Use a Decluttering Checklist
You’ve gotten ready to declutter. You’ve printed out your decluttering challenge tracker. But maybe you’ve set an aggressive goal and it feels overwhelming, or maybe you have some emotionally difficult things to go through. (Remember Margie Hodges from Tidying Up?! She was amazing.) Maybe you just don’t know where to start!
Maybe this decluttering checklist will help. Pick one item—or one section—and focus on taking the first step.
Decluttering Checklist
First, download and print out the decluttering checklist PDF and put it somewhere you can see it. Check off areas as you complete them.
First, download and print out the decluttering checklist PDF and put it somewhere you can see it. Check off areas as you complete them.
Clothing
This is a great opportunity to resell clothes to a consignment store, give them to someone they would fit, or donate them to a local organization. Anything too worn or stained to be reused would make a great addition to your rag pile.
(P.S. Do you want the expanded version of the free PDF that comes with a tracker? It’s a 10-day challenge on Etsy and you can find it under Decluttering for Busy People.)
Clothes closet
Dresser
Coat closet
Shoes
Laundry/”to fix” pile
Jewelry/accessories
Purses/handbags
Clothes in storage
Other spots clothes are hiding
Bedroom
Other than clothes, what do you have in your bedroom? For us, it’s stuff that should be in other rooms. But maybe you could also find something to donate or give away.
Under-bed storage
Closet
Nightstand/other furniture
Tops of surfaces
Other bedroom spots
Bathroom
Your local police station, pharmacy, doctor’s office, or hospital may be a place to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. It’s worth it to check the expiration dates on your first-aid materials too. It’s good to keep them current!
Animal shelters are always in need of used towels and other linens. Call and ask what they’re accepting first, and then donate away to animals in need. They don’t care that you got bleach on that purple one.
Towels/washcloths
Toiletries
Medicines/First aid
Linen closet
Kitchen
Don’t forget to check expiration dates before you donate food. Cookware and extra dishes are often welcomed by new grads and other people setting up their new houses. If you don’t know anyone like that, a donation center or giveaway group will.
We once lived by a cookware store that had a “take a cookbook, leave a cookbook” pile, but if you don’t have something like that, a library book sale or little free library would be a wonderful place to drop off the cookbooks that don’t inspire you anymore.
Dishes/mugs/silverware
Regular-use cookware
Occasional cookware
Food
Cookbooks/magazines
Dishcloths/potholders
Office
Your community may have occasional “shredding events” for sensitive documents, but you can also inquire about shredding services at your local office supply stores. Or borrow a shredder from a friend.
Your community may also have electronics recycling on occasion. Definitely take advantage of it when you can! Office supply stores and the like may have some electronic recycling as well, but they can be more limited in what they accept.
Files/papers
Computer equipment/cords
Office supplies
Photos
Gift wrapping supplies
Media
What if you take 20 records you don’t listen to over to the record store and come home with 5 you will listen to?
We’ve had good luck with puzzle swap groups, garage sales, library book sales, school donations (for very specific titles), selling to a used bookstore, little free libraries, and the Bookscouter app.
Music (CDs, records, etc.)
Magazines
DVDs and videos
Books
Games/puzzles
Other
Hobbies
Toys are perfect for a yard sale, but you might want to consider putting more indepth hobby related supplies in a community giveaway or sale group, or even sell them in a hobby-specific group or ebay.
Current hobbies
Casual hobbies
Former hobbies
Pet supplies
Toys
Living Spaces
Do you have a furniture consignment store near you? If not, larger pieces are perfect for selling in a local group online or giving away on Freecycle or in a BuyNothing group.
Living room
Dining room
Family room
Other living spaces
Storage
What decluttering-your-home checklist would be complete without adding “garage” as a single item, as if it wouldn’t be its own separate project equal to the rest of the list? Sorry about that. But, hopefully you have cleared enough of it via the other categories on this decluttering list that it will be less overwhelming by the time you get to it.
Cleaning supplies
Tools/home maintenance
Seasonal/decorations
Other closets
Attic
Basement
Garage
Outdoor (shed, etc.)
Good luck on your organizing! We hope that using this decluttering checklist will help you make your space support you, make you happy, and reflect your personality.