Jul
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One of the simplest ways to live a more organized life is to have less stuff – in fact, the less you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized.
So in this mission we’re going to get rid of 50 pieces of clutter from your home. It’s easier than you think – especially with my room-by-room, clutter-busting suggestions.
Now before you hyperventilate, please let me reassure you that you won’t have to part with anything you use and love. I promise. 
Remember – you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below. If you’re new, check out 52 Organizing Missions.
Note: If you started with 52 Organizing Missions at Week 1 and Filled a Hu-uge Trash Bag, it’s been a couple of months since that mission – so now’s a good time to take another stab at stuff reduction.
Get Organized Mission #8: Declutter 50 Items
This week I’d like you to spend your 30 minutes finding 50 items to flick from your home.
It doesn’t matter where in the house they come from, as long as you can count out 50 of them.
Here are some decluttering ideas…
Declutter the Living Areas
Get Rid Of:
- Books you’ve read and won’t re-read, or will never read
- Magazines from any month other than this one
- No-longer needed magazine racks
- Newspapers
- Old coasters
- Videos, cassettes, computer floppies, camera film – any storage device for which you no longer have hardware
- Photos in frames – unless they’re genuinely special to you
- Tatty cardigans, socks and other apparel strewn around the furniture
- Knickknacks you don’t love
- ‘Displayed’ items on shelves that collect dust but hold no meaning for you
- Dead pot plants
- Threadbare or stained cushions, throws, rugs, etc
Declutter the Kitchen
Get Rid Of:
- Recipes and recipe books you haven’t used in the past 12 months
- Knickknacks you don’t love
- Anything in the pantry that’s old or not used
- Photos on the fridge – unless they’re genuinely special to you
- Broken appliances
- Old, yucky utensils
- Chipped, stained crockery
- Rusty or ancient pots and pans
- Take-out menus for places you don’t order from
Declutter the Closets,Drawers & Storage Areas
Get Rid Of:
- Tatty bed linen
- Tatty underwear, pajamas and t-shirts
- Old, yucky toys
- Junk jewelry
- Old or broken exercise or sports equipment
- Decorations and seasonal items in poor condition
Declutter the Home Office/Study
Get Rid Of:
- Bills, receipts, mail items – all paperwork not needed for tax or reference
- Birthday, Christmas and greeting cards – unless they’re genuinely special to you
- Defunct phones, computers, cells, PDAs etc (check for disposal info with your local council)
- Abandoned craft, knitting, scrapbooking and other projects and the various accompanying supplies, storage containers, etc
- Old notebooks not needed for reference
- School or college notes (unless you recently graduated)
- Old lamps, chairs and other equipment in poor condition
Declutter the Bathroom
Get Rid Of:
- Empty or old/expired toiletries and bath products
- Tatty towels
- Old or yucky make-up
- Old perfumes and lotions
Declutter the Garden
Get Rid Of:
- Rusty, yucky patio furniture
- Chipped or faded garden ornaments
- Dead plants
- Broken lighting fixtures
Dos & Don’ts
- Don’t be over-analytical about whether something counts as clutter. If your first instinct when you look at something is ‘euw – clutter!’, then out it goes.
- Don’t worry about organizing at this stage – this mission is about decluttering.
- Do let yourself off the hook for accumulating a lot of clutter to begin with. You’re changing now, so give yourself a big smile and a pat on the back.
- Do move quickly and stay mindful of your ticking 30-minute timeframe.
Extended Organizing Mission Options
Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?
- If other household members want to participate, then assign them a target number of items to declutter (based on how much clutter they have), and do the mission together.
- If you run out of time or reach 50 items and want to keep going, then do.
Ready, Set, Go!
Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.
Before You Go – Please Check In
You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment. (Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)
And see you back here next week!
UPDATE:
You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered free to your inbox. Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.
Image by Bern@t
Related posts:
- Organizing Mission #39: Declutter Your Surfaces
- Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag
- How To Declutter Your To-Do List [Organizing Mission #43]
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Pingback by Organizing Your Way | Surfin’ the Net: July 4th Edition! on July 4, 2009 @ 3:46 am
- Pingback by Control Clutter « Daily PlanIt on June 13, 2010 @ 9:13 am
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Get Organized Mission #8: Declutter 50 Items http://bit.ly/a83h8 #organize
★Organizing Mission #8: Declutter 50 Items★ It’s easier than u think with the room-by-room guide: http://is.gd/1mmPH
Being a generally hopeless case when it comes to acquiring clutter, this “room-by-room” approach makes it a lot easier to get started. Makes the whole task seem less overwhelming. And thanks for the pat on the back! The generally positive approach also makes the task a lot more appealing.
I think we may be related by clutter, Kathryn. My 50 has made a mere dent in the surface but it is done, divided into recyclables and non-recyclables and the non recyclable collection is tomorrow so off it will go!
I’ll second your comment on the helpful ‘room-by-room’ lists. I found the suggestions very useful. There is the need for a few more 50s here but I’ve made an encouraging start.
This is a terrific piece. 50 is a good, doable number for a lot of folks. There is complimentary wisdom here: http://www.organize-more-stress-less.com/De-clutter-One-Room-at-a-Time.html Thanks!!!
This was sooo easy for me to do and I feel FANTASTIC.
I went through everything! I donated 12 books (novels) to charity, clean out my wardrobe of clothes (charity), sorted my daughters shoes that no longer fit (8 pairs to charity), and given back borrowed items to their owners such as books, dvds, and an exercise bike and machine, that freed up alot of space!!!
I love these ideas. I use quite a few, and seem to get started, but I really need to get my husband more involved. (he’s getting there).
I am a “pitcher”. If I haven’t worn or used in 3-6 mos, out it goes!
Love the ideas!
this was very doable – I went through clothes and magazines with me and my husband and got rid of easily over 50!
That was a real boost. I still have a long way to go though. I guess one thing at a time helps.
Hi Brenda,
One thing at a time will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Keep going and celebrate the little successes.
Over time they’ll turn into big ones.
Michele
50 items seemed a lot in just 30 minutes. But it was very easy. Good riddance!
Hey Silje,
I like that comment so much I’m going to tweet it.
Have a lovely day!
Michele
Can’t believe I managed to find even more stuff to chuck – and I’m not a hoarder!
Next time I see a council pickup due I’ll schedule in a day to do this!
That’s a great idea, Fiona!
In fact I’m going to make that today’s tip (for tomorrow!) on my Facebook page.
M
Holidays are upon us That means family gatherings at your home..try this to have the house family ready… http://bit.ly/rR0UW
Only 50. I should do this once a month. Done
Done.
done
That was easier than I expected it to be, but I can definitely do a lot more. Maybe I should schedule a ‘declutter 50′ once a week.
My family is in the process of moving from Oklahoma to Texas and this mission has been such fun for. Before I started packing I did the 30 minute room-to-room declutter, but the move has given me an opportunity to take the project to a different level. I keep 3 boxes in each room of the new home and as I unpack I either put the item in its place in the new home, in one box for donation, give to a friend or family member, or the box for trash.
Since every room in the house is full of boxes in various stages of unpack, it just makes more sense to place a separate set of boxes in each room otherwise the mission may slip our minds. My husband and son (avid packrats) have really gotten into the spirit of the project. My son because I have told him that he will not get any new items until he donates at least 5. My husband because he does not want me to decide which of his things go into the boxes. My new home is starting out organized!!!
I Love This…….I Love This…..I Love This!!!!!
Found 24 items in the garage, and then I decided to go through the receipt files, which goes back to 2008. It took longer than 30 minutes, and made me a little cranky, but now that it’s over I can say that it was worth it.
Damn… I found more than 40 items in my wardrobe. I knew they were there and I wanted to get rid of them but just didn’t make the time to get rid of them. Today, was such a relief. Got rid of them! Thank you!
Oh this was EASY! I went through the girls room and 30 mins later I had a banking box FULL of toys and or garbage to declutter.
Decluttered my closet back in February to the tune of SIX 30-gallon trash bags (counted that as Mission 1: Fill A huge trash bag). Did it again yesterday (took me entirely too long to get this mission accomplished, so I went back to my closet since it felt so good last time) and decluttered well over 50 garments. I’m thinking more like 100. Feels good to pare down (again)!
For this mission, I focused on my junk drawer and two utility drawers in my kitchen. I was able to get rid of over a hundred things. Most went straight to the trash. Now I can open and close my drawers without worrying about them getting stuck!
Whew. That was intense. I gathered more than 50 items and only 15 minutes passed. I’m dreading the moment my husband realizes I took out some of his stuff that he hasn’t used in a long time. I think from now on, I’ll have to hid the “to charity” items in my car trunk, and push the “trash” items deep into the trash bin. Based on the number of times he uses these things, I should be good for at least two years!