Make a Declutter Plan
If your spring cleaning this year is going to involve decluttering, the first thing you need is a declutter plan! (Also works for summer cleaning, fall cleaning, and winter cleaning.) Here’s how to start decluttering.
Prepare Yourself
The first thing you need to get started decluttering is the right mindset. This is a blog post, not therapy, but do think about why you have things to get rid of. We all accumulate over time, of course, so maybe this is routine maintenance for you. But also consider:
Do you find that you’re holding onto things you don’t need or love—or that you don’t need or love anymore? Why?
Is it difficult for you to let go of things? If so, why? Do you tend to accumulate more than you want to? If so, why?
Mindset is the first step to success when it comes to making your declutter plan, so do what you need to get yourself in the right mindset for getting rid of things.
Before You Start
Clean out your car. If you are planning to drive your decluttered items anywhere, get their transport prepared in advance.
Stock up on trash bags, cleaning supplies, and bags for giving away items.
Set a goal. How much or what part of your house will you declutter, and by when? Some people like to set a specific number of items to get rid of.
Set a decluttering schedule. What does your overall schedule look like? Can you commit to 5 minutes or 10 minutes a day, or are you planning to dedicate longer times on the weekends to your goal? Put it on your calendar.
Decide on your reward. What’s in it for you if you make your goal?
Find some accountability. Do any of your friends want to do this in parallel with you? Can you share your progress with them? You can use social media for this, too.
Take “before” pictures anywhere you might declutter. You can use them for accountability, or you can keep them to remind yourself how far you’ve come.
Prepare Your Clutter Disposal Options
Important tip for how to declutter a home: it doesn’t count as having decluttered something until it is actually gone from your possession. You can’t put it in your garage or in your car.
Yard sale. This is a whole project on its own, but if you love it, go for it!
Consignment shops. Do you have a favorite consignment store in your neighborhood? They’re not just for clothes—if there’s one near you, furniture and home goods consignment stores are amazing. Research your local options carefully. Some only take certain brands, certain years, or certain seasons at a time. Some require making an appointment well in advance. They will likely all be very selective about what they take, so make a backup plan for what to do with the items they don’t want. There are also online consignment options, such as thredup for clothes, if you don’t have a local option. Order your mailing supplies in advance.
Resale options. Whether it’s a Facebook resale group, a trip to a local used bookstore or record store, or even an online option like the Bookscouter app, craigslist, Facebook marketplace, LetGo, or ebay, decide in advance what is available to you and what you are comfortable with. And of course, stay safe. (This blog post from My Frugal Home is a great overview of how to use Facebook Marketplace, but the section on safety applies to any site you use.) Think about what you’ll be decluttering and what the best options for each might be.
Give it away. Friends and family may be willing to help here. You can also investigate your local Buy Nothing groups, Freecycle, and other local giving groups. Look for local options for donations as well, whether they are swaps or thrift shops.
Once your declutter plan is in place, it’s time to tackle it. Good luck!
