Hello, friends! As we begin the new year, I’ve been reflecting on all of the decluttering that I did in 2024. Though I took a pause from discussing it on the blog, I’ve been actively decluttering my home even now. Last weekend, my husband took a carload of items to Goodwill, and the week before, we joined a Facebook Buy Nothing Page. We were able to find three different families who had a use for large items we were looking to declutter! Which brings me to my first tip for decluttering.
- Join a Buy Nothing Facebook group I live in a small town, so I had little hope that there would be one for my town. Luckily, there was one for the town over from me, so I swiftly joined it and was able to declutter two side-tables, two beds, TONS of craft supplies, and a lamp. I have always had a tendency to keep things beyond the point of use and practicality. It is only now that I am beginning to be able to declutter and not feel immeasurable guilt. One amazing way to help with this is to join a Buy Nothing page. Previously, I had used Facebook marketplace, and this is a great source for getting rid of pricier items that you’d like to make some money on, but for items you don’t necessarily feel the need to make money off of, I would suggest a Buy Nothing group. On Facebook marketplace, items will often sit there for months with nobody interested in them, but the Buy Nothing pages move much quicker. They are also great if you have difficulties parting with items, because on these pages, you know that it is directly going to someone who has a need for it. Donating items to larger chains, such as Goodwill, is still beneficial, but it’s much more abstract, the prices are raised, and so much of what gets donated is never bought, resulting in so much waste. A Buy Nothing page does not have these problems, and may make it easier for you to donate items that you do not have a use for, but are sentimental.
- Do All of Your Laundry At the beginning of my decluttering journey, there was, embarrassingly enough, some articles of clothing that had not seen a closet or hanger in absolute ages. This may be a sign that you do not like these pieces enough to miss them, or their care instructions are too daunting for everyday use and may not be worthwhile keeping. I found this to be the case when I was doing laundry of items that had not been washed or worn for quite some time. Often I found myself doing a load of laundry and decluttering right at the dryer. No time for me to change my mind, just into the trash bag it went. Do not let yourself overthink it. If it’s been at the bottom of your laundry hamper for a year or so, it’s clear that it’s not a piece that you notice being gone. Let it be gone.
- Enlist Help Another great tip for decluttering in general, but especially for clothes, is to enlist help. I had my husband go through all of my clothes with me (and I tried every single item on!!!!) and help me decide which to keep. Having another person there allows you to really think about things and to not allow you to avoid decluttering certain pieces. Pick somebody who will hold you accountable!!!!
- Put Like with Like This is another example that works great for clothes, but it also applies to anything that you may have. For me, I used this with gray t-shirts, because really, how many gray t-shirts does a girl who hates gray need??? (Less than they have, is the answer to that) I took every single gray t-shirt that I owned and put them in a pile and went through them as a group. This was much more helpful than going through my t-shirts as a whole. By going through micro-categories, I’m able to have fresh eyes and as a result, am able to be much more ruthless with the process.
- Wait Until “Done” With Decluttering to Buy Storage Pieces If you buy all of your storage items up front, you will find yourself less likely to get rid of items, because there is a designated place for them. You will also likely waste a considerable amount of money, because you may end up with organizational pieces that you don’t end up needing, if you’re still able to declutter thoroughly. For the most part, because I got rid of so many items, I was able to use organizational items that I had already, but in a different room, or in a different way. Declutter first, organize second. Otherwise you will have systems put in place that no longer serve you as well as they could!
And that is just a few tips that I found to be helpful! Truly, I think that decluttering your home so that it serves you is the absolute best thing that you can do for yourself this year. By having a home that is streamlined and functional, all of your other desires and goals will have a higher likelihood of coming true.
Happy 2025, all!!!
XOXO,
Mattie Mae
Midwest Mattie 