50 Tips to Declutter and Deep Clean Your Entire House

Understand Why You Want to Declutter

Before beginning any decluttering project, it helps to get clear on your motivation and intended outcome. Are you hoping to reduce stress and anxiety by eliminating clutter? Do you want to make more room for the things and people that matter most? Identifying your “why” will help guide your process.

Start Small and Set Realistic Goals

Decluttering an entire home can feel totally overwhelming. Focus your initial efforts on one small area, like a drawer or closet. Setting achievable goals will help build momentum without burning out.

Create an Organizational System That Works For You

There’s no “right” way to get organized – find a system that matches your lifestyle and needs. This may take some trial and error, but customizing your approach is key for maintaining order long-term.

Categorize Items as Keep, Toss or Donate

As you work through clutter, assign each item to one of three categories: keep, toss or donate. This forces decisive action and prevents items from piling back up.

Handle Items Just Once

When decluttering, resist the urge to set an item aside for later. Make a decision in the moment – either put it in its designated storage spot or place it in the donate/recycle pile right away to avoid extra steps later.

FAQ

What areas should I declutter first?

Start with visible areas that will make the biggest impact when organized, like countertops, closets, the garage and surfaces like desks. Success there will motivate you to keep going.

How often should I declutter?

Ideally, do a quick 10-15 minute decluttering session 1-2 times per week to stay on top of things. Then tackle more extensive projects seasonally or annually.

What supplies do I need?

Having sturdy boxes, bins, labels and storage containers on hand eliminates excuses and speeds up decluttering. Markers, cleaning supplies, trash bags and recycling bins are also useful.

What if I’m struggling to let go of items?

It’s normal to experience some emotional attachment to belongings. Let items go in phases – first put things in boxes to review later. Over time it gets easier to release what no longer serves you.

How do I avoid clutter from building back up?

Staying organized is about establishing simple habits like putting items back where they belong right away. Regular maintenance decluttering also keeps things under control.