5 things you can declutter right now
No storage hacks required
Craving more space—or just a little momentum?
Start with these five things that quietly pile up. You don’t need to do everything. Just one small win is plenty.
1. Paper
Keep what matters. Let go of the rest.
Paper piles up fast—mail, mystery notes, old receipts—and most of it doesn’t deserve a permanent place in your home.
Quick wins:
Receipts and bills: Keep only what you need for taxes or returns. Shred the rest.
Junk mail and catalogs: Recycle on sight.
Printed recipes: Haven’t used it in the past year? Let it go.
Office supplies: Keep the pens that work. One stapler is plenty.
Community tip: Julie opens her mail over the recycling bin. Bills go in a “to-pay” tray. Everything else? Gone.
Try this reflection:
What kind of paperwork makes you anxious—and what would it feel like not to have it?
2. Books
Keep what inspires you—not what guilts you.
Books are personal. Letting go can feel like letting go of part of yourself. But your shelves should reflect who you are today—not who you think you “should” be.
Quick wins:
Books you haven’t read and probably won’t: Guilt has no place on your shelf.
Books you won’t re-read: Donate them and make space for joy.
Outdated reference books: If it’s Googleable, let it go.
Try this reflection:
What was the last book that truly moved you? Keep the ones that matter like that.
3. Clothes
Make space for what fits your life right now.
Closets tend to hold a lot of “maybe.” Letting go clears space for confidence—and makes getting dressed feel like self-care.
Quick wins:
Clothes that don’t fit: Let them go. You deserve clothes that fit your current body.
Worn-out or damaged items: Time to say goodbye.
Haven’t worn it in a year? Try the hanger trick: Turn all hangers backward. After six months, donate anything still untouched.
A closet where you can see everything? That’s when getting dressed starts to feel easy.
Try this reflection:
What clothes do you reach for when you want to feel like yourself? Build from there.
4. Food
Keep it fresh. Lose the forgotten.
Your fridge and pantry aren’t time capsules—and they shouldn’t feel like guilt trips either.
Quick wins:
Expired or stale food: A sweep through the shelves makes a big difference.
Specialty ingredients you never use: Donate if you can.
Single-use gadgets: If it only spiralizes carrots and you’re over it, let it go.
A clean fridge makes meals faster, waste smaller, and surprises less... suspicious.
Try this reflection:
What foods do you buy with good intentions—but never actually eat?
5. Self-Care Stuff
Keep what works. Let go of the rest.
Your bathroom isn’t a storage unit for half-used products. Let it be a space that cares for you back.
Quick wins:
Expired products: Toss responsibly.
Tools you never use: Donate or pass them along.
Products you don’t love: If it doesn’t make you feel good, it’s not worth keeping.
What works for you—that’s your real self-care starter kit.
Try this reflection:
What parts of your routine actually help you feel better? Make those the priority.
Ready to begin?
You don’t need to tackle everything. Just pick one category. Give it ten minutes.
That’s it.
No finish lines. No pressure. Just a starting point.
And that starting point? It’s usually the most freeing.
What should we declutter together next?
Reply and let us know—your ideas help shape future Tidy Home challenges.