivated on your DIY decluttering quickly project, is to take your time.
And this tip is with good reason. You don’t want to burn out on the project before you even begin.
Perhaps you only have 20 minutes to work on your decluttering project – that’s totally fine.
Sometimes working in small chunks keeps me on track.
Your motivation will likely increase as you declutter more and more of your home.
Therefore, you will likely start to move a bit faster.
As a bonus, when you can really focus on the task at hand without getting distracted, everything by nature just moves faster.
4. Decide What Things You Want to Keep
Now that you’ve started – it’s time to figure out what you really need to keep or toss when DIY decluttering quickly.
Grab a laundry sorting basket (or two or three or four) and begin going through the pile of stuff that has created the clutter and then ask yourself on each item the following questions:
- Does this item bring you joy?
- Do you feel fantastic when you’re wearing it?
- Is it really something necessary to keep?
- What is the purpose of this item in my life?
- When was the last time I used it? Last year? Even longer?
- What would my good friends think if they knew I still owned this?
- Would a family member want me to keep or trash this item?
- Does this item perform a specific task that’s helpful?
- Do I already own similar items to this?
- How long has this been in my medicine cabinet?
- Is this important or just paper clutter?
- Is this used or just taking up storage space?
5. Time to Part Ways
Keep in mind, in this step you’re going to be ruthless.
Seriously, spend as much time needed to go through as much stuff as possible until you’ve worked through the entire room.
The name of the game is to declutter and get rid of everything that isn’t currently necessary in your life.
In addition to asking yourself these questions, the best way to declutter items is to ask other family members their opinions on what you should and should not keep.
6. Try the Box Method
There is a long-used idea called the Box Method. This is basically the idea to use storage bins for belongings that are to be: trashed, given away, kept, or relocated. Grab some totes or boxes to make it easier.
- Things to go in the trash
Broken things, sentimental items that you’ve been hanging on to for years, expired food, junk mail, clothes that don’t fit anymore – you get the idea. All things trash goes in the – you guessed it – trash bag. Stock up on trash bags – you’re going to need them! - Things to recycle
Do your part to save the planet! What can you recycle instead of throwing out? Look around and I’m sure you’ll find something. Then, give yourself a pat on the back for going the extra mile rather than taking the easy option of putting them all in the trash. - Things to give to charity
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? The beauty of giving things to charity is that there might be someone out there who couldn’t normally afford quality clothes, furniture, or books, and because of your donation, they’re able to buy them at a reasonable price. Portable tote bags make it easier to transport.
7. Make Some Cash on Your Stuff
If you are in need of extra cash, take the items you could donate and sell them instead.
Perhaps you would like to host a garage sale at your home, or maybe make a quick decision to sell them through an online marketplace like Facebook.
This requires a little extra work but can pay a bill or two if need be – or the cash can go straight into your savings account.
Make it easy with a garage sale kit.
8. Keep Going! Finish Decluttering!
That wasn’t so bad, was it? But your job isn’t done just yet!
Make sure you:
- Get rid of the trash bag – AKA the obvious trash
- Take the recycling to your local recycling center
- Grab a tote bag and contact charities close to you who would be willing to take or even collect your things
- Head online and list the specific items you are selling
- Find a home for all the things you’re keeping or put them back where they came from.
9. Hey There, You Professional Organizer, Keep Up the Good Work
Now you can use this exact set of actions on the rest of the rooms in your house – and continue on the DIY decluttering quickly journey throughout your home.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a job to be completed in just one day, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself and quit.
However, if you are in the right mindset – DIY decluttering quickly can be perfect.
10. Keep It Going into the Future
When you’ve finally finished this task, the next habit you need to get into is not reversing all of your hard work.
Be sure to consider these questions in the future:
- How can you keep your house clutter free?
- What systems can you put in place to ensure the clutter doesn’t stack up again?
- Should I add a storage system to my home?
11. Stay Decluttered with a Decluttering Schedule
Keep a small box in each room for clutter.
Or, if your home is small, consider renting storage units. It will accumulate quicker than you think!
You will start looking around like “how did all of this new stuff get in here?”
At the end of every week, make sure to schedule a time to go through everything in just a few minutes and figure out where all these things belong.
Now that it’s not such a big project, you can always do a quick declutter.
12. Another Way to Stay Decluttered
Get the best storage.
Storage containers make life so much simpler.
Once everything has its permanent place, you’ll find it far easier to keep on top of things and you’ll never have to go hunting for something you need.
13. What are More Ideas to Stay Decluttered
Here are some simple tips to stay decluttered:
- Show family or kids around and explain where things go now
- Get everyone involved to make this way of living simpler
- Make it fun and clear (especially for kids) with charts
- Try spring cleaning each year
- Make sure dirty clothes are put away
- Utilize your storage area
- Add drawer dividers to keep things organized
- Make sure everything stays in its place.
Here’s the great thing – studies have shown if you repeat an action over the course of two months it will become a habit.
Two months might seem like a long time, but it will have long-term benefits – so stick to it!
One of the most important things to remember is if you find yourself getting overwhelmed, remember why you’re doing this in the first place.
You’re on a journey to a much simpler, stress-free life where you can reclaim your time to do the things that matter the most to you.
Your home should feel like a sanctuary, not another chore to add to your list.
So put your favorite music on, turn up the volume and let’s get to it – time to start your DIY decluttering quickly project!
Final Thoughts
When my husband and I downsized to our current home we found it has only small spaces for storage and things got out of control fast.
However, once I began decluttering – it’s a great home, now.
DIY decluttering quickly can seem like such a difficult process – but a good idea is to focus on the future and how great your home will be.
I know when I walk through my front door each day – my home is an organized, relaxing place.
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Your turn!
Have you tried a DIY decluttering quickly project? Do you have a great tip or idea on how to declutter your home fast? Let me know in the comments!
This is such a good post! I love a declutter but always get overwhelmed and put off when things look disorganised, having a system like this makes so much sense!
Hi Katherine!
I’m glad you found the DIY decluttering quickly post to be good. Decluttering sure can be overwhelming. Just try a little at a time and it will hopefully go much smoother.
Thank you for reading!
I have been decluttering for 2 years. Every time I declutter, I get better at letting go of things. Great ideas in this post.
Hi Fern!
I know what you mean about letting go of things. It can be difficult to reduce our items and declutter. I hope your decluttering project continues to go well.
Thank you for reading!
I like the idea of having a schedule for decluttering. This way, it won’t be a lot and waste so much time. Great tips!
Hi Fransic!
The schedule for DIY decluttering quickly is a great key to success. This way you don’t get overloaded!
Thank you for reading!
This is such a great, detailed article! My husband is in the military so we move often. My favorite part is the decluttering! I’m going to implement some of your tips. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jenna!
Thank you to your husband and family for his military service. Also, I can imagine you have lots of great moving tips to share!
Thank you for reading!
I like your idea to keep a box in each room. I do that with my 1 year old’s room to put clothes in as she grows out of them. I need to start doing this with the rest of the house! Great post, you’ve given me lots of ideas!
Hi Melissa!
I’m excited the DIY decluttering quickly post was able to give you lots of ideas. Keeping a box in every room really makes life easier.
Thank you for reading!
We do this often when in America, but spend most of the time traveling, and it comes critical to make every ounce count when you live out of suitcases.
Hi Johnny Ray!
I can imagine living out of suitcases makes things a bit tricky. I hope you were able to get some tips for DIY decluttering quickly when you are in America!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for all of the DIY decluttering tips. It is definitely more relaxing to come home to a decluttered space. I’ll keep your ideas in mind!
Hi Lisa!
I totally agree! Coming home to a decluttered space is so much more relaxing.
Thank you for reading!
You need to write a book on organizing! You always have the best tips and products for me to consider.
Hi Stephanie!
You’re very kind! I’m so glad you enjoy my tips and I really appreciate you reading my posts.
Thank you!
These are great tips. It’s that time of the year for my husband and I to declutter. It feels so good getting rid of stuff that we don’t need!
Hi Amanda!
This time of year is the perfect time to declutter! I hope you and your husband are able to get rid of lots of your stuff.
Thank you for reading!
Great tips!
Hi Kirsten!
I’m excited you found the DIY decluttering tips great!
Thank you for reading!
Great tips! I’m always needing to declutter!
Hi Courtney!
I’m glad you found the DIY decluttering quickly tips helpful.
Thank you for reading!
Keeping my home decluttered goes such a long way toward reducing anxiety for me, and I really love your decluttering tips! One of my favorite tools for keeping things organized are Dollar Tree baskets. I use them in every room in the house – in drawers, cabinets, even my refrigerator. It really helps keep the house tidy while making things easier to find.
Hi Heather!
I really like your suggestion to keep things organized with Dollar Tree baskets. This sounds like the perfect way to keep the house tidy.
Thank you for reading!
I love this post so much! I’m such a huge proponent of decluttering and small tidy sessions to keep my home neat! I find that when my home is in order, my mental state is much more relaxed and positive. I believe our environment plays a big role in our mental health! Love your tips about starting with one room! That makes it less overwhelming. And I love the idea of a decluttering schedule! I have a cleaning schedule, so I’ll have to add decluttering to it. Great post!
Hi Skye!
I’m so excited you loved the DIY decluttering quickly post. I completely agree that the environment plays a big role in our mental health as well. It’s great to do small tidy sessions. I’m glad you are able to add some of the decluttering tips to your cleaning schedule, too.
Thank you for reading!
I’m always happier when my life is organized and these are great tips!
Hi Susan!
I know what you mean about being happier with an organized life. Decluttering is so helpful.
Thank you for reading!
I’ve been working on decluttering my space so I’m going to use your list to help me in my endeavors!!
Hi Skylar!
I hope your decluttering goes well and I’m excited you’re able to use my tips.
Thank you for reading!
I really like the box method to help with decluttering your home. I recently started doing the big declutter (after all my kids have officially moved out). I ended up using one bedroom to put all things in that I needed to decide on. This worked great, but I think the box method is even better as until I got to the bottom of all the stuff in that bedroom I was STRESSED! However, now that I am starting to have some real organization it does indeed making cleaning so much easier! This is a great article with tons of decluttering tips!
Hi Michelle!
I’m so happy you like the box method and found the DIY decluttering quickly tips helpful. I hope everything works well as you clean out the stuff in the extra bedroom.
Thank you for reading!
I am a believe that less is more, these are definitely great tips to maintain a minimalist and organized life!
Hi Diana!
I am trying to live a more minimalist and organized life, too. As I’ve started decluttering, things get easier.
Thank you for reading
I love how I feel after a declutter and you make some very necessary points – you need to stay on top of it and you need to take things to the dump, charity shop etc. before they find their way back into your life!
Hi there!
I always feel better after decluttering, too. I agree – it’s so important to get rid of the stuff and keep it gone.
Thank you for reading!
This is perfect! It is so freeing to declutter! With two little ones I feel like this is the story of my life. Thank you for these helpful tips:).
Hi Lindsey!
I can imagine things get tricky for decluttering with two little ones at home. I hope these tips helped you!
Thank you for reading!
I always postponed decluttering till I moved to a different apartment, but it’s such a freeing feeling not to have clutter everywhere I should do it more often.
Hi Tina!
Decluttering sure can be a freeing feeling. I know when we moved the first couple of times, it felt like our clutter moved right with us. It really is great to move with less stuff.
Thank you for reading!
Decluttering is a constant at our house. With 6 kids, we regularly have someone growing out of something, or something breaking, or some kind of change that requires us to get rid of stuff or get new stuff – these tips are the ones we use as well!
Hi Jenn!
Wow – I can imagine you all go through quite a large amount of items with six kids. I bet you have a ton of tips to share!
Thank you for reading!
We could definitely do with some decluttering in our house. I try but my family is resistant. We have some hoarding tendencies going on here. Yikes! Great post. Should be helpful to many because it’s easy to follow and not overwhelming.
Hi Amanda!
I’m excited you found the DIY decluttering quickly post great. I know my husband was a bit resistant to my decluttering ways at first, too. It’s tough to get the family on board.
Thank you for reading!
Ah, thank you for the tips! I always WANT to purge and declutter more, but it’s so easy to get paralyzed by where to start and how to really make a noticeable impact.
Hi Tania!
I hope you’re able to get a DIY decluttering project going soon. It can be hard to start and I totally understand feeling paralyzed at the beginning. I hope you were able to get some helpful tips for your decluttering project.
Thank you for reading!
Thanks for sharing a great list! The box method was a new learned thing for me so that was great to hear.
Hi Nia!
I’m so excited you enjoyed the DIY decluttering quickly post and found the box method helpful.
Thank you for reading!
This is a great read! I’ve been slowly but surely decluttering my place since the beginning of this year. I’ve found it very rewarding to get rid of stuff that’s just taking up space in my house, and I love how much space it has freed up.
Hi Shanita!
That’s fantastic you’ve been decluttering your place this year. It really is wonderful how much space is found with some decluttering!
Thank you for reading!
I love your post! My family moved from a GIANT house to a 2 bedroom apartment…let me tell you, we very quickly discovered that we had too much stuff! I love your tips here! I also just discovered podcasts! YES, I am late! I am loving them and will check out the ones you listed here!
Hi Danielle!
I know what you mean about downsizing. My husband and I moved a few times and landed in a much smaller house without a basement for storage. Decluttering was a must for us, too. I hope you enjoy the podcasts!
Thank you for reading!
Decluttering is so important. I feel that my mind is cluttered when my house is cluttered. Thank you for the tips!
Hi Natasha!
I totally know what you mean about feeling like when your home is cluttered so is your mind. Decluttering really is great for the mindset as well as the home.
Thank you for reading!
My husband and I have been decluttering our home and shed recently, but we’ve had to split it into one room/area a weekend so it feels like it’s going slowly. I think we’re making good progress though, and last weekend we managed to sell a few things out of the shed. I’ve also got a box of toys to drop off at the local Family Shelter. Next up is our own bedroom, especially clothing – wish us luck.
Hi Chantal!
I’m excited to hear your decluttering process is underway and going well. I wish you tons of luck on going through your own bedroom and the clothing. My husband fights me a lot about donating his extra clothing items.
Thank you for reading!
I read this post a few months ago and had to come back to it as I get ready for my New Years resolutions! Great organizing tips – I feel energized!!
Hi Stephanie!
I’m so excited you stopped back to the DIY decluttering quickly post and grabbed some ideas for New Year’s resolutions. Happy New Year!
Thank you for reading!
Excellent post! And it’s true – it does take a LOT of time. So anyone at the beginning of their decluttering journey. Pace yourself and relish in your accomplishments along the way (no matter how “small” or “insignificant” they might feel). It took us years to really declutter before we sold our house but we were also selling many of those things off, so that certainly made the process take longer, haha.
Hi Melanie!
I know what you mean about decluttering slowly before selling a home. It really takes some time and dedication to move and enjoying the small accomplishments helps keep motivation.
Thank you for reading!
Just in time for the dreaded spring cleaning tasks. The tips and products listed in this article will be most helpful (and have encouraged me to get started early this year!).
I am so awful at decluttering simply because when I get to the box method, I always leave the clothes in the box and then come back to it later and say “Oh well maybe I could actually wear that!”. This is a really helpful post though, I wish I was better at selling online so I could cash in a bit more!
You can never have enough ways of decluttering your home! Whether it’s in the kitchen, bedroom, even your linen closet, it’s super easy for things to get out of control if your not paying close enough attention. Thanks do much for sharing! I’ll be holding onto this!
You’re so right that decluttering makes it easier to clean. I don’t have a problem letting things go. For me it’s knowing what to throw away. But I usually declutter every quarter and it’s be super nice for staying organized. The house seems more comfortable. Great post!
The box method is interesting. I have yet to try it and I hope it helps me get more organized with my stuff.
Decluttering can be overwhelming. I don’t know where to start but thanks for your tips.
I love a good declutter of the house. I do one every few months and go through every single closet at least once per year. It feels good to donate or get rid of things we don’t need to keep the house clean and efficient.
This is a thorough post on how to declutter quickly, and so helpful. Your information is going to help so many people get a handle of their clutter. I’ve heard that the first step in improving your interior design is to declutter!!!! I also love to use laundry bins when I’m sorting my clutter. Thanks for sharing!
Spring is here soon! So this post was perfect timing. Decluttering my apartment is one of my favourite ways to stay organised.
I tend to go along the lines of one room at a time and one room a day! I find I get overwhemled otherwise !
My house is becoming a mess with so many things since I have my baby. Your tips are so good for decluttering to stay organized.
Nnniiicccceeeee…this is a very elaborate guide! I think I can practice decluttering at a quick pace. It usually takes me ages.
If there’s one thing I really dislike, it’s clutter. As a result, I’m constantly decluttering. These tips would help me achieve my work even faster, and stay organised all the time.