When I’m feeling overwhelmed with stuff (like, at the end of a loooooooong winter for example), there’s five go-to items in my home I can quickly declutter that instantly give me room to breathe. Of course, you may not have the same hoarding issues as me but if you do here’s a few things you can clear out in under an hour (total!) that will get you to a fresher, more spacious home almost instantly. So go grab some bags and let’s get decluttering!
1. Donate Wire Hangers
Most dry cleaners actually accept these for recycling, so if you have some piling up then grab a bag and donate them! It’s better to use sturdier hangers anyways, so also consider replacing wire hangers with higher end styles to extend the life of your clothes.
2. Recycle Plastic Bags & Cardboard
I try to use reusable bags, I REALLY DO, but every few months the pile of plastic starts to literally hang over my head as I continue stuffing them into my straining bag holder. Most grocery stores have a box where you can recycle plastic bags. Recycling them not only helps out the earth but also buys you extra space and piece of mind.
Another hoarding issue I have is with cardboard boxes. It’s like I’m afraid I’ll suddenly need to move. I also hang onto my kid’s shoe boxes, which either harkens back to my teacher days when we used them in the classroom or my unreasonable attachment to those teeny tiny shoes. It always frees up tons of space when I tear down my cardboard and recycle it– even if I do shed a tear or two at those adorable shoe boxes.
3. Tear Out & Recycle Magazines
We’ve been trying to go digital with our magazines but it’s a slow process. Plus I’ll admit it’s hard to read a magazine online while taking a bath. Not that I’ve tried. Probably. Anyways, I set aside about an hour every few months to go through my (ridiculous) pile and tear out the pages I want. Most magazines have their content and recipes online nowaways, so I can go online and pin them. If I can’t find it online, I’ll either save it in a binder or tack it up to my enormous bulletin board as an idea for inspiration. The rest of the magazines get recycled.
4. Donate Outgrown/Unloved Clothing
In each of my kids’ closets I have a bin just for outgrown clothes which makes decluttering them a cinch, but when I’m really in a frenzy I can always find more clothes to add. Did you use the hanger trick in my closet organization post? If so, go through and find those backward hangers. Most likely they belong to clothing you can donate. Take a quick peek into kids closets and dresser drawers, and I bet you’ll find a few things that won’t fit them anymore. BOOM– you have a bag of clothes to donate or hand down!
5. Toss Expired Food
Do you go through your pantry and fridge methodically each week to locate expired food and throw it away? Neither do I. I try to keep everything fresh but unless I pull it all out and look at every label I always miss some containers. Do this quickly by pulling out all the cans/ boxes/ etc. from an area, check the dates, and either put them back or toss them out as you replace them in the cabinet or fridge. No judgments, but if you’re like me you’re likely to find more than expected. 😉
Also, if I find food that ISN’T expired but I’m unlikely to make (when I switched to gluten free, for example) I gather up a bag and donate it to the food bank. This goes for UNUSED personal items too– if you’re a bargain shopper you may pick up items like shampoo and toothpaste for free– might as well declutter and donate the extras so it can go to a good place at the same time. WIN-WIN, am I right?
If you don’t have the same hoarding issues areas of clutter, here’s a few more that you can usually use a quick “weeding” instead:
- toys
- books
- shoes
- jackets
- kitchen utensils
- expired medicine
- expired beauty products or unwanted samples
- coupons
- paint cans
- craft supplies.
Now that you’ve cleared them out, make sure to immediately hop in the car and dispose of them! Don’t let empty bags and boxes take up physical (and mental) room in your home. It’s not worth it!
If you’re into decluttering, here’s a few more posts you’ll adore:
How to Make BIG BUCKS at Your Yard Sale
If you can’t decide whether something stays or goes, here’s a mantra to get you closer to a decluttered home:
Those are my top 5 quick clutter busters. How about you? What are your top 5 areas that you can quickly declutter?
Crystal says
All your tips are ones that I use. Our neighborhood does recycling so I am always recycling everything is that allowable. Great tips!
Alison says
In regards to magazines I recently started donating them. Take appropriate themed mags to different waiting rooms you’d go to anyhow. I somehow got an Allure subscription out of nowhere and I decided instead of recycling it I’d take it to my hair stylist’s salon. It may get read 75 times in a month! Or kids related mags to your Ped’s office, random themes to the dentist, etc.
Carrie Higgins says
Fantastic idea! I’ve Freecycled them in the past too, that’s a local network where you can list free stuff. Thanks for the tips, never thought of a doctor’s office or salon!
Sherry says
Everyday I wake up todays the day I am purging and some thing gets in the way. So I am going to spend 5 minutes today.
Rhonda says
Carrie, This is the kinda pick me up I was after. It’s like you stopped by my house earlier and went home with some helpful encouragement for me! I have been looking at those dry cleaner hangers forever. Nasty, dusty, and awful lot of them. After boxing them up, I feel like I won a $1000 bucks. It’s energizing.
Jennifer says
If you have a second hand store locally you could also take the hangers, both adult and child, plastic bags and possibly even the boxes to them if they are in need. I also take magazines to my daycare because the children love to look at the pictures. Also if you find extra clothes and toys the local second hand stores would probably love them. Or look into a local Veterans relief organization. Ask your local churches to see if there are families in need of any items that you could stand to get rid of. Giving to help others feels great. It feels awesome to clean out your house also!
Thanks,
Jennifer
Carrie Higgins says
Those are fantastic ideas, Jennifer. I forgot about donating to churches. I did that once with personal products; they had a closet for people who might need soap and such and I was happy to help them stock it!
Márcia Maiss says
I love your blog. I live in Brazil in the area with financial complications. We badly need donations of clothing and supplies for school. What can donate will receive good heart and divide between those in need. Can I send photos when we give things. Can be clothes and shoes for children, young people and even older people. We received no money, just isso.Os same school materials used are welcomed.
thank you
Marcia Maiss
Adress :
QR 122 conjunto B Lot 04
Santa Maria Norte
Brasilia – DF
Cep: 72548-377
Brazil
kay kerns says
Our local food bank needs paper and plastic bags
Cindy Briggs says
When I buy makeup at department stores, I frequently get a gift with purchase. The gift usually consists of a zippered cosmetic bag and nice samples of cleansers, moisturizers and makeup. Occasionally there is a small mirror or comb. I have donated these products to the local youth shelter and a shelter for victims of domestic violence. I hope these small things help give hope and self confidence to the women who receive them.
Stephanie says
If you have an Origins store in your area they usually have a box near the front where you can recycle old/unwanted/partially used beauty products so you don’t have to throw the bottles away.
http://www.origins.com/customer_service/aboutus.tmpl#/Commitment
Rashmi says
Aaah.. Finally someone I found who admits to hoard those plastic bags and cardboard boxes! I use reusable bags without any excuse ( there are days when I didn’t go grocery shopping because there were no reusable bags In the car!!) and I also use reusable veggie bags but still end up with so much plastic bags from all those packaging like electronics, 10-20 lb flour bags ETC and I feel bad for throwing them out into the world and keep thinking I can reuse somehow and same problem with the cardboard boxes!! This has helped me keep away from Anacon for sure ?
But now that we don’t have a storage closet in the patio and everything has to be out in the garage.. I’m going to let them go and put them in that recycle box ?
MARYANNE BENNETT says
I want to move out of my 2 bedroom mobile home into a senior community, the problem I am having is I am De-Junking or De-Cluttering the stuff I have and putting what I want to keep in boxes to take to my new home. And also putting in boxes what I do not want to keep! Hooray!!
The problem is that I want to have a yard sale and my mobile home park will not allow it. I would like to make some money on the things I do have. I do not know how to use e-bay or any of the other ones out there. Is there any thing you can think of that I can do to make some money. As a senior I have very little money and I want to move to where it is cheaper to live here in New Jersey.
I wouldn’t mind donating, but then I am not making any money. Also I have to get my house in order to show it. Right now I am cluttered with boxes in two rooms.
I want to rent “PODS” to store the stuff. But the complex does not want it there for a long time.
I am also disabled so getting things done quickly is a problem and getting people to help is also. I have no family around also.
I also need to paint and repair walls also.
please reply and thank you in advance – anything will help me.
Maria Tannen says
We donate plastic grocery bags to our local library. They use them for patrons who have too many books to carry out and don’t have anything to carry them out with.