September is the perfect time for fresh starts.
With kids back in school and the summer travels wrapping up, it feels good to give your home a good decluttering.
So come join me for a September declutter challenge: 15 days. 15 spaces to clean out. 15 fresh starts.
Download the decluttering challenge:
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
P.S. If you would rather come up with your own personalized areas to declutter, the link above also includes a blank sheet that you will be able to use:
Before you start:
There are 2 important things to do before you start any decluttering challenge:
1. Write down your “why”
This is your motivation. The reason that you can keep coming back to when you get discouraged or feel like giving up.
Be as specific as you can. For example, instead of saying, “I want to have a cleaner home,” try saying, “I want to spend less time picking things up and putting them away, so that I have more time and energy to spend with my kids.”
2. Set up a donate box and grab a few trash bags
This might sound too easy, but it’s going to set you up for big success 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.
Either way, decide now so that you’re ready to go on day 15: your dontation day.
How I declutter, step by step:
You can find more about my process (and a printable checklist) HERE. But the basic steps are:
1. Take every single item out of the space.
2. Sort everything into 4 categories: Keep, donate, trash, and relocate (to a different place in your home.)
3. Neatly return the KEEP items to your space.
4. Put the DONATE items in your donation box, the TRASH items in the trash, and each RELOCATE item back where it belongs around your home.
That’s it! Follow these steps, and you can declutter any area in your entire home.
Alright, let’s get to the decluttering challenge areas:
Day 1: Shoes
With the seasons changing, it’s. a great time to weed out any summer shoes you didn’t wear in the last few months.
You can also get out your winter shoes and check to make sure they all still fit and you still like them. Otherwise, time to move on.
Day 2: 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 3: Your nightstand
What do you actually want to keep in- or on- your nightstand? Time to move or get rid of everything else!
Day 4: Outdoor toys/patio
As the weather starts to change, take stock of your outdoor spaces. What is worn out and needs to be trashed or recycled? What needs to be relocated for the winter?
Day 5: A bookshelf
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.
You can see how I keep my kids’ books organized here.
Day 6: Pantry
Take a few minutes today to sort through your pantry. Get rid of any food that is expired, or that you know your family will not eat.
It’s also a good time to organize foods that you will use more frequently in this season for school lunches or after-school snacks.
You can see how I organized my pantry here.
Day 7: Art supplies
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to take stock of your art supply situation. Sort through what you have, get rid of anything that is worn out, broken, or no longer used.
Day 8: Your closet
Take some time today to weed out any clothes in your closet that you don’t feel good wearing.
Bonus: Move your fall clothes to the front and center, and put away those swimsuits until next year.
Day 9: 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 10: 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 11: Refrigerator
Take everything out of your refrigerator and wipe it clean. Then toss anything that is expired, and move any food that you forgot about to the front.
Day 12: Spices
Today’s a fun one- take stock of your spices!
If you have more than one container of the same spice, try to combine them to make more space. Get rid of anything you know you won’t use.
Day 13: 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 14: Freezer
Look through your freezer for things that you need to eat up, throw away, or pass on to someone else who can use it.
Day 15: 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!
If you loved this decluttering challenge, share it on Facebook or Pinterest!
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