Ah, decluttering. The magical art of turning chaos into calm, or at least that’s what all those Pinterest boards would have you believe. As an attorney and a mom, I’m no stranger to the clutter struggle. Every day, I tell myself, “Today’s the day I’m going to tackle this mess once and for all.” And every day, I end up making coffee, stepping over toys, and wondering how my kids managed to hide an entire loaf of bread under the couch.
I’ve tried it all—from the 30 bags in 30 days challenge (which I did once and should probably do every 30 days) to the KonMari method. Let me tell you, if sparking joy means finding yet another stash of Legos in my shoes, then I’m positively gleeful. But the accumulation is real, folks. And just when I think I’ve won, my children surprise me with a new secret hiding spot for their “treasures” (or as I like to call it, junk).
So, here I am, sharing top 10 tips for decluttering—complete with sarcasm and a healthy dose of reality. Because while these tips are nice in theory, let’s be honest, following them perfectly is about as likely as my kids picking up after themselves without being asked. But hey, we can try, right?
Top 10 Tips for Decluttering Your Home
- Set Realistic Goals—Or Don’t, Whatever
The Tip: Before you start decluttering, think about your end goal. Do you want to live like a minimalist monk, or just find the floor in your kids’ room? Decide what you want, so you don’t accidentally toss out your sanity with the clutter.
The Reality: In reality, setting a decluttering goal feels a lot like deciding to climb Everest when you’ve barely hiked a hill. I set my sights on a minimalist dream, only to find myself buried under a pile of sentimental items. The goal? Still there. The clutter? Also still there.
The key is to remember that it’s okay to adjust your goal as you go. We’re all navigating our own cluttered Everest.
- Divide and Conquer—Unless You Prefer Chaos
The Tip: Don’t try to declutter your whole house in one go. Break it down into smaller, manageable tasks, like a room or a specific category (toys, books, or that mountain of unmatched socks). Baby steps, people.
The Reality: Ah, the elusive promise of “manageable tasks.” if you’re like me, those baby steps can sometimes feel more like a crawl. There’s always something that pulls you away—kids, work, life in general. But I’ve learned that even a little progress is better than none. Sure, it might feel like you’re living in a never-ending story, but every time you tackle just one drawer, one pile, or even one sock, you’re moving forward.
- Donation vs. Trash Dilemma
The Tip: Before you start, set up a system: one bin for donations, one for trash, and maybe one for all the stuff you’ll swear you’ll use later but probably won’t. At least you’ll feel organized while you procrastinate.
The Reality: In my experience, I have to follow this tip in secret. If my 9-year-old so much as sees a glimpse of that donation bin, she’ll launch into a heartfelt plea about why that broken toy or random piece of paper is an absolute must-keep. And if she’s not busy convincing me, she’s stealthily rescuing it and stashing it in her room like a tiny hoarder-in-training.
- Forget the Price Tag—It’s Already Gone
The Tip: Don’t let the amount you paid for something trap you into keeping it. That overpriced gadget you never used? It’s a sunk cost. Let it go. No guilt allowed. - Duplicate? You Mean Backup, Right?
Tip: If you find you have multiple versions of the same item, like five can openers, ask yourself if you really need them all. Keep the best one and donate or sell the rest.
Reality: I recently unearthed my own personal “can opener graveyard” while decluttering, a collection that could only be described as excessive. The duplicates were a testament to my failed attempts to stay organized, or maybe just my kids’ uncanny ability to misplace things right when I’m about to donate them. But let’s be honest—I have 5,000 pencils, 300 markers, and 100 erasers in my house. There’s no way I’m parting with any of those. Each year, I shell out hundreds on school supplies, and somehow, I still end up buying new scissors and pencils. Not today! Not today! Sorry, tip number 5—I’d sooner part with a third can opener than those pencils and markers.
I guess, the key is to laugh at the absurdity of it all and keep pushing forward.
- The Surface Struggle is Real
The Tip: Flat surfaces are like magnets for junk. If your counters, desks, and tables are buried under stuff, it’s time to rethink your organization. Or, just get bigger flat surfaces and delay the problem for another day.
The Reality: I’ve definitely had success with this one and managed to minimize surface clutter. But let’s be real—I’ve come to terms with the fact that my counters will always host a small pile of unread mail or random items that I still need to put away. It’s my clutter’s way of making a cameo appearance. I’m taking the win and embracing the small pile as a testament to my ongoing battle with clutter. After all, if you can’t beat it, you might as well accept it and move on.
- Make Storage Pretty, or at Least Less Ugly
The Tip: Invest in attractive storage solutions to keep your home looking neat and organized. Use stylish bins, shelves, and racks to store your items instead of resorting to unsightly cardboard boxes. This tips suggests that You’ll feel more motivated to keep things tidy if your storage solutions aren’t hideous.
The Reality: Pretty storage solutions are fantastic in theory, but in practice, they often become just another layer of clutter. I’ve bought the bins, the shelves, the cute boxes, and yet somehow, clutter finds its way into them. It’s a constant battle to keep these “beautiful” solutions from becoming another clutter magnet. Sometimes, even stylish storage can’t prevent the mess from creeping back in.
- Call in Reinforcements (aka Bribe Your Friends)
The Tip: Decluttering can be a lot for one person. Get some help—whether it’s from family, friends, or even professional organizers. Sometimes an outside perspective is all you need to finally get rid of that hideous vase from Aunt Mildred.
The Reality: Asking for help sounds great in theory, but in my house, it’s a different story. My kids? Forget it. They’d rather stash things in the closest hiding spot than actually organize. My husband? Any organizing project somehow morphs into a full-blown renovation, and before I know it, we’re knocking down walls instead of tidying up. Friends? I wouldn’t even dream of it—I like them too much to subject them to this chaos. As for family, my mom was a superstar when I was expecting, organizing everything in my already-clean house. But nowadays, the thought of asking anyone for help just overwhelms and frustrates me. This tip just never worked out for me, so I’ve learned to go it alone, embracing the chaos as best I can.
- Set Up Decluttering Traps—Er, I Mean Systems
The Tip: If you have a clutter hotspot, like a kitchen counter that’s always buried in junk mail, set up a system to keep it under control. Maybe a recycling bin nearby or a cute box for the odds and ends that usually pile up.
Reality: This tip sounded great and I’m a sucker for a cute organizing bin but let me tell you how that worked out in my house. I set up a bin meant for mail, but my kids saw it as the perfect dumping ground for anything they didn’t feel like putting away. You know how it goes—“Go put this away before you get on the computer,” and instead of walking the extra 10 steps to their room, they toss it in the bin. Because apparently, those five seconds are a lifetime to a kid trying to get back to their game. In the end, I just created yet another thing for me to declutter. Lesson learned!
- Make Decluttering a Habit—Or Just Do It Once a Year
The Tip: Clutter creeps back in, no matter how vigilant you are. Commit to regular mini-decluttering sessions to keep things in check. Or, ignore it until it becomes unbearable again—no judgment here.
The Reality: Regular decluttering sounds ideal, but in practice, it often feels like trying to hold back a tidal wave. I start with the best intentions of monthly clean-ups, only to find myself buried under a new wave of clutter before I know it. The cycle continues, and I’m living in the never-ending story of clutter management. But hey, at least I’m still trying, right?
if you’re like me—an attorney, a mom, working mom and a professional decluttering procrastinator—maybe it’s time to tackle your own mess with a healthy dose of humor and realism. And hey, if you manage to get rid of just one bag of stuff this month, that’s a win! Want to share your own decluttering nightmares or get some moral support? Reach out and let’s swap stories. Trust me, you’re not alone in this chaos!
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