It’s amazing how quickly our homes can be filled with items. Whether we use them or not, it seems random things find their way into our homes in the blink of an eye.
If you’re like me, the decluttering process can be a little bit overwhelming and daunting. I always worry that it will take me hours upon hours to get the results I want. Plus, I don’t always know where to start.
That’s why I have a created a short list of things in your home that you can declutter RIGHT NOW. Each of these will take you 20 minutes or less, and won’t require too much mental energy.
Let’s get started.
Mugs / Tumblers
I think we can all relate — we have a mug problem in our homes. Mugs seem to be one of the most common gifts, whether it’s from friends, coworkers, a company, etc. And I’m here to tell you: you don’t need all your mugs.
This has been a tough realization my husband has had to come to recently as a coffee lover. But after downsizing the collection to a few mugs and a few travel tumblers, even he has agreed we had too many before!
Makeup and Skincare
I wouldn’t consider myself to be someone who has a lot of makeup or skincare products, but recently I went through my bathroom drawers and was amazed how many old, expired products were in there!
Take a few minutes the next time you’re getting ready to remove the products you no longer use or have expired. You will get to do a simple declutter and make more space! Win-win.
Junk Drawer
The junk drawer gets a bad rap sometimes. Yes, it does accumulate a lot of, well, junk. But it also serves a purpose to holding items that are useful such as scissors, pens, bottle openers, etc.
Whatever you prefer to keep in your junk drawer, it’s time to do an audit to make your junk drawer not so junky. Take out the random items that you threw in there because you didn’t know what else to do with them. Maybe organize while you’re at it!
Books & Movies
Because we are now in a digital era, it’s fair to say that books and movies just don’t get used the way they used to. Between streaming and reading on tablets, the amount of space the physical versions take up might not be worth it anymore.
I’m not saying you have to get rid of every single one, just get rid of the ones you don’t watch as much or won’t read again. We just downsized our movie collection to small-ish basket that fits in our media console. We kept our favorites, but said goodbye to others that we knew we could always watch through streaming.
Tupperware
It seems like we constantly have the wrong amount of lids and containers. There’s either extra lids with no container or containers that have no lid in sight.
If it’s been a while since you saw a certain lid or container, you probably won’t find it later. And, you can get rid of the ones you never reach for. Just like your makeup, it will give you so much more space in your cabinet and less stress.
Tip: Store your Tupperware containers and lids together. You will be less likely to lose different pieces!
Entryway
In our house, the entryway has become a chaotic drop zone for so many random things. And then, these random things just live there because we don’t know what to do with them.
Clear out the entryway, if you can’t find a home for something, just get rid of it. If you can, great! But keep your entryway as a functional, clear space to avoid clutter.
Fridge/Freezer
For some reason, this one feels daunting to me but it’s actually fairly easy and quick! Next time you’re cleaning up dinner or something is in the oven, throw away the expired food in the fridge and freezer. Wipe down the shelves. Throw away old leftovers.
You might realize you have duplicates or something that needs to be used soon. Use it as inspiration!
Kitchen Utensils
Hear me out… you don’t actually need 5 whisks. Go through your utensil drawer and take out duplicates, broken utensils, and ones you don’t use. No more digging around trying to find what you need when everything you use is easy to see!
Nightstand
My nightstand can turn into a graveyard for basically any small thing that doesn’t have a place to go. Then I just close the door and walk away, forgetting about everything that’s in there. Or, I will keep vitamins, chargers, you name it on top of my nightstand. It gets cluttered quickly.
Because we want our bedrooms to feel peaceful, let’s clear off the top of the nightstand except for a few things, and go through the drawers to get rid of the extra things we don’t need anymore.
For me, I keep very minimal things on top of my nightstand, just a lamp, waterbottle, and my phone when it’s plugged in. And inside I keep things I might need to use such as tissues and chapstick.
Jewelry
I’m a very minimal jewelry wearing person, so maybe this doesn’t apply to everyone. But I think that most people have jewelry that they no longer wear that’s just sitting somewhere. Whether it’s on your dresser, in a drawer, or at a vanity, I’m sure there are some old earrings or a rusted necklace that just need to go.
Cut back on your jewelry and only keep the things that you wear and/or are special to you.
Shoes
Shoes are one of those things that can take up a surprising amount of space — and let’s be honest, we all have a few pairs we haven’t worn in forever. Whether it’s sandals that don’t fit quite right, heels you haven’t worn since that one wedding, or sneakers that have seen better days, it might be time to let a few go.
Pull out all your shoes and do a quick sort. Donate the ones that are still in good shape but don’t serve you anymore, and toss the ones that are worn out or uncomfortable. You’ll make room in your closet and it’ll be easier to find the pairs you actually love to wear.
Medicine Cabinet
You might be amazed at how many expired pill bottles you have in your medicine cabinet — at least I was. I was also surprised to find so many different prescriptions and ointments that I had no idea what they were for!
Don’t be like me, clean out your medicine cabinet before it gets out of hand. Make sure you only have things that are not expired and will be used if needed, and get rid of the rest.
Hat, Gloves, & Scarves
If you live in a colder location, you might have tons of hats and gloves that you have accumulated over the years. Go through your hats, gloves, and scarves and only keep the ones you like the best and will use. Also get rid of any that have holes and are worn down.
Swimsuits
After having a baby, it’s true, my body is just different now. It may not look that different to other people, but to me, there are some differences. I have also just changed my taste in what kinds of swimsuits I feel the most comfortable in. Maybe you feel the same!
I just got rid of a swimsuit that was my absolute favorite for years. But since having my daughter, I just don’t want to wear it anymore. And that’s okay. Donate your old swimsuits and perhaps upgrade your collection with new ones that make you feel your best!
Spice Cabinet
Spices have a sneaky way of piling up — especially when we try new recipes or forget what we already have. Before you know it, you’ve got duplicates of garlic powder, five kinds of seasoning blends, and a few mystery jars with faded labels.
Take 15–20 minutes to go through your spice cabinet. Toss anything expired, combine duplicates if they’re still fresh, and wipe down the shelves. You’ll save yourself time when cooking and might even rediscover a seasoning you forgot you loved!
Decluttering doesn’t have to be an all-day, overwhelming task. Sometimes, it’s just about tackling a few small areas at a time that add up to a big difference. Whether you chose to go through your spice cabinet, nightstand, or Tupperware drawer, give yourself credit for taking a step toward a more peaceful, functional home. Little by little, you’re creating a space that serves you — and that’s something to be proud of.
Thanks for reading!
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