“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.”
― Joshua Becker
When I first started my minimalist journey, one of the first things I decided to do is to declutter my life, starting from the stuff I have accumulated over the years.
As a semi-shopaholic Asian in a family of five, the amount of stuff in my house is overwhelming and complicated. I do try to declutter a couple of times every year, but it's usually not long before I would buy things again to fill in any space that I created. But this time it's different. I am determined to create space for my life, not just to fill it with stuff again.
If you are new to minimalism, decluttering is probably one of the first things you want to do as well. It can definitely be overwhelming, but need not worry, because I have put together 35 things that you can start decluttering today
Since it's a long list, feel free to read through them or jump over to the areas that are most interesting to you.
You can also download my FREE printable home declutter checklist for your decluttering project.
Kitchen and Living Areas
The kitchen and living areas are always such a headache to me. Because it's a shared space with the family, the things that are accumulated here are not just mine in a sense. So when decluttering this area, be mindful and respectful about the things that are brought in by your family members.
Expired food
Expired or unused spices
Excess and duplicate dishes and utensils
Plastic and glass storage containers
Old and unused baking supplies
Unused Cookwares
Old snacks
Old kitchen rags
Random items bin
Coupons and loyalty cards
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Bedrooms and bathrooms are our intimate space, so it's completely normal that we have special attachments to our self-care items. But items in these areas can also affect our mood greatly when left unchecked.
As a former beauty product tester, I used to hold on to a lot of beauty products that I don't actually use. They took up so much of my physical and mental space. When I finally decluttered over 60% of them, it felt like a large weight lifted off of my shoulder. I felt so much more relaxed with the space back.
Here are some items that you can declutter from these areas:
Old and unused personal care products
Old towels and beddings
Old and unused clothing, shoes, and purses
Old toothbrushes
Old magazines and mails
Excess personal care tools
Kids Rooms
Kids' rooms are another sensitive area that usually gives me a headache. My 13-year-old is usually pretty great about keeping her room tidy and uncluttered. But my 9-year-old is the complete opposite. She is a "collector".
I try to be as respectful of my kids' space as possible. At the end of the day, it's their space. But gentle reminders and offering to help with decluttering their space can go a long way.
Some of the common items to declutter are:
Outgrown clothing
Books that they no longer read
Loose paper
Toys they no longer play with
Old crayons, pencils, and erasers
Garage and Basement
The garage and basement are the blindspots for clutters. We have used ours as storage space and dumped a lot of our unused, and just-in-case stuff there for years, and we don't experience the aftermath until we have to move.
If you own your house, these areas can become a living landfill if left unattended. So it's worth spending some time every now and then to declutter.
Here are some common things that can be removed:
Old tools
Empty moving boxes
Old luggage
Items that are stored here for "future" use
Plastic and reusable shopping bags
Unused plant pots
Digital Space
Clutters in our digital space have as much if not more impact on our mental health as physical clutters. A lot of us practically live off of our phones and devices, but most don't pay attention to the unnecessary accumulation of emails and apps.
It seems trivial and intangible but cleaning up our digital space can make our daily life more productive and functional.
Here are some items that you can declutter from your digital space:
Old headphones and charging cables
Old phone cases and screen protectors
Silicone Earbud covers
Broken computer accessories
Old laptops and devices
Apps that are not used regularly
Unread emails
Social Media contacts
I hope that these 35 items give you some ideas and inspiration to start decluttering your home and your life. Also, download my FREE printable home declutter checklist to get you started on your minimalist journey!
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