People often ask, “How do I start decluttering?” There is, of course, no magic formula and no one right answer. What I typically tell people is that you need to assess your individual situation and come up with a plan. No two people are alike, and no two decluttering plans are alike. There are, though, several common ways to get going, and we will discuss them here.

I like to tell people that it’s best to start off in an easy area of your home. Before getting started, work through things that need to be thrown away. Trash that piles up on your nightstand, for example, can be tossed immediately. So can other trash that builds up on your countertops. Trash is a very easy thing to eliminate and can make a big difference in decluttering. Why work through things that can just be taken to the recycle bin or thrown out?

8 Steps to get you started decluttering:

Toss the trash.

What is considered trash? Trash is anything like bags or boxes that can be recycled. It may include junk mail that comes in every day when you go to the mailbox. It may also include things like paper bags that you no longer need or use. Trash is whatever you don’t need and can be recycled or thrown away. I tend to think of a lot of things as trash. For that reason, my countertops are always clear of clutter. I use my countertops for beautiful décor that makes me happy, or to place things that I regularly use. Aside from that, my countertops stay neat and tidy. This reduces my visual clutter and keeps my brain free of distractions.

Pick a small area that is easy to declutter.

For many people, it’s best to start small. Choose one space, such as a drawer (a junk drawer is a great place to start), but any type of drawer works well.  Try to work within the parameters of that drawer. Take the entire drawer out and place its contents on a paper towel or some other surface that won’t get damaged. Wipe the drawer out completely so that when you return things to it, nothing is missed. I like to wipe my drawers out with a slightly damp towel or paper towel. Then I let it air dry or wipe it dry. The drawer feels fresh and ready to have its contents returned.

Keep, donate and toss by category.

Things that you plan to keep can go in one pile before returning them to the drawer. Others, that can be donated, may be placed in a plastic bag or box so that they can be brought (soon!) to the nearest donation center. The last portion, that can be tossed, can be placed directly into a trash bag. It can also be recycled, if appropriate. This gets you thinking in categories. Once items have been divided, they can then be sorted. Put like items together to see if you have duplicates. This process of sorting is key to the decluttering process.

Find a home for things you decide to keep. 

The most important thing in the decluttering process is to find an appropriate home for the items you decide to keep. Some things that are in the drawer you’re decluttering should go elsewhere. As Marie Kondo suggests, think in categories. Categories help you place items in the best place for your home edit. Some say that if you can’t find an item in thirty seconds, it’s in the wrong place. Know what you own and own what you have. Knowing where things belong is one of the purposes of decluttering and allows you to control spending and do more with less. 

Group and sort your items.

Items that you own need to be stored with similar things. For example, keys go together in a drawer so that when you need your extra keys, you know where to find them. The same is true of all categories of products you own. Create a space that makes sense to you, such as a drawer with pens, stamps, envelopes, and cards you want to send. Group some types of items in “stations” that, for example, make sending a birthday card to a friend a no-brainer. Create a storage closet for all your linens. Put all your pet supplies together. Whatever the category, make it function for you so that nothing is overlooked. Make life easy on yourself.

Follow the one in, one out rule.

Many people believe that if you purchase something, something else must go. That depends upon the type of item you’re purchasing, but it’s always a good idea to keep tabs on duplicates, excess items, and things that you never use. If you declutter, and then repurchase a lot of things, you may find yourself back in the same situation. Once every six months, for example, I go through my household supplies and medicines to make sure everything is up to date. I don’t want to be caught off guard with expired OTC medicine, for example. If I’m sick, I want to know that what I have is where I expect it to be and that it is still safe to take. The same is true for supplies that I may need, such as wrapping paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies and things of this nature. Purchasing these items requires that I dispose of expired products, and replace my old with new. Other things may not require replacements. However, each time I purchase, I try to be conscious that I am buying only what I truly need. Excess just leads to clutter in the future. If you keep clutter from coming into your house, you will never need to sort, group, or donate it. 

Don’t keep things for the next generation.

Believe it or not, no one wants my things. Times change. Very few things get passed on from generation to generation. On occasion, I have seen a tea set of great sentimental value get passed on, but this is rare. What one generation believes are treasures is often the next generation’s junk. Tastes are rarely the same. For that reason, it’s best not to hold on to things to give to your children or grandchildren. Instead, either keep the things you have because you love them or donate them. A friend of mine kept things for twenty-five years, only to donate all of them during her recent move. She had held on to things that no one wanted to acquire. And, for that reason, it’s very important to ask if someone wants something in the future. If they do, write it down or give it away. If not, be gracious and understand that your clutter burden becomes theirs.

Declutter in small chunks of time.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and clutter clearing takes time. Declutter on a schedule that works for you so that you’re not overwhelmed. Take time to go through things thoroughly and make decisions while you’re doing the clearing. Don’t put decisions off. Make sure that you give yourself enough room to think while you’re sorting and grouping, and to deal with any emotions that arise. If you do too much at once, you may become exhausted and unable to continue. Remember, you’re going for the long game here, and decluttering takes time and patience. Just keep on a steady path and you will see progress in no time at all.