Decluttering Checklist

For everyone who wants to live a happier life in a clean, organized, clutter-free home, here is a task list that can help turn a very overwhelming goal into concise steps. Enjoy!

What To Know

1. Like most big changes in life, it will get worse before it gets better. You’re going to have to pull out everything to do this job right, including things you’ve got stored in dusty corners and crammed into boxes out of sight of visitors – the stuff that secretly bothers you because it’s a mess, but that you’ve pushed aside to one corner of your mind and try to forget about.
2. You’re going to have to relinquish your hold on material things – if you knew a fire was going to burn down your house, you had better be able to fit anything you would be devastated to lose in one cardboard box (photographs, collectibles, anything that is unique and irreplaceable).
3. Similarly, realize that your memories, of good times and bad, aren’t stored in objects, they’re stored in your heart and your soul. Stop forming connections with inanimate objects, and get ready to give away things you haven’t used in over a year to charity. Trust me, there is someone out there who needs your stuff more than you do.

What You Need

1. This is a big task, and if you just don’t have the time to do it all in one go, I would do one room at a time, but I would really advise to dedicate a Saturday or Sunday to getting most of this done. You’ll feel more accomplished, and get to see the results that evening.
2. You need a designated area or boxes to store everything you’re going to get rid of. The Salvation Army and Goodwill will take just about anything; for a list of where to donate the stuff they don’t accept, check out my clutter donation article.
3. You also need a trash area, or lots of trash bags. You’d be surprised at how many useless papers and true junk you will find when you’re cleaning.
4. Not every microliving beginner will want to do it this way, but I like to clean out areas at the same time as I de-clutter them, so I usually have plastic, wood, and ceramic cleaner and paper towels with me when I’m on the purging rampage, so I can return the items I decide to keep back into a neat, dust-free area.

Ready? Set? Go!

1. Working one room at a time, pull everything out (if you’ve got an attic or garage or other massive storage space, I’d set those aside for another day), sit down, and go through every item one by one.
2. I usually do everything that takes up floor space first, followed by everything else that’s visible to guests, then finally possessions stored in drawers, cabinets, closets, etc.
3. For each and every item, ask yourself these two questions.
   • Have I used this item within the past year?
   • If someone took this out of my home, would I notice within one week that it was gone?
4. Only if the answers to both questions are yes are you allowed to keep it. The onlyexceptions are:
   • Emergency items
   • Truly irreplaceable keepsakes, as long as they don’t take up more space than one large cardboard box
5. More leniency is allowed for items that don’t take up valuable floorspace, such as hanging pictures (though if you don’t enjoy looking at it, get rid of it!) and decorative items or collectibles on vertical shelves.
6. Make a quick decision! Don’t linger, you’ve got a lot of stuff to get through – and remember that the more useless stuff you get rid of, the happier and freer you will feel when you wake up tomorrow morning.
7. Clothing of any sort should be donated, no matter how bad of shape it is in. Any consumer electronics that are not in working condition should probably not be donated, because these charities don’t have the time to be a repair service, also. Earth 911 is an amazing source for advice on proper disposal of your used items.
8. If you want to use your donation for tax-deductible purposes, keep a running tally of what you’re giving away, and calculate its fair market value when you’re done purging. The Salvation Army has a valuation guide you can use to report and accurate donation amount on your tax return.
9. Making the purging a fun experience. Do it with your significant other, as long as they are supportive of your mission, or listen to music while you’re cleaning. I usually find a book I’ve been wanting to read, and get the audiobook version to listen to.
10. Don’t get overwhelmed. If you find yourself panicking at all the stuff you’ve pulled out, you can turn this into a two-part process, and do one sweep today to get some of the junk out of your home, and do a more thorough run-through in a week or so.
11. Clean up before you leave the house or go to bed, even if you’re not done. Waking up or returning to a messy house is not a good feeling, even if your intentions are good. Congratulate yourself for the work you’ve done so far, and decide when you’re going to finish the project.
12. Take out all the trash, and bring your donate boxes to the charity. You may have to ask for a receipt for tax purposes, though you are on the honor system to appropriately report the value of your donations.
13. Return home and smile at your new, de-cluttered house.