100 Things to Declutter - today! — Find Your Gold Home Organizing

We have been decluttering for several years and it is STILL the simplest, quickest and easiest way to a more peaceful home.

If you are looking for some ideas and inspiration of where to get started - or how to go even deeper - then you’re in the right spot.

Welcome :))

Choose the ones that make the most sense for you. And then keep going! xo

1) Rubber Bands: Junk drawers are one of the most satisfyingggg spots to start. Paperclips, twist ties and safety pins also fall under this category.

2) Pens: They are always everywhere….until you need one. Ditch any that don’t work and compile all the rest into one or two designated spots.

3) Hair Accessories: Elastics, headbands, clips, bows, bobby pins, all of it!

4) Magazines: Sit down and decide if you’re going to read them, keep your favourite articles, pass along to a friend, donate or recycle.

5) T-Shirts & Tank Tops: I have separated clothing by category because tackling the entire wardrobe at once is usually a daunting project.

6) Laundry Room: If the whole room is too much, start with one shelf.

7) Digital Photos: A rule of thumb for photos is whether I would want to print them. If not, they’re gone!

8) Craft Supplies: Paper, markers, pencil crayons, glue, glitter, paint, paint brushes, colouring books, pipe cleaners, etc. etc.

9) Party Supplies: If your youngest child is six, it’s time to let go of the candle in the shape of a two :) Look for: paper napkins, candles, old decor, balloons, paper plates, plastic utensils and paper or plastic cups.

10) Emails: Get rid of any junk, newsletters, old delivery tracking updates, and pretty much anything that is unopened :)

**11) Small Kitchen Appliances**

Consider crock pots, blenders, toaster ovens - all those appliances that you thought you would use, but never do. Or duplicates that you no longer use.

12) Towels: Beach towels + bath towels - decide how many you need per person and go from there. It’s probably less than you think.

13) Adult Books: Go through that pile stacked up on the bedside table, on the bookshelf in the living room or still boxed up in the basement. Keep your absolute favourites - and ideally, display them. Books can be such pretty decor.

14) Greeting Cords: Recent ones AND ones you’ve got tucked away. If you decide to keep a stack, decide on a specific location where they will live.

15) Indoor Toys: Last year we brought every toy we owned into the living room and let each kid fill a box with their favourites. The rest were passed along - they didn’t miss a thing. There is no right or wrong way to sort toys - you do you!

16) Outdoor Toys: We typically address this category every spring and fall. But there is never a wrong time to declutter :)

I have a video on toy organization if you’re looking for specific tips :)

17) Tupperware: My rule of thumb for containers is that if we are not running low at any point in the week, then we have more than we need.

**18) Spices**

Check expiration dates and be realistic about what you are actually cooking at this stage. This is a fun one to dress up with matching containers and labels but the main goal is to slim down your collection to **what you actually USE**.

19) Board Games: This one includes playing cards and puzzles. Check for missing pieces or cards and repair ripped boxes.

20) Old Tech Equipment: Old laptops, cell phones, DVD players, radios, etc. This also includes old boxes/packaging from these purchases - you don’t need the box!

21) Blankets: These tend to accumulate quickly. Check the pile in your living room, the linen closet, bedroom closets, basements, storage, etc. Keep the coziest, most loved and most frequently used.

22) Freezer: Tossing food can be painful. But if you’re never going to eat it, rip off the band aid and make room for your family favourites.

23) Medicine Cupboard: Look for anything expired + prescription meds that are done their course.

24) Shoes & Boots: My favourite strategy for footwear is to create one huge pile of everything you currently own. Having a visual always assists the process :)

25) Pants (adults): How many jeans do you own vs how many jeans do you actually wear?! Also consider, leggings, jogging pants, dress pants, and those tear away pants from 1999.

26) Kid Clothes: This one can be a biggie. Try to break it down in categories that make sense for you, e.g. by season, by child, by drawer. I have a video on kids’ clothes if you need some extra inspo.

27) Wine Glasses: Not all wine glasses are created equal - if you know, you know ;)

**28) Mugs**

We personally have one mug per person (the kids get one each, for hot chocolate nights), but choose a number you’re comfortable with and let the rest go.

29) Hobby/Sports Equipment: It’s winter in Canada right now so skating and hockey is top on our list at the moment, but other categories might include: basketball, baseball, hunting equipment, kids’ items that are outgrown, hobbies you’ll never do again - be a realistic, be ruthless.

37) Bed Linens: Top sheets, fitted sheets and pillow slips. Do you have one set per bed or do you like to have a spare? Either one works, just remember to only keep which ones are being used regularly.

31) Pillows: This one includes sleeping pillows AND throw pillows.

32) Tea Towels: If you got them 6 months ago and they still have the tags on them, maybe it’s time to pass along to a friend. Or those ones that just never dried properly?! You know which ones I mean. Let ‘em go!

33) Movies: If you still have that stash of DVDs or Blu-rays, go grab them and start ‘a sortin’ !

34) Hand Towels/Face Cloths: Small towels/cloths that are no longer fit for the bathroom can be cut up and used for cleaning or dish cloths. Waste not, want not :)

35) Mitts/Gloves: If you want to keep some back-ups for last-minute-lost-mitt-emergencies, try storing them away from the ‘everyday’ basket. Having to set through 10 pairs every morning gets old, fast.

36) Hats: Summer AND winter. Whether you call them toques or winter hats, same rules apply. And if baseball hats are popular in your home, find a specific location to store them once they’ve been simplified.

37) Photographs: The real ones. Easiest to dispose of: repeats, anything out of focus or anything that doesn’t have an actual human in it.

**38) Paperwork**

Not gonna lie, this one can be a biggie. Watching TV while you do it, usually helps. That pile of bank statements from 2011 is calling your name.

39) Under the Kitchen Sink: First step on this one is take take everything out and wipe down. Soooo much stickiness. And then be honest with yourself about what you put back in.

40) Tablecloths: Plastic, paper or fabric, assess them all. There is no shame in donating a disposable table cloth from the dollar store because you overbought for a party 3 years ago. Someone else’s kid will love the Paw Patrol theme.

41) Bath Mats: If you didn’t already do this under our towel category, go check out your collection.

42) Paint: Check for cans that are nearly empty and/or dried out. If you’re keeping anything, make sure they are labeled with the colour info and what room you used it in.

43) Lightbulbs & Batteries: Make sure you dispose of these ones safely.

**44) Pantry**

This one can be a lot. One way to kick off a pantry clear-out is a “$30 grocery week”. Most homes have enough food in their pantry and freezer to live off of for one week (with an extra $30 worth of fresh items to supplement). If you try it, let me know how it goes :)

45) Bakeware: Cookie sheets, cake plates, muffin trays, loaf pans, etc.

46) Make-Up: This is also a great time to clean your bag and brushes.

47) Bathroom Cupboards: Everything that hasn’t already been covered in categories above. Think: sunscreen, face wash, hand soap that your mother-in-law gave you three years ago that you still haven’t opened.

48) Jewellery: Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, nose rings, toe rings, belly button rings - whatever your flavour, do a good clean sweep.

Ok - get ready for a bunch of clothing categories…

49) Belts: Two questions: does it fit and do you wear it?

50) Ties: The purple paisley from prom can go. Take my word for it.

51) Sweaters/Sweatshirts: Wool ones, cotton ones, old ones, new ones. Give your drawer a good, honest assessment.

52) Dresses: If you have five formal dresses and don’t have a wedding in sight, maybe it’s time to pass some along….

53) Coats/Jackets: Running jackets, spring coats, rain coats, fall coats, winter jackets, dress coats - this is another fun category for putting all items in one big pile to help with the editing.

54) PJs: I personally have one summer pair and one winter pair. But if jammies are your thing, maybe you want a few more. Just make sure that you are actually wearing the ones you keep.

55) Workout Clothing: Instead of being hard on yourself for not working out enough, choose the ones that make you feel like a rockstar and make you actually want to wear them. Because you ARE a rockstar xo

56) Nylons: Including this category for all my fellow dress-wearers out there.

Clothing can feel like a **LOT.**

For more specific wardrobe tips check out this post.

57) Stuffed Animals: Don’t even get me started…. pretend one of your kids just got head lice and it’s spread into every stuffy you own. BOOM.

58) Lego: We haven’t hit this phase in our house yet but I know that for lots of families this deserves an entire category. And maybe an entire day.

59) Seasonal Decor: Simplest is to do this at the start or end of each season/holiday.

60) Kid Books: This is a great category to let the kids help with.

61) Travel Mugs: If they don't fit into your car cupholder, don’t keep coffee hot, or you just have 10 too many, let them go!

62) Water Bottles: Same rules as travel mugs.

63) Mail: Mainly, the unopened pile sitting somewhere near your kitchen ;)

64) The Front Foyer: This can easily become a catch-up area. A quick re-set can make the whole house seem more peaceful.

65) Mixing Bowls: Ask yourself: How many can I use at one time?!?

66) Plates & Bowls: These are the everyday dishes that the whole family uses for most meals.

67) Serving Dishes/Platters: There is almost always at least one serving platter too many in the cupboard.

68) Vases: Ask yourself: How often do you have fresh flowers in the house?

69) Exercise Gear: I’m talking about; yoga mats, weights, treadmills, that ab roller in the basement…all of it!

70) Sports Jerseys: Whyyy??? Oh sorry. My thoughts on jerseys are that they are meant to be worn or put on display. If they are just sitting in a tote, are they really being loved??

71) Things to Return: Did your son refuse to put on the running shoes you got him so you plan on returning them but haven’t go around to it yet? Today is the day.

72) Liquor Cabinet: Time to say good bye to all those free peach schnapps testers that you are never going to drink.

73) Pots & Pans: And lids too!

74) Utensils: Small AND large. Start with your everyday utensils and then move into potato mashers, ladles and allll the knives.

**75) Hall Closet**

If you’ve' already done hats, coats and footwear, this shouldn't be too bad. Look for umbrellas and any miscellaneous items.

76) Everyday Decor: Your mantel is FULL of knick knacks. Do you still love them all? Do any of them drive you nuts? Repeat this for all decor items in the house.

77) Furniture: Having too many flat surfaces can often lead to clutter. Are there any pieces in your home that don’t really serve a function other than collecting last month’s mail?

78) Coasters: Are these still a thing??

79) Scarves: The cozy ones + the fancy ones.

80) The Guest Bathroom: Sometimes ‘extra’ bathrooms can become dumping grounds for miscellaneous. This one should be fairly quick.

81) Tools: This category is not my expertise but I know for a fact that every home in North America needs to declutter their tools. (source: me)

82) Seasonal Equipment: Shovels, bags of old grass seed, gardening gloves, rakes, patio furniture - basically anything in your garage or shed. This one can be profitable if you’re in the mood to sell.

83) Eyewear: Both sunglasses and prescription glasses. These might be hiding in some weird places. Gather them all together before you make decisions.

84) Cleaning Products: Also not my expertise, but my guess is that 90% of homes have a Swiffer they don’t use.

85) Office Space: This can also be a biggie. Refer to advice under #38.

86) Beach/Pool Bag: Towels you missed during the towel category, excess swim suits, goggles, expired swim passes, swim diapers that no longer fit, etc.

87) Kids’ Artwork: If you keep one piece per year from kindergarten to grade 8 you will have 20 pieces. Sounds sort of perfect doesn’t it!?

88) Kids’ Sentimental Items: One box per child is usually perfect. This is a fun one :)

89) Other Sentimental Items: This is a very personal one. And depends what you include. I have one tote that holds photos and sentimental papers. The rest of our items are on display - an old piggy bank from my Dad, photos and some furniture. Take your time on this one.

90) Unopened Boxes: Anything in the basement that hasn’t been opened since you moved in? Let’s open them up!

91) Hand-me-Downs: With babies and small children, this can add up faaaaast. Try to sort any hand-me-downs as soon as you get them and only keep what you loooove. Store in a “next size up” bin for each child.

92) Bath Toys: Easiest way to control bath toys is to keep them in a small bin or basket and once it’s full, it’s full.

93) Umbrellas: Unless you live in Seattle or London, how many do you really need?

94) Candles: Burn them or if you hate the smell, pass on to your bestie.

95) Bedside Tables: A happy bedside table makes for a happy bedroom.

96) Your ‘to-sell’ pile: If you haven’t posted within one week of deciding you want to sell it then it goes in the donate pile.

97) Keys: If you don’t know what they open, they are no good to you.

98) Computer Files: Do you need an electronic copy of every essay you wrote in College?? You know what my answer is….

99) Anything that you are keeping for any reason other than you absolutely love it or use it.