30 days. 15 minutes a day. The perfect decluttering checklist that you’ll actually be able to finish.
And those 15 minutes a day will add up in a big way by the end of the month!
(If you’re looking for an extreme decluttering checklist, you can grab that here!
Download the decluttering checklist here:
Also, if you need a little help thinking through the decluttering process before you get started, I have some great resources available for you here:
- How to start decluttering your home when you feel completely overwhelmed
- The step-by-step checklist for decluttering any area of your home
- Decluttering your home: How to decide what stays and what goes
Alright, let’s take a look at each of the challenges:
Day 1: Set up a donate box
This might sound too easy, but it’s going to set you up for big successes this month.
Find a big box or bag, and label it DONATE. Then put it somewhere you can easily use it each day during this challenge. (I put mine in the garage.)
You’ll also need to decide what to do with items that you declutter from your home. Will you give them away, donate them to a thrift store, post them to a local buy-nothing group, or try to sell some of them?
You may be able to get some money for your items if you sell them, but that also takes more time and effort. Donating all of your items is easier and faster.
Day 2: Refrigerator door
Take everything off the door to your refrigerator.
Now put back only the magnets and papers that you want to keep. Throw away or give away the rest. (You can also store any papers or photos that you want to keep, but no longer want to display on your refrigerator door.)
Day 3: Christmas cards
Time to say goodbye to this year’s Christmas cards.
I like to look through the cards we’ve received one last time, enjoy the updates and the photos, and put them in the recycling.
If you save Christmas cards because you truly enjoy looking back at them again years later, then use today to pack this year’s cards away in storage until next Christmas.
Day 4: Car
Take all of the trash out of your car and throw it away. (You can do this at a gas station while you’re pumping gas if you want.)
Take all the things that don’t belong in your car inside and put them away where they belong, or donate them if they are no longer needed.
Day 5: Wallet
Empty your wallet and decide what can stay, and what can be shredded or trashed.
Day 6: Makeup
Sort through your makeup. Trash or give away anything that you don’t use. Keep only the items that you use and love.
Day 7: Medicine
Take all of your medicine out of the space where you store it. Check expiration dates, and throw away any expired medicine.
Put back all the medicine that you want to keep. Throw away (or possibly give away) any medicine that you know you will not use.
Day 8: Water bottles
Gather all your family’s water bottles in one place. Donate or recycle all the ones you no longer use. Put all the rest back.
Day 9: Mismatched socks
Do you have any mismatched socks in your laundry room, just waiting to find their mate?
Today is the day to give up on that dream, throw them away, and start fresh for the new year.
Day 10: Apps on your phone
Today, take a few minutes to browse through all the apps on your phone and delete the ones that you no longer use.
Day 11: Jewelry
Take a look through your jewelry today and remove all the pieces that you don’t love and use.
Day 12: Books
If you have more than one bookshelf in your home, just pick one to start with. Look at each title and decide whether you still love and enjoy reading it. If not: donate it.Day 12: Books
If you have more than one bookshelf in your home, just pick one to start with. Look at each title and decide whether you still love and enjoy reading it. If not: donate it.
Day 13: Jeans/Leggings
Pull out all your jeans or leggings. Donate the ones you don’t wear anymore. Put the rest back.
Day 14: Games
Today we’re tackling board games! Take all of your games out of the space where they belong.
Throw away any games that are missing pieces or broken. Put games that you no longer play or enjoy in your donate box.
Return the rest to their space.
Day 15: Wrapping paper
Now that the holidays are over, it’s the perfect time to reorganize your wrapping supplies. Throw out anything that’s used up, damaged, or outdated. Restock supplies as needed.
Day 16: Freezer
Go through your freezer and clean out any old or expired food. Straighten up what’s left.
Day 17: Magazines
If you have a pile of magazines in your house somewhere, go through them today. Any that you have already read can be recycled or given away.
If you haven’t read them yet, ask yourself if you ever will, and cancel your subscription if the answer is no.
Day 18: Winter gear
Get out all of your family’s winter gear: Hats, gloves, scarves, etc. and take a look at what each person actually has.
If you have multiples, ask each family member what their favorites are, and donate the rest.
Donate or store any items that no longer fit your kids.
Day 19: Sweaters/sweatshirts
Pull all the sweaters and sweatshirts out of your closet. Donate the ones that you no longer wear.
Day 20: Office supplies
Pick a desk drawer (or wherever you store your office supplies.) Dump everything out. Throw away anything that is broken. Donate anything that you no longer use.
Day 21: A kitchen cabinet
Pick one cabinet or drawer in your kitchen that is in need of decluttering.
Take everything out and wipe down the space.
Then sort the items into your four categories: KEEP, DONATE, TRASH, and RELOCATE. Return only the keep items to the space.
Day 22: Stuffed animals
Gather all the stuffed animals and decide which ones can stay and which ones need to go.
Day 23: Nightstand
Pull everything out of your nightstand. Throw away or donate things you no longer need. Return everything else to the space.
Day 24: Mugs
Take all of your mugs out and divide them into 2 piles: Keep and donate. Put the keep mugs back, and put the donate mugs in the box or bag that you set up on day 3.
Day 25: Coffee/tea supplies
Clean up your coffee and tea supplies today. If you have any tea bags that are expired, or that you don’t like, compost or throw them away.
Donate any extra accessories including travel mugs that you don’t use.
Day 26: Under the sink
Pick an under-the-sink area to declutter today (either your kitchen sink or one in your bathroom.)
Take everything out.
Only put back the things that you actually use, and that make sense to stay in that space.
Day 27: Your purse or diaper bag
Dump everything out of your purse or diaper bag. Sort through everything, deciding whether to keep each item, get rid of it, or relocate it.
Day 28: Bath toys
Sort through your kids’ bath toys, and throw away any that could have mold inside of them. Donate any that they no longer love and use.
Day 29: Email subscriptions
If you use gmail, just click on Manage Subscriptions and unsubscribe from anyone you no longer want to receive emails from.
Day 30: Donation day
Congratulations- you made it to the end of the decluttering challenge!
Now finish strong by getting all of those donate items out of your house today, and reclaim the space that they were taking up.
I’m so proud of you. Nice job!
More great organizing ideas:
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