Decluttering your space can feel overwhelming. That's why we tapped organizing experts to help us create the ultimate decluttering checklist. These tips can help you reclaim your space by clearing unnecessary items out of the entryway, kitchen, bathroom, and other areas in your home.
If you're not exactly sure where to begin, experts recommend starting small. "Focusing on one pain point, like a drawer or cabinet, will help you build your decluttering confidence through small, quick wins," says Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze. She recommends setting a 10-15 minute timer to maintain focus and accountability. "Decluttering is contagious — as you build momentum, tackling larger projects becomes easier," she explains.
In addition to following this checklist, you can also test out different decluttering methods to find what works for you. A few methods that pros and Good Housekeeping editors recommend include the core 4 method, the 10-10 method, and the 20-minute organizing method. Having a strategic approach can help decluttering feel less overwhelming.
Another pro tip: Before you start decluttering, grab some trash bags and donation boxes so you have a place to put the items you're getting rid of.
Keep reading for the ultimate decluttering checklist, backed by organizing experts.
How to Declutter Room by Room
Entry
- Old mail, newspapers and magazines
- Reusable shopping bags
- Shoes and jackets you don't wear regularly
- Seasonal items
Kitchen
- Expired foods and spices
- Take-out containers
- Chipped or cracked dishes
- Warped cutting boards
- Old dishtowels and table linens
- Duplicate kitchen items (bottle openers, measuring cups, can openers)
- Excess reusable water bottles
- Extra coffee mugs
- Specialty appliances you rarely use (panini press, holiday-themed waffle maker, shaved ice machine)
- One-off party supplies (birthday napkins or holiday plates)
- Restaurant menus and user manuals
- Takeout utensils (plastic forks, knives and chopsticks)
Living Room
- Miscellaneous cords, wires and chargers
- Games or puzzles with missing pieces
- Old remote controls
- Home decor and furniture you no longer enjoy
- Excess throw pillows
Bathrooms
- Old medications
- Expired or unwanted toiletries
- Excess packaging from products
- Worn or old towels
- Hair tools you rarely use
- Cosmetic samples
- Random hair accessories and brushes
Bedrooms
- Clothing that no longer fits
- Unpaired socks
- Uncomfortable shoes
- Accessories you don't wear
- Damaged jewelry
- Mismatched hangers
- Old magazines or books
- Worn sheets and pillowcases
Laundry Room
- Unused cleaning supplies
- Expired laundry detergent, fabric softener and stain removers
- Out-of-place items
- Ripped or stained clothing
- Broken hampers or laundry baskets
Kids' Spaces
- Unworn or outgrown clothing
- Toys children have outgrown or no longer enjoy
- Duplicate items
- Incomplete toy sets, games or puzzles
- Damaged books, dried-out markers, etc.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
