How To Get Rid Of Stuff That’s Cluttering Up Your Home [2024 Guide]

Living with clutter can be stressful, disorganized, and chaotic, so I rely on my knowledge of how to get rid of stuff to help me keep my home uncluttered. I use a variety of decluttering and organizing techniques to keep my home looking clean and tidy, and this ultimate decluttering guide features all of my most useful tips and hacks!

In this guide to getting rid of excess stuff, you’ll find all the tools you need to achieve a clutter-free home — and reap all the benefits that come with it! I’ve included general advice on tackling clutter, specific techniques to try, and helpful hints about what to do with the things you’re getting rid of. So let’s get started — freedom from clutter awaits!

Decluttering Tips: How To Get Rid Of Stuff In The House Without Feeling Overwhelmed

The first (and sometimes hardest) part of decluttering your home is learning how to decide what to get rid of. As difficult as it can be to part with our stuff, getting rid of what we don’t need is a critical part of home organization.

If you’re like me and sometimes struggle with the emotional aspects of decluttering, you’ve come to the right place! The simple techniques and easy-to-remember guidelines outlined in this post will help you get the job done without feeling overwhelmed.

Tip	Action
Take “before” photos	Photograph each area before you delutter it to keep yourself motivated.
Identify drop-off locations	Research nearby drop-off sites for donations, recycling, etc.
Use a sorting system	Keep boxes or bags nearby to sort items into groups (i.e. things to donate, things to sell, etc.)
Set up an outbox	Designate a “decluttering outbox” to give yourself somewhere to put items you’re undecided about keeping.
Remember the 80/20 rule	Start with high-impact tasks that don’t require a lot of time or effort, like paring down large collections.
Don’t try to do it all at once	Decluttering can wear you out, so tackle it over a few days instead of trying to do it all at once.

1. Take “Before” Photos

Snapping a photo of a cluttered area before you begin organizing can give you a useful visual reference point. The stark contrast between a cluttered “before” photo and the results of your organizing efforts can help inspire you to maintain a clutter-free environment in the future.

A good “before” photo can also:

• Serve as a visual reference for identifying clutter
• Help you identify unnecessary possessions, including clothing
• Provide a new perspective on cluttered spaces
• Act as a motivational tool during the decluttering process
• Highlight progress and encourage future tidiness

2. Identify A Drop-Off Location

Research and identify the resources and drop-off locations for unwanted items in your area. This proactive approach to decluttering will help ensure a smooth and timely transition for the items you no longer need or want. (After all, simply shuffling clutter from room to room won’t solve your clutter problems!)

I frequently take advantage of recycling services offered in my community to get rid of things I no longer need. Deciding how to properly dispose of or recycle items that cannot be donated or sold is an important part of the process!

3. Use Boxes, Bags, Or Bins To Sort Things

Before you start decluttering, I recommend creating a sorting system to streamline the process. Here are a few bins that may prove useful as you sort through your things:

• To put away (items you still need or want to keep)
• To fix or mend (repairable items)
• To throw away (items that are beyond repair or use)
• To donate (gently used items in good condition)
• To sell (valuable or marketable items)
• To recycle (materials that can be recycled)

4. Designate A Decluttering “Outbox”

Decluttering requires a lot of decision-making, and any decision that can’t be made quickly can bring your productivity to a grinding halt. Instead of wasting valuable time and effort trying to decide whether a given item is worth keeping, I put items I’m on the fence about in my decluttering “outbox” so I can revisit them later.

For best results, reserve your outbox for items you are genuinely undecided about, rather than filling it up with things you feel obligated to keep. Come back to your outbox in a week or two, and those decisions will be easier to make.

5. Remember The 80/20 Rule

To help keep my cleaning and organizing efforts on track, I often remind myself of the 80/20 rule, which posits that 80% of results come from just 20% of the effort. Identifying high-impact tasks and completing those first can help you make big strides quickly to save time and energy.

When it comes to decluttering, one impactful task you could address early on is getting rid of unnecessary duplicates (like relegating six of the eight sets of bedsheets in your closet to your donation box!) You could also work on identifying stuff you’ve never used and likely never will, like dusty stacks of magazines or books.

Another interpretation of the 80/20 rule is based on the idea that 80% of the time, we only use around 20% of our possessions. The implication is that identifying and getting rid of those oft-unused items will declutter your home and simplify your life.

6. Don’t Try To Declutter Your House All At Once

Spending all day decluttering and trying to get organized can be physically and mentally draining. If you try to address your entire house in one go, you’ll likely feel frustrated and fatigued before too long.

Instead, spend an hour or two decluttering one area of your house for a few days.

Jillee’s Take:

“But what if I end up needing this stuff in the future?” Hypothetical questions like this one can be a major roadblock when you’re trying to declutter your space. To avoid getting bogged down by fear and anxiety, keep your vision of a tidy and uncluttered home at the forefront of your mind. You’ve got this!

Decluttering Techniques That Work

1. Swedish Death Cleaning

Swedish death cleaning involves paring down and organizing your belongings before you die to ensure the burden doesn’t fall on your loved ones. The guiding question for this technique is: “Will anyone be happier if I keep this?”

No matter your age, practicing death cleaning can help you decide what to get rid of. If you can’t think of anyone who may be glad to inherit your china or crystal collection, you may decide it’s not worth holding onto.

Whenever possible, involve your children and grandchildren in your decluttering efforts. It can be easier to let go of what you no longer need if you can give it away to someone you love!

2. Decluttering Challenges

Spending time decluttering and organizing every day can sound like a boring chore. But framing it as a month-long challenge can be an easy way to sweeten the deal, especially if you have a competitive spirit like I do!

Why not try a 30-day organizing challenge where you address one area of your home per day? Be sure to keep a box or trash bag handy so you have a place to get rid of things you come across.

3. Guiding Questions

Deciding whether or not to get rid of things can be hard, even for professional organizers! As you consider each item, ask yourself some of these questions to help make the decision easier:

• Is this the best, my favorite, or necessary? This decluttering wisdom coined by Emily Ley can help you pare down large collections to just the cream of the crop. It’s a great way to keep quality items you genuinely need or love — like the best set of mixing bowls or your favorite dish towels — while getting rid of things that aren’t as useful or valuable.
• Is it useful or beautiful? Consider this bit of organizing wisdom from William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Prioritize items that enrich and beautify your life without clinging to excess.
• Does it spark joy? Organizing guru Marie Kondo built an organizing empire on this one simple question. Asking yourself whether your belongings spark joy can help simplify difficult decisions when decluttering, especially those involving sentimental items.
• Would I make an effort to get this back from my ex? This thought experiment asks you to consider if you would try to get an item back from an ex-lover you’re not on good terms with. If an item isn’t worth the effort, you can probably live without it!

4. Embracing Minimalism

Adopting a minimalist perspective or lifestyle can make it a lot easier to keep your home tidy! When you aren’t constantly acquiring new possessions, you can save money and free up space for the things that truly matter.

Minimalism can help you:

• Focus on functional things that make your life easier
• Avoid unnecessary spending
• Free up time and energy
• Save money in the long run
• Reduce stress and clutter

5. Moving Mentality

As you sort through your possessions, imagine you’re preparing to move to a smaller home. Ask yourself which of your items are worth the effort of being packed, moved, unpacked, and put away in a new place. (The effectiveness of this particular technique may depend on how much you hate moving, but it can be helpful!)

How To Declutter Your House Room By Room

There’s no wrong way to declutter, but you may find it useful to start by decluttering your bedroom to have a sanctuary space you can retreat to later. Then you can move on to getting rid of items in the bathrooms, clearing unneeded items out of the kitchen, and even clearing stuff out of the garage!

Bedrooms

Decluttering your bedroom gives you an opportunity to decide what truly belongs there and what should be removed. To maintain a tidy and clutter-free bedroom, try these techniques:

• Make the bed to establish a sense of order
• Remove any trash or items that don’t belong in the bedroom
• Organize nightstands and drawers and get rid of unnecessary items
• Neatly fold and store the items you plan to keep
• Clear off surfaces and put away misplaced items
• Utilize under-bed storage bins for items that don’t have a designated place

Closets

Closets are often a space where clutter accumulates behind closed doors. Instead of treating every closet the same way, I taught my children to let the condition and purpose of items in a closet guide their decision-making.

• Establish a systematic decluttering approach (i.e. starting from the top and working your way down)
• Set aside items that don’t belong in the closet
• Separate dirty laundry and place it in a hamper or laundry basket
• Divide clothing into two piles: a pile to keep and a pile to discard
• Sort clothing in the keep pile by type (i.e. shirts, pants, jackets, shoes)
• Sort the clothing in the discard pile into items for recycling, donation, and disposal

Living Room

The more time you spend in your living room, the more likely clutter is to accumulate there. Our living room is our main space for relaxation and family time, so I use these tips regularly to help keep it free of clutter:

• Remove items that don’t belong in the living room and put them in their designated places
• Assess your storage needs and use baskets or drawers to keep books, electronics, and knick-knacks organized
• Group electronics and accessories together for a more organized setup
• Clear off coffee tables, drawers, and shelves, and find a home for items that typically reside there
• Establish a decluttering routine to help keep your living room tidy over time

Kitchen

The kitchen is another area of the house where frequent use and clutter accumulation often go hand in hand. Use these tips while decluttering your kitchen to create a more functional space and encourage proper food preparation.

• Clear countertops of anything you don’t use on a daily basis
• Find a home for items removed from countertops, either in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home
• Systematically empty drawers and cupboards and decide whether or not to get rid of each item
• Put spices and other loose items in storage containers, bins, or racks for better visibility and accessibility
• Declutter methodically, either by item type (i.e. cookware) or by zone (i.e. drawers)

Bathrooms

Maintaining an organized bathroom promotes a clean and relaxing environment. Use these tips to guide your bathroom decluttering efforts:

• Clear surfaces and floors of items that don’t belong in the bathroom
• Discard trash, empty containers, expired medications, and anything else that needs to be thrown away
• Get rid of things from drawers, closets, cabinets, racks, or the medicine cabinet
• Sort items into categories to organize them efficiently (i.e. toiletries, skincare products, medications, cleaning supplies)
• Designate a storage place for everything you decide to keep in the bathroom

Work Area Or Home Office

As a mother who works from home, I know the importance of having a clean and organized workspace to promote productivity and focus. Decluttering your workspace can go a long way toward keeping you on track and moving toward your goals!

• Clear off surfaces like desks, tables, and shelves
• Remove items that don’t belong in the office or workspace
• Empty and organize drawers to ensure everything has its place
• Sort paper items into categories (i.e. to file, to do, to discard)
• Keep cords tidy using twist ties or rubber bands, and consider labeling cords to clarify which devices they belong to
• Consider digitizing records and documents to streamline your storage

Foyer Or Entryway

The constant flow of traffic through entryways and foyers can quickly turn them into clutter hotspots. Use these tips to declutter your entryway and make it an inviting and functional area of your home:

• Clear items from the floor and surfaces and remove items that belong elsewhere
• Check racks, drawers, boxes, and storage spaces as you decide whether to get rid of things
• Assign designated areas for each family member to hang coats, backpacks, and other belongings
• Declutter entryway closets methodically, similar to bedroom closets
• Maintain an orderly entryway by revisiting and re-evaluating the area regularly

Laundry Room

Laundry rooms, much like kitchens, can easily become cluttered through frequent use. Organizing and decluttering your laundry room can help streamline your laundry process by making your workspace more functional.

• Remove unnecessary items from the laundry area
• Put dirty laundry in hampers or load it into the washing machine
• Clear the surfaces of the washer and dryer
• Organize shelves and cupboards using storage bins
• Get rid of things that serve no purpose in the laundry room

Basement Or Attic

Basements and attics are often used as storage space, and being mindful of clutter in these areas can help prevent chaos and dysfunction.

• Divide the area into zones or sections and tackle one at a time
• Empty out boxes and storage containers to assess their contents clearly
• Sort items into “keep”, “recycle”, and “get rid of” piles
• Promptly remove the “get rid of” pile from the basement or attic
• Label boxes and bins when decluttering items so you can easily locate and organize them in the future

Garage

Regularly decluttering your garage can help you avoid accumulating unnecessary items, like withered plants, broken tools, and empty bottles. The less junk you have in your garage, the more functional it will become!

• Take everything out of the garage (as overwhelming as it may seem!)
• Group similar items together (i.e. power tools, gardening supplies, hardware, camping equipment)
• Methodically sort through each pile to decide what to keep and what to get rid of
• Discard duplicates, damaged items, and anything you haven’t used recently
• Implement storage solutions like shelving and storage bins to keep everything organized

21 Things To Get Rid Of While Decluttering

Need some help getting the ball rolling? Use the list below as your guide to identifying items for decluttering.

Note: “Get rid of” doesn’t necessarily mean “throw away!” Giving things away to family, donating items, and selling things on Facebook Marketplace for extra cash are all great ways to declutter without producing a lot of waste. (And don’t forget about recycling — there are plenty of items you may not know you can recycle!)

1. Unworn Clothes

Personally, I find it easier to declutter a closet full of clothes than a storage bin full of miscellany, so I often start my home organizing efforts by going through a closet. I know what clothes I do and don’t wear, so it’s not hard to determine which clothes to get rid of.

If you wind up with lone socks that have lost their partners, use them as a mop head for your Swiffer or fill them with baking soda to help deodorize smelly shoes.

2. Knickknacks

Knickknacks, tchotchkes, trinkets… whatever you call them, small display items can easily become a source of clutter. Paring down a collection of these sentimental items can be difficult, but it can go a long way toward making your home look tidier (and cutting down on dusting!)

One way to declutter knickknacks is to put all of them in a basket or box and store them out of sight for a month or two. When you pull the box back out again, be honest about which items you missed and which you could live without.

3. Old Gadgets, Cords, And Chargers

At our house, there’s often a remote control that doesn’t seem to control anything or an old phone charger of unknown providence floating around somewhere. After making sure your important remotes and device chargers are accounted for, get rid of the mysterious extras by recycling them.

The same goes for cords and cables that are cluttering up outlets, drawers, and other surfaces around the house. (Keep an extra of each type of cord if you wish, but just the one!)

4. Office Supplies

If you have a bunch of pens, pencils, and sticky note pads around the house that rarely get used, it’s a good idea to collect them in one place to evaluate them more easily. 

Toss dry markers, pens low on ink, and other junk, then set aside unwanted items of good quality to donate. Store any office supplies you want to keep in one drawer, box, or basket.

5. Flower Vases

Unless you’re single and being courted by several suitors at once, you don’t need more than one or two flower vases. (I actually had eight vases cluttering up my cupboards at one point, but I eventually saw sense and got rid of most of them!)

6. Paper Items And Stationery

Papers, documents, and junk mail are some of the biggest contributors to household clutter. During my kids’ school days, we often had multiple piles of report cards, permission forms, art projects, and other paper items scattered around the house, but these days I try to keep paper clutter at a minimum.

To cut down on paper items:  

• Download digital copies of your owner’s manuals and user guides online.
• Go through your gift wrap and recycle anything wrinkled, torn, or too small to be useful, then set up a gift wrap station on the back of a door!
• Recycle travel guidebooks that are more than a few years old, as they almost certainly contain outdated information.

7. Unused Or Incomplete Games And Puzzles

When decluttering your entertainment area or living room, check board games, card games, and puzzles to see if they’re missing any important elements. Get rid of anything incomplete, unplayable, or unused, and store the games you want to keep in a closet, basket, or rack to keep them organized.

8. Unused Linens

Is your linen closet overflowing? Start by setting aside unused blankets and sheets to donate to homeless shelters, the Salvation Army, or another charitable organization that would appreciate them.

9. Old Or Expired Food

As much as I love a clean, organized pantry, my pantry usually houses a few expired items and things that will never get eaten. Decluttering your pantry regularly can help keep the contents current, and if you clear off and clean the shelves while you’re at it, it’s like getting a mini pantry makeover!

10. Unused Kitchen Tools, Utensils, And Containers

Counter space is a valuable commodity in any kitchen, so it’s important to keep yours free of clutter or things you rarely use. The same goes for drawer space — go through your utensil drawer, get rid of things you don’t need, then organize the remaining utensils to make everything easier to find. 

I like to keep and reuse various types of food containers, but I try to make sure each container has a lid and each lid a container. Go through your collection of food storage containers, pair lids with the containers, and get rid of the extras.

11. Unread Books And References

Among the list of things you probably have too many of, books can be one of the more painful ones to cut down on. Here are some ways to streamline your collections of books and reference guides:

• Books you don’t (and probably won’t) read: donate, sell, or trade them in on Amazon
• Books you want to read again: keep physical copies of beloved books and replace others with e-books

Free up even more bookshelf space by getting rid of things like old reference books and maps. Recycle those old phone books too!

12. Old Makeup And Toiletries

Check your makeup for expiration dates and toss out anything expired or rarely used. If you have several mini toiletries that are unused, you could look into donating them (or turn your mini bar soaps into hand soap!)

13. Old Air Fresheners And Cleaning Supplies

It’s easy to overlook air fresheners and home fragrances when decluttering! Look for old and dried-out potpourri, empty plug-in air fresheners, and stubs of old candles and get rid of them.

Be sure to declutter your cleaning supplies too! Gather your most-used cleaning tools and supplies into a cleaning caddy, and then throw away what you don’t use.

14. Expired Medications

After going through my medicine cabinet, I realized I had several bottles of expired vitamins, allergy medicine, and ibuprofen cluttering up my space. If you have any expired or old medications on hand, be sure to dispose of them responsibly.

15. VHS Tapes

Do you still have old VHS tapes lying around somewhere? Unless they’re keepsakes or you watch them regularly, those tapes are just too bulky to justify keeping. Try selling them on eBay or OfferUp!

16. Old Eyeglasses

There is no point in keeping old eyeglasses when your prescription changes. Gather up all those glasses you can’t see well with and recycle them.

17. Extra Shopping Bags

After gathering up all the reusable shopping bags and promotional totes I had sitting around the house, I realized I had more of them than anyone could ever need! For efficient decluttering, collect all your totes and shopping bags, pick out your favorites, and get rid of the rest.

18. Old Instruments And Sports Equipment

Garages can quickly turn into holding facilities for old instruments and sports equipment from days gone by. If it’s been years since someone has actually played that French horn or used that lacrosse stick, find them a new home with someone who will!

19. Old Schoolwork

Your children’s schoolwork can be a great keepsake, but you don’t need to keep every single piece. When decluttering, keep the stuff that makes you proud (or makes you laugh), and get rid of the stuff that isn’t as meaningful.

20. Old Keys And Keychains

When it comes to your keys, there’s no sense in carrying around dead weight! Lighten up your keychain by removing keys you don’t use and keychains that have seen better days.

21. Old Paint

Latex paint can last several years when properly stored, but it won’t stay good forever. If you have old cans of latex paint stored somewhere, crack the lid and give it a stir. If it smells normal and blends together readily, it’s fine to keep; if it smells weird or looks lumpy, dispose of the paint responsibly.

Related Questions

What Should I Do With Things I Want To Get Rid Of?

As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of options for getting rid of things you don’t want to keep around the house. While some of it may need to go in the trash, much of your clutter can likely be donated, traded, sold, or recycled.

Here are some options for getting rid of specific types of items:

• Formal wear, prom dresses, etc. Seek out local organizations that buy and sell used formal wear.
• Linens, towels, and blankets. Donate them to animal rescue organizations to help keep animals comfortable.
• Office supplies. Find out if nearby schools accept donations of pencils, pens, etc.
• Cell phones and electronics. Turn gently used devices into cash at an ecoATM, or take old and damaged devices to an e-waste drop-off.
• Crayons. Even broken crayons can be donated to the National Crayon Recycle Program.
• Batteries. Drop off old batteries at Call2Recycle locations inside Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Staples stores.
• VHS tapes. Send old tapes to Green Disk so they can be turned into useful things.
• Running shoes. Send them to Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe or One World Running.
• Asthma inhalers. Accepted for recycling at many pharmacies.
• Corks. Bottle corks are accepted at some Whole Foods stores, wineries, and breweries.
• Prescription drugs. Drugs and medications are often accepted at local police stations or community drug take-back programs.
• Mattresses. Check out Bye Bye Mattress to find a nearby mattress recycling facility.
• Bras. Donate old bras to Bra Recyclers, who gives them to shelters and developing nations.
• Eyeglasses. Drop them off at certain eyeglass retailers or send them to Lions Club International (they also take hearing aids!)
• Holiday lights. Send old string lights to HolidayLEDs.com to get a coupon for new LED lights.
• Field gear. Backpacks, binoculars, and other field gear can be donated to the American Birding Association, who in turn donates them to researchers, conservationists, and educators.
• Keys. The Keys For Hope Foundation accepts old keys and sells them as scrap metal to fund programs to fight hunger.
• Books and references. OGT reader Helen suggests offering your unwanted travel guides, atlases, and other reference guides on Nextdoor or Facebook. There’s probably a mixed-media or collage artist in your area who would love to have them!
• Musical instruments. OGT reader Jo says her local music store accepts donated instruments, which they clean up and distribute to local school music programs. Look for similar programs near you!

I am a 78year old widower and I enjoy reading the ideas and other information you put out, so thank you for it. My wife was the kind of person who celebrated and decorated for every holiday. I have two disabled sons who live with me, they are 50 and 47. We have a house full of decorations, and books like Good Housekeeping, and others. I collect cook books and have likely 400 or better. I seldom cook anything from the books.
So thanks to reading your post I will get rid of some of that stuff. I will start with the expensive perfumes and jewelry. Thank you again for the great ideas. Good night.

OGT reader Docmo

Conclusion

It may take some time and effort to clear out clutter from your home, but the benefits of having a cleaner, tidier home make it worth it. 

How do you keep clutter under control? Share your best decluttering tips in a comment below!