{30} Things to Declutter

by Mandi on March 27, 2012

Mandi Ehman

I am counting down the days to my 30th birthday, and I couldn’t be more excited! Truly! As I was brainstorming ways to celebrate here on the blog, I couldn’t help but think that 30 lists of {30} items would be just about perfect for my type-A, list-making self. Join me for the next month as I share the things I’ve learned in the past 30 years and my hopes for the future! See all 30 Days of {30} posts here.

Since Life Your Way began as Organizing Your Way, I thought we’d dive right in with an organizing post next. As you know, I’m a huge advocate of decluttering your space to make time and room for the things that matter most. I’m not sure I’d call myself a minimalist just yet (although people who have been to my home do!), but I do believe that having less stuff is always better than having more!

30-days-of-30

Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of 30 things to declutter:

1. Books?! (Or not…)

2. Clothes.

3. Children’s clothes.

4. Shoes.

5. Magazines.

6. Small appliances in your kitchen.

7. Puzzles and games.

8. Toys.

9. Free samples and half-used toiletries.

10. Craft supplies.

11. Old food & spices.

12. Kitchen tools.

13. Seasonal decor.

14. Knick knacks.

15. Anything that’s been in storage for more than six months.

16. Outdoor toys.

17. Warranty manuals.

18. DVDs and CDs.

19. Extra cords and plugs.

20. Jewelry.

21. Children’s art.

22. Sports equipment and gear.

23. Coupons.

24. Extra sheet sets.

25. Your purse.

26. Junk drawer.

27. Lost socks.

28. Sentimental items.

29. Cookbooks.

30. Baby clothes and gear.

What else would you add to this list?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Francis X. Perlmutter

Those relatives in comas who are lying around on couches and in the overstuffed chairs

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

LOL, that made me laugh!

Amy

Oh yes! Get rid of it! My father passed away recently and he was a bit of a hoarder. He grew up when times were tough and spent many years as a missionary in a country where some things were hard to come by and old habits die hard, I guess. My point is though that I really don’t want to burden my family with so much “stuff” to deal with when I’m gone. I ran across this verse in the Bible this morning, it’s a good reminder: Matt 12:15 “…be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

So true, Amy — I don’t want clutter to be my legacy!

Bdschmidt

Get rid of old cell phones and computers.Clean yor computer cache.Clean up your address book.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

Great additions — thanks!

Debbie

I keep my addresses in a file box like you would use for recipes. I got the alphabet dividers for it too. It makes it easy to look up the names and numbers. Someone moves, just add their new address on a new card and dispose of the old one. I can’t seem to make myself get rid of my Mom’s card though. She’s been gone since November of 2007. Some things are just hard.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

Awww, Debbie — I’m so sorry for your loss.

(Sounds like a great system, though — thanks for sharing!)

CKentner

Please remember as you declutter to think of the places you can donate items to. I do a huge declutter on my house every six months and spend a week delivering items to places that accept them. Cell phones go to the womans shelter, bottles from toiletries get rinsed out and donated to a non profit that turns them in to Terracycle, books go to a non profit for their annual book sale, clothes go to any of the Goodwill or Salvation Army type places in my town. I declutter to keep my life organized and easy but want to help as many as possible in the process, check with schools, churches and local non profits to see what they are collecting before you clean, it makes it easier to sort.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

Great reminder! I also love sharing them with friends and family!

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MDeb50

Old bills from the year before. Time to have a shredding party! sometimes they accumulate for several years before you even think to shred them!