How to Get Rid of Household Clutter 101

Whether it’s because of sentimentality, worrying you might need something again, or just pure habit, many of us hold on to things we rarely use.

Learning how to get rid of clutter in your home is a great way to stay organized and tidy. Clearing out things you no longer need, and removing old items once a year, helps free up space for what matters most.

But what exactly counts as clutter? How do you decide what to get rid of in each room, and how do you do it efficiently without feeling overwhelmed?

In this blog, we’ll walk you through each room with practical tips on getting rid of junk in your house, recycling, donating, and tossing unwanted items you don’t have space for.

Especially if you’ve lived in your home for a while, you’ve likely accumulated quite a bit of stuff over the years. Having the serious realization that your house is so cluttered you don’t even know where to start can feel incredibly overwhelming.

Maybe that’s why you’ve been putting off clearing out clutter for so long, right?

It really helps to have a plan, just like any major project. Instead of diving headfirst into a random mess and tossing everything into trash bags, take a moment to sit down with a pen and some paper before you begin.

How to Get Rid of Clutter

Getting rid of clutter is something that isn’t necessarily easy when it seems so overwhelming. But, it’s not hard when you have the right tools and use smart ways for getting rid of clutter.

Imagine suddenly having to move into a hotel room. What are the few things you would absolutely want to keep? What if you lost everything to a natural disaster? Think about the things you have now that you would immediately go out and buy again.

Make a list of all these must-have items;these are your valuables or sentimental items that are worth keeping. Remember, you don’t have to part with things you love or need, but it helps to know what those things are before you get started.

Next, you should sort your giant stack into 4 categories:

1. Keep
2. Donate
3. Sell
4. Toss

You want your sorting piles to be in a large, clean area so that you can see everything clearly and organize it easily. That’s not always possible, especially when living in a small space, so do the best you can.

Start with one room, but keep the whole house in mind. Go room by room and write down what each space is used for and the activities that happen there. Then, make a list of items needed for each activity, even if you don’t currently have them.

If you find things in the room that aren’t on your list, take them out and either put them where they belong or place them into a central sorting pile for the whole house.

It’s important to pace yourself so you don’t get overwhelmed or hurt. Before you start, create a plan that outlines which areas you’ll tackle and when you’ll clean, declutter, and organize.

Set a deadline well into the future to allow yourself to work a little bit at a time, rather than exhausting yourself by trying to do too much all at once.

It’s time to pull everything out and get serious. Dig up all those random pieces of paper, mail, important documents, and magazines lying around. Empty your closet and all your drawers. Brave every storage spot to get everything out even the messy garage.

Already decluttered the unwanted items in your garage? Learn how to organize like a PRO!

Bring out everything that’s not on your keep list and set it on tables, desks, or any other workspace where you can see it clearly. Once it’s all out in the open, designate specific areas for different piles.

5.How to Decide What to Keep

1. Do I love this item? Does it “spark joy” for me?
2. Do I use this item often? Will I use this item within the next 3 months?
3. Will I miss this item if it’s gone? Does it have sentimental value for me?

Take your time going through all the piles and don’t rush through a single drawer or cubby. Decluttering your home is not something that can be done in a day.

Depending on the severity of your clutter and your emotional attachment to it, this process can take days, weeks, or even months. If possible, enlist a friend or family member you trust as your declutter buddy to help and offer moral support.

You may want to go through the main three piles a second time and further sort them into subcategories related to their main group. For example, the Toss pile can be divided into Recycle Bin, Garbage, and Hazardous Waste piles.

After finishing the sorting process, take another look at the items in the Keep pile. If it seems too full, go through it again, you might realize that some things aren’t really necessary after all.

Put away the items you’re keeping in a way that works for you and fits how you use them. When it comes to storage, try to think “up” instead of “out” by using solutions like wall shelves and filing cabinets.

If letting go of things is difficult, consider taking a photo with your phone or digital camera. This way, you can keep the memories without the clutter. Remember, those special memories live in your heart and mind, not in objects or photographs.

If you’re not ready to dive into a full declutter, a quick cleanup can still make a big difference. Start with the easy stuff, there are plenty of household odds and ends you can get rid

It may not transform your home into a minimalist wonderland, but it will definitely simplify it.

• Outdated Formal Wear. Old bridesmaid dresses, suits, and formalwear collecting dust can be donated to a local charity and put to good use.
• Worn-Out Shoes. If they’re cracked, stained, or falling apart, you’re not likely to wear them in public or get them repaired. It’s time to let them go.
• Unworn Clothing. Go through items you rarely or never wear. If you’d buy it again today, keep it. Otherwise, consider donating or consigning it.
• Clothes That Don’t Fit. If it doesn’t fit and can’t be altered, donate it. Holding onto clothes that don’t fit takes up valuable storage space and can hold you back from decluttering progress.
• Single Socks. That missing sock has probably vanished for good. Unless it’s hiding in the laundry room, it’s time to toss its lonely partner.

Don’t know where to donate items? Here’s a list of specific charities that need your old clothes.

• Freezer-Burned Foods. If you’ve got mystery ice blocks from who knows when, it’s time to let them go. They’re taking up precious freezer space.
• Expired Pantry Items. with the easy stuff
• Unused Cookbooks. Keep the recipes you love by snapping a photo or scanning the pages. Then donate or recycle the books you never use.
• Takeout Menus. Most restaurants have their menus online. If not, scan or photograph it and toss the paper version. Bonus points if you upload it to Yelp or Google to help others!
• Condiment Packets. That drawer full of ketchup and soy sauce packets? Clean it out once a year.
• Mismatched Containers. Toss stained or lidless plastic containers. Save yourself the hassle every time you reach for Tupperware that doesn’t match.
• Old Appliance Manuals. Most appliance manuals are available online. Recycle the paper ones unless they contain important notes or unique info.
• Unused Kitchen Gadgets. If your chocolate fountain, bread maker, or sous vide is just collecting dust, it’s time to donate, sell, or regift.
• Stale Spices. While spices don’t technically expire, they lose flavor over time. Replace old jars so your cooking can stay flavorful and fresh.

• Partially Used Soaps. You don’t need to keep that sliver of soap you haven’t touched in months. Be honest with yourself, toss it.
• Expired Makeup & Toiletries. Skincare and beauty products have a shelf life. If you’ve got old makeup, hair products, or lotion from last year (or longer), it’s time to say goodbye.
• Old Travel Sizes & Samples. Mini shampoos and beauty samples pile up quickly. If you haven’t used them yet, it’s time to clear them out and make room for what you actually use.
• Expired Medication. Check your medicine cabinet for expired or unlabeled items. Don’t flush them, check with your local waste authority for safe disposal, or seal them in a bag with coffee grounds or kitty litter before tossing.

• Old Receipts. Shred and recycle receipts that are more than 3–5 years old. Hang onto any related to big purchases, warranties, or taxes by organizing them with the box method or a filing system.
• Outdated Maps. Paper maps that are no longer accurate can be recycled. If any are sentimental or visually appealing, consider framing them or using them in DIY craft projects.
• Business Cards. Still holding onto a stack of cards from a job you left 20 years ago? Keep one or two for memory’s sake, but the rest can be recycled or reused as notecards.
• Unneeded Chargers and Cables. Sort through your mystery cords—donate what you recognize and recycle the rest with your other electronics. Never toss them in the trash.
• Unused Craft Supplies. Be honest with yourself about your stash. Keep only the supplies that are in good condition and that you’ll actually use soon. Donate, give away, or sell the rest to free up space and reduce clutter.

The box method helps you declutter fast. Use 3 labeled boxes: “Put Away,” “Give Away/Sell,” and “Storage.” Toss anything unwanted into a trash bag.

• Outdated Gift Wrap. If your wrapping paper is faded, torn, or yellowed, it’s time to recycle it. Keep the good stuff organized in a gift wrap caddy to save space and reduce clutter.
• Old Greeting Cards. Unless they hold special sentimental value, go ahead and recycle old cards. For keepsakes, take photos or frame your favorites for a personalized display.
• DVDs & Cassettes. Free up a lot of space by letting go of your old DVD, CD, or cassette tape collection. Consider converting them into digital files or donating if they’re still in good shape.
• Old Paint. If you’ve got half-used paint cans sitting around, they probably aren’t usable anymore. Take them to your local hazardous waste disposal site for proper removal.
• Stale Potpourri. Once the scent is gone, potpourri is just clutter. Toss it out and try a reed diffuser, wax warmer, or essential oil for a more modern alternative.
• Remote Controls. If you’ve got remotes for mystery devices, chances are you’ll never figure out what they belong to. Declutter by recycling or properly disposing of them.

Decluttering your home can seem like an impossible task and the only way through is with a professional organizer. But if you start out with a plan and take your time following that plan through to the end, it’s a process that you can conquer. You will even come out feeling better about your home, your life, and yourself.

When it comes time to handle all the stuff you decided to toss, recycle, or donate, you can skip all the work and hassle of getting rid of it all by contacting LoadUp.

When you book a pickup with LoadUp online or over the phone, we’ll pick up all your unwanted junk and haul it away to dispose of it in a way that’s good for the environment and for prices often 20-30% lower than other junk removal companies.

Get professional, honest, and upfront junk removal as the finishing touch to your decluttering project when you give LoadUp a call or book a pickup online today.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk blog:

• The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Kitchen
• Why We Love a Clean House and You Should, Too
• Why You Should Start Downsizing at an Early Age
• Furniture Stores That Take Away Old Furniture