30 in 30 | How to Simplify the Clutter!

I have come across a lot of very helpful lists of how to clean and organize all of the spaces in your life. I have also come across several blogs of how to remix your wardrobe to get the most use of the items you have & “shop your closet” (like the 30×30 challenge I posted about here & will be doing here soon!). So I thought I would combine all of things I have seen into something of my own playing off of the number 30 to keep us with just one number to remember. Thus the “30 in 30” title. I propose 30 steps/tasks to de-clutter your life in 30 days. Why? Because I love lists and having a detailed one to cross out as I go just makes me a happy camper. That way, in one month, you can complete an overall on de-cluttering your life with minimal stress! This is simply a guideline to keep me on track. It may take you longer given your schedule. Or you may be able to complete it in fewer days. Whatever your timing, make it work for you!

Here is my list for our seemingly not so small space. You may need to expand to include more rooms, cut down days for some rooms, or just make your own from scratch! When going through each room, make three piles as you go of items you don’t want to keep in the room…
SELL: depending on the item, you could sell online, a consignment store, or a clothing resale like Plato’s Closet. This is an easy way to may a few bucks for stuff that is still fantastic.
DONATE: items that are still useable, but a little more loved go here. Also any items that didn’t sell will return to this pile. GoodWill or local shelters are great places to head with these.
TRASH: these items are just plain garbage. Broken items, old tissues, outgrown undergarments…you get the idea. Find a giant dumpster and say goodbye.

Check out the short list below. For a more detailed explanation, continue reading for the breakdown!

1. Hallways 
   • take any stray items to the rooms they belong in – love the idea of a basket with a label for each family members room on the stairs to help with this!
2. Kitchen Counters
   • Clean, disinfect, rearrange and keep it simple. Only leave out what you need so you have space to utilize the counters for cooking!
3. Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers
   • Arrange plates and bowls so you can easily access what you use the most, leaving the hard to reach spots for items that only come out once in a while.
   • Arrange drawers to hold utensils for cooking and serving close to the stove, leaving dining utensils elsewhere
4. Kitchen Fridge
   • Throw away any outdated items, clean the shelves and drawers, and organize smartly.
   • Check out Real Simple’s Guide on how to organize
5. Pantry
   • Throw away any outdated or stale items, group like items together, and use containers with labels & old jars to your advantage!
   • I always save salsa and pasta sauce jars, run them through the dishwasher to clean and remove the tag. These are great for storing (and keeping fresh) flours, sugars, and other go to items.
6. Laundry Room
   • Clean out lint, wipe down machines, consolidate detergents, and organize baskets.
   • Now is the perfect time to try a homemade Laundry Detergent too – see here
7. Office
   • clean out your drawers and throw away/shred anything you don’t need
   • organize all paperwork (check out my manual/instruction book binder here)
8. Office
   • Organize all cords (check out my DIY here)
   • Minimize used desk space to be able to have a place to work
9. Living Room
   • Clean all surfaces, fluff pillows and throws, vacuum
10. Living Room
    • revive decor, decide on layout, and change if needed
11. Bookshelves
    • Organize by genre, color (whatever), add flare, and make a stack of books you have no desire to read, didn’t like, or are ripped to shreds.
    • You bookshelf actually gives a guest a look into who you are – make sure this reflects what you actually like!
12. Entertainment Center
    • Like your bookshelves, your movies tell a lot about you too – do the same here.
13. Dining Room
    • Tidy up, make sure displays are done well, and get rid of clutter. This room is to be elegant.
    • Decorate your table either by season or with something classic. Make a statement.
14. Hallway Closet (s)
    • Organize like items together. I have an old bookshelf in one with baskets to hold all sorts of odds and ends.
    • Shelves on the wall are also a great (and easy) fix to closet that only have a hanging rod.
15. Coat Closet
    • If you have more than one coat for each season, seriously think of downsizing. It makes life so much easier when you have one or two “go to” options rather than too many items that you end up never wearing.
    • And even more importantly, especially if you live somewhere cold, that coat you donate to a shelter may very well be the only coat they have. Something to think about.
16. Porch/Balcony
    • Sweep! Especially if you have a grill (or a smoker, charcoal grill, etc.). Bring any grilling utensils inside to be cleaned, and reposition items.
17. Outside Storage Closet
    • Chances are, if you’re like me, this is stuffed with items you used on one vacation, coolers from friends who left them, and a bunch of junk – now’s the time to return those items!
18. Guest Bathroom
    • Don’t forget to clean the toilet bowl! And if your cat’s litter box & food reside here, maybe light a candle or too after a thorough clean sweep. (Side note: Liter Genie is the best  product there is. Seriously, I can’t stop talking about how amazing it is. TRY IT!) 
19. Guest Room
    • If it has a bed, it’s not a storage unit. It should resemble a bedroom. Not saying you can’t multitask the space and have it double as an office. Just that you should be able to see the desk. Or bed. And especially the floor.
    • Always have clean sheets, at least one empty drawer, and a semi neat guest space. You never who may drop in to stay and the last thing you need when you have an unexpected (or short notice) guest is a panic attack from how disastrous the space is.
20. Guest Room Drawers
    • This is a great place to store sheets if you don’t have a linen closet.
    • Also, out of season clothes can live here to free up space in your closet if need be.
21. Guest Room Closet
    • This can be your storage space! Just make sure you can get to everything. Boxes and baskets are great for this.
    • Adding shelves under the one hanging bar is perfect to utilize the empty space.
    • Always leave room for a handful of hanging items for visitors.
22. Master Bathroom
    • This should be your sanctuary! You start and end your day here so it needs to be a retreat and make you happy.
    • Reorganize for efficiency if needed, remove clutter from dresser tops.
23. Master Bedroom
    • Add a hamper near your bathroom to make laundry quick and easy.
    • If you have staple jewelry you wear every day, having a fun bowl on your dresser makes for cute decoration and a great place to hold those items for easy access. Mine is from Africa from a dear friend and always makes me smile.
24. Master Bedroom Drawers
    • Fold items to be able to see each one. Especially t-shirts and bras. Use the Victoria’s Secret way and stack straps down, underwire up. HUGE difference.
    • Roll socks so they stay together and keep like items together, with the items you use most in the higher drawers.
25. Master Bedroom Closet 
    • Time to purge! Now more than ever you need to make those three piles. The best way to start is by searching for ripped, stained, or otherwise ruined items.
    • Next, go by size/fit. It it doesn’t fit, it goes. Too big, too small, doesn’t matter. Whether you still love it or not, say goodbye.
      • As women we NEED to hear this. You most likely are not the same size you were in highschool. And if you are, your body has certainly changed and your shape is likely different even if you weigh the same. THIS IS OK!
      • Don’t keep something thats too small thinking it will be motivation to loose weight – all it will do is taunt you and make you feel bad about your body!
      • Don’t keep something that’s too big “just in case” you gain weight again so you don’t have to re-buy a wardrobe – this will only justify any weight you do gain and actually could lead to a self-fufilling prophecy!
    • Ok, now that we’ve covered that – let’s move on to style. Go through the remaining items that fit and decide what to keep. 
      • Lists of essential items (like this one from Real Simple) are great starting off points. 
      • The older you get, go for quality over quantity. 
      • Only keep it if you feel great in it (not the idea of it or what it should be).
      • Just because you can wear  that shirt from middle school, or those pants from high school, or even that dress from undergrad doesn’t mean you should keep it simply because it fits.  Chances are something you donned back then is not in style anymore. Celebrate it’s past glory days, come to grips with it, and move on.
      • Don’t keep things just for sentimental value – if you’re not going to wear it, but love the memory, think of a way to repurpose it via a craft (I would love to share ideas!)
    • Simply duplicates to singles – who needs 3 white button ups?
    • Organize the remaining items by sleeve length, type, color, whatever makes you happy!
      • Shoot me a message if you’re interested in the way I organize my clothes & accessories – I would love to share!
26. Master Bedroom Closet
    • Finish whatever you didn’t in the first go around.
    • Do the same with your jewelry, scarves, and other accessories.
    • Repeat with the husbands stuff – this will be much easier! – just make sure he helps & has a say 🙂 After I did my stuff, Glenn organized his stuff his own way and loves it – and initiated the overall on his own! Makes putting up laundry a cinch.
27. Sell
    • Take the stash of items you’re ready to part with, but think could sell. This is generally reserved for more up-scale items that you simply don’t want anymore.  Make sure everything is in good shape before you go, and find a place to make some extra cash.
28. Donate
    • Take all of the bags you’ve been filling, all the stuff that didn’t sell, and find a Goodwill or somewhere to give those items a new life for someone else who can use them
29. Trash
    • Take that pile of bags that has been building up over the past 20 something steps, find a dumpster, dig a hole and burn it, just get rid of all that junk that has been weighing you down.
30. Enjoy your new organized home!
    • Perhaps the most important step of all. Be proud of your work & just enjoy the work. Drag your husband around to show him everything you’ve done, pop a bottle of champagne, and invite some friends over to celebrate in this new accomplishment!