We all have “just in case” clutter. Items that we hold on to for some future possible purpose that never comes. Instead, these items clog up our drawers, overcrowd our wardrobes and mess up the otherwise cohesive nature of our homes.
Many of us hold on to this type of clutter out of guilt or anxiety. Guilt over feeling wasteful for getting rid of it or anxious that it might finally one day come in handy – spoiler alert, it won’t.
It can be really hard to figure out what is actually useful and what is genuinely just taking up space. That’s where the Houdini decluttering method comes in. An evidence-based method that challenges you to assess what items in your home you actually use on a day-to-day basis. It’s smart, effective and teaches us better habits for the future so our clutter can disappear. This time, for good.
What is the Houdini decluttering method?
This decluttering method really is a simple one. You can do the initial task in mere minutes, but the results may take a little longer to take shape - I promise it’s worth it, though. Gather items from around your home that you’re keeping “just in case”. Then, placing those items in a clearly labelled box, bag or container, and move them somewhere out of sight.
Write a review date on the container, such as one, three or six months later. If you need something during that time, retrieve it and make a note of why. Anything left untouched by the review date can then be donated, recycled or disposed of. Because, clearly, it's not actually serving a purpose in your home.
The “Houdini” name comes from the idea that the clutter performs a disappearing act. Rather than continuing to occupy prime space in your home, it vanishes from view so you can test whether it is actually needed. The method is not about simply hiding your clutter, that would be too easy, it’s about making yourself more aware of the items you actually use day to day - and subsequently - the ones you don’t.
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How to use the Houdini method in your home
Step 1. Choose a small area
Start with one drawer, shelf, cupboard or corner rather than attempting to tackle an entire room. This keeps the method quick, manageable, less daunting and makes it easier to identify the types of things you are repeatedly keeping “just in case”.
Good starting points include:
- The miscellaneous kitchen drawer
- The cupboard beneath the sink
- A bathroom storage box
- The cable and charger drawer
- The wardrobe
- The hallway cupboard
- A box of old craft or DIY supplies
Step 2. Pull out the clutter
I feel as though we all know what I mean by “just in case” clutter. The items that are not used regularly but are kept for a possible situation in the future. You might be saving it for an undefined special occasion, but if it’s not being used, it’s not serving a purpose and it’s just clogging your space.
Examples to look out for:
- Duplicate utensils and kitchen gadgets
- Cables for devices you no longer own
- Clothes in the wrong size
- Old gift bags and boxes
- Spare toiletries you don’t actually like
- Random screws, brackets and fittings
- Extra mugs, water bottles, tupperware or lunchboxes
- Items kept because they were expensive, rather than useful
Avoid including anything needed for emergencies, essential repairs, medical purposes or genuinely seasonal use. Not everything is clutter.
Step 3. Ask whether you would notice its absence
Before putting something into the Houdini box, ask yourself some questions. Have I used this in the last year? Would I look for this specifically if it disappeared? Do I know exactly what future situation I am saving it for? How easy would it be to replace it?
It’s natural when decluttering to fear being wasteful or to regret giving something away. So asking yourself a couple of key questions should help ease those concerns and make the process much easier. Items with a clear, realistic purpose should not automatically go into the box. The method is for uncertain clutter, not things you already know you need.
Step 4. Create your Houdini box
Place the uncertain items into a sturdy box, bag or lidded container. Label it with the date it was packed, the date it will be reviewed and the room or category it came from.
Do not use the Houdini method as an excuse to create a permanent “maybe” box. Give yourself a defined deadline and make it realistic. One month may be enough for everyday items, while seasonal or specialist belongings may need three to six months.
Step 5. Move it out of your active space
Let’s not turn lots of little bits of visual clutter into one giant heap. Store the box somewhere accessible but inconvenient, such as a loft, garage, high shelf or the back of a storage cupboard. The aim is to remove the visual noise and prevent yourself from casually putting everything back. Don’t place it somewhere so inaccessible that you forget about the review date entirely though. We want it out of sight, but not totally out of mind.
Step 6. Keep a retrieval list
This is an essential step for determining the fate of the items come the deadline day. If you take something out of the box, write down what it was and why you needed it. This stops the method relying on vague feelings and gives you evidence about what you actually use. You may discover that you only needed one item from a box of 20. That item can return to its proper home, while the rest can leave.
Step 7. Complete the disappearing act
When the review date arrives, deal with the box in one sitting. Anything untouched can be donated, recycled, sold or disposed of, depending on its condition. Be practical and be honest. The method relies on your ability to follow its rules. Try not to feel bad about parting ways with items. After all, the evidence shows you don’t need it.
The Houdini method is not about pretending clutter has disappeared. It is a short-term experiment that uses an evidence-led system that lets your everyday life reveal what you really need, and what you really don’t. Used properly, it gives “just in case” items a deadline rather than an open-ended stay in your home.
