The Ultimate Decluttering Guide: Things To Get Rid Of + Best Organizers + FREE Printable Checklist
Updated on December 16, 2022 by Team ShineSheets
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I have to confess – a completely tidy and organized home is probably my favorite thing in the world. Nothing beats that delirious feeling of tranquility when everything is clean, everything is in place and there’s absolutely no clutter in sight.
I might be a little pedantic, you might say, but honestly – do you really know any people who don’t love tidy environments? Well, maybe only uncle Jerry who doesn’t give a cr*p about those 20 pizza boxes in the corner, but let’s not judge!
Being a recreational organizer over the years, I learned one thing – clutter likes to sneak into various places almost unnoticed! You might think that you’ve already reached your organizational nirvana until one day you try to find that specific USB cord you need… and BAM! Nothing is actually decluttered enough for you to find it!
In this article, I want to help you declutter your home once and for all! In PART 1, I will give you 99 things to declutter or get rid of at your home in order to achieve that super tidy home feeling – and it will include both regular decluttering, and those sneaky clutter spots that might otherwise stay unnoticed. There’s a printable checklist at the bottom of this list!
In PART 2, you will find various organizational products from Amazon that can be extremely helpful in tackling all the clutter and keeping stuff organized. Get inspired or get shopping – I am sure you will find a lot of ideas!
Important notice: the word “declutter” doesn’t necessarily mean to throw something out, although sometimes it’s the only thing you can do. If something is still working or is still usable, always prefer donating, selling, or giving things away so they may be used by someone who needs it.
Let’s do this!
99 Things To Declutter for an Extremely Organized Home
1. Old cooking pots and pans.
2. Chipped mugs.
3. Broken cooking utensils.
4. Old groats, pasta, and cereals.
5. Expired food in your fridge.
6. Expired freezer items.
7. Expired, old snacks.
8. Teas that you never drink.
9. Spices and seasonings you don’t really like.
10. Expired sauces and jams.
11. Ripped kitchen linen.
12. Tupperware without lids (or lids without Tupperware! 😃)
13. Shopping bags.
14. Empty, or almost almost empty bottles.
15. Plastic take-out cutlery, Asian food sticks.
16. Old or non-fitting shoes.
17. Overwashed or torn scarves.
18. Gloves without a partner.
19. Old coats.
20. Unusable shoe and coat care items.
21. Broken umbrellas.
22. Unsafe, broken children’s toys.
23. Movie CDs and DVDs (does anyone still use them?).
24. Old audiotapes.
25. Old gaming consoles.
26. Old, nasty plaids and pillows.
27. Books that you don’t ever read.
28. Recipe books you never use.
29. Magazines you’ve already read.
30. Table games that aren’t played.
31. Dining plates and glasses with visible splits.
32. Stained table cloths.
33. Old, tacky table decor.
34. Stained, overwashed, hardened towels.
35. Empty shower stuff bottles.
36. Empty, expired body care items.
37. Empty, expired face care items.
38. Expired or broken makeup.
39. Broken or never usable makeup brushes.
40. Perfume that you don’t really like.
41. Old or non-working hair care tools.
42. Never-used hair drier attachments.
43. Old, overused hair brushes.
44. Hair elastics that aren’t stretchy anymore.
45. Nail polish that is dried up or never used.
46. Old, expired medicine.
47. Old toothbrushes.
48. Cleaners you never use.
49. Old scrubbers & sponges.
50. Work documents you don’t need anymore.
51. Bills that have been paid.
52. Old mail.
53. Old purchase receipts.
54. Take out menus.
55. Used up and non-relevant notebooks.
56. Computer files that you don’t need anymore.
57. Pens & pencils that don’t write.
58. Stained, holey, overwashed bedroom linen.
59. Clothes that don’t fit anymore.
60. Clothes that aren’t flattering.
61. Clothes that you haven’t worn (like, ever!).
62. Duplicate clothes.
63. Jewelry you never wear (including earrings without a pair).
64. Old or out-of-style purses & handbags.
65. Broken sunglasses.
66. Old, unsightly belts.
67. Overwashed pajamas.
68. Grown out baby or children clothes.
69. Underwear that doesn’t fit or is overwashed, stained, holey.
70. Socks that don’t have a partner.
71. Old, out-of-style men’s ties.
72. Bathing suits that don’t fit.
73. Broken lamp bulbs.
74. Chargers that you don’t need anymore.
75. Almost burnt-through candles.
76. Broken or never-needed cords.
77. Crafting items you never use.
78. Christmas stuff you never liked.
79. Various electronics you never use.
80. Old phones & their cases.
81. Photos you don’t really like.
82. Used batteries.
83. Dried-up paint cans.
84. Dried-up glue.
85. Unusable repair parts.
86. Broken or duplicate repair items & tools.
87. Broken or never used exercise equipment.
88. Extra hangers + cheap hangers you get from the store.
89. Travel-sized toiletries.
90. Boxes of the things you’ve bought in the past.
91. Other various useless boxes.
92. Half-finished home projects.
93. Gift bags that aren’t suitable for reuse.
94. Wrapping paper leftovers.
95. Dead plants 😐
96. Promotional t-shirts, hats, or items from conferences.
97. Wedding invites from the past.
98. Birthday cards that have no sentimental value.
99. Gifts you never liked.
Wow, that’s a lot of stuff! Just imagine it all sitting on your shelves or drawers and just collecting dust… Set yourself free – donate, give away or sell anything that you can. Throw away unusable items. If you find it hard to say “goodbye” to anything, use the Marie Kondo method – look at the item and think: does this spark joy inside me? If yes, then leave it at home. If no – thank the item for serving you and let it go.
*Personal use only!
PART 2: Best Organizers For Perfectly Organized Home
SimpleHouseware Kitchen Cabinet Pantry Pan and Pot Lid Organizer
YouCopia 50158 StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack Pan Organizer
Kitchen Counter and Cabinet Shelf Organizer (2-Tier Organizer)
Hardware and Craft Organizing Cabinet, Black
Door Spice Wall Mount Storage Kitchen Shelf Pantry
sanipoe 360 Rotating Makeup Organizer
MustQ Hanging Closet Organizer
Zober Hanging Purse Organizer For Closet
Simple Houseware Foldable Cloth Storage Boxes (Set of 6)
Housecraft 3PCS Clothes Storage Bags
DOIOWN S-Type Stainless Steel Clothes Pants Hanger
BON AUGURE Two Tier Floating Wall Shelves
OnlyEasy Jumbo Under The Bed Organizer
Kaforise Vinyl Dipped Wall Grid
Cevillo Stylish Wire Metal Wall Grid Panel
SINARDO Wire Storage Basket Organizer
Curated Office – Rose Gold Metal Storage Basket
Simmer Stone Rose Gold Mail Organizer
Whoa, that’s a lot of decluttering inspiration! I hope you loved this guide on decluttering and will use it as a helpful resource to declutter your home.
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