365 WAYS TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOME IN 365 DAYS

Make this the year that you get clutter-free! Declutter your home and simplify your life one day and one project at a time with these 365 ways to declutter your home in 365 days.

MAKING A PLAN TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOME DAY BY DAY

This year, let’s get to grips with the clutter in your home and make a plan to tackle it head on. Follow my list of 365 ways to declutter your home in 365 days and you’ll make slow, but steady progress.

By the end of the year you’ll have a much more clutter-free home and an easier, simpler life!

Some of these 365 ways are quick and easy, others will take longer and require a bit more effort and planning. There’s no need to follow the order I’ve laid out so you can pick and choose your own order depending on what suits you and the time, energy and space you have available.

If you’re up for this 365 declutter challenge, just try to pick off one way each day. That’s 365 ways to a decluttered home and a decluttered life in 365 days!

Remember the saying that ‘no pain, no gain’? So, even though it seems like a long list (and it is!), just tick off one way each day and you’ll have a decluttered home and life that’s definitely worth the effort!

So, let’s get started…

To give you some further help and support, some of the ways I’ve listed are links to other resources I’ve written. Click these links if you need further information, support and it’s an area you need a little more help with.

365 WAYS TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOME IN 365 DAYS

Here are 365 ways to declutter your home in 365 days. Daily projects to help you tackle that clutter and keep it away!

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN JANUARY

1. Clothes you never wear that are just taking up space in your wardrobe
2. Damaged clothes that can’t be mended
3. Broken toys that can’t be repaired
4. Odd socks that don’t have a partner but you’ve been keeping for ages just in case they turn up
5. Pens without lids that have now dried up
6. Old magazines that you won’t read and can be recycled
7. Books you’ve never read and are unlikely to be read so they can be donated
8. Earrings that don’t have a pair
9. Broken jewellery that can’t be repaired and it’s time to let go of
10. Clothes that don’t fit and make you feel bad
11. Old diaries and calendars
12. Maternity clothes that you won’t use again
13. Towels that have holes
14. New Year Resolutions that don’t feel important enough to try to keep up
15. Towels that are threadbare and don’t dry you properly anymore
16. Bath products that you haven’t used in a year which you can use now or pass them on
17. Cosmetics that you haven’t used in months and you’re unlikely to ever use
18. Old nail varnish bottles that are nearly empty or you don’t like to wear
19. Extra sets of bed linen that you no longer need
20. Bed linen that is torn or worn and can be replaced if needed
21. Extra towels that you don’t need
22. Toys that your kids have outgrown
23. Kids’ clothes that are damaged or worn out
24. Jigsaw puzzles with pieces missing
25. Paints and play dough that your children don’t use any more
26. Apps on your phone you don’t use
27. Books you’ve read but will never read again and can now be donated
28. Your kids’ artwork that you’ve scanned or taken a photo of and don’t need to keep the original
29. Old journals that you wrote in but no longer want to keep
30. The contents of your bedside table
31. Kitchen gadgets you don’t use

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN FEBRUARY

1. Excess mugs you don’t use
2. Excess plates you don’t use
3. Excess knives, forks and other cutlery you don’t use
4. Facebook and Instagram friends you no longer keep up with
5. Food that’s stale or well past the expiry and use before date
6. Spices you never use
7. Serving dishes you never use
8. Stuff in the freezer that should’ve been used by now
9. Cleaning products you bought but never use
10. Scarves you never wear
11. Excess glassware you don’t use
12. Recorded programmes and series links for TV shows you don’t watch
13. Photos on the shelves you don’t really love
14. Ornaments on the shelves you don’t really like but still dust around
15. Anything on your bedside table that you don’t need for that night
16. Bath toys that your kids never use
17. Hair accessories your daughter never wears
18. Hair accessories that have bits missing or have lost their elasticity
19. Old completed notebooks that you no longer refer to
20. ‘Just in case’ items
21. Handbags you never use
22. Pieces of spare fabric that you never get around to using
23. Spare bits of gift wrap that you’ll never use
24. Old medicines that are past their expiry date and need to be replaced if you need them
25. Baby wipes that have dried up
26. Clothes hangers that you don’t use
27. Broken tools in the garage or shed
28. Garden tools that you never use

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN MARCH

1. DIY tools that have parts missing or don’t work
2. Arts and crafts supplies that you no longer use
3. Paint in your garage that’s been there for years
4. Broken outdoor toys
5. Flat footballs
6. Bicycles that your kids have outgrown
7. Old magazines
8. Pens that don’t work
9. Old DVDs you don’t watch
10. Stained clothes that are beyond repair and could be recycled
11. Old CDs that you don’t listen to
12. Instruction manuals for things you don’t have anymore
13. Pot plants that aren’t very well that you could give to a more green-fingered friend!
14. Paperwork that you don’t need to keep but haven’t gotten around to shredding or getting rid of
15. Cables, leads and wires for computers, printers etc that you no longer need
16. Tights with ladders
17. Socks with holes
18. Junk mail that comes through the post
19. Furniture that you don’t like but takes up space
20. Storage solutions that you don’t need but which tempt you to organise clutter
21. Plastic bottles and other recyclable items
22. Old newspapers
23. Ironing that needs to be done and you can get done now in just a few minutes
24. Bad odours by using air freshener or throwing open the windows every now and then
25. Negative thoughts that journaling or brain-dumping could help you overcome
26. Things you’ve been meaning to do that take less than 2 minutes and you could get them done now!
27. Too much screen time and scrolling on social media
28. Darkness by opening the curtains and letting in the light
29. Mess by keeping your home clutter-free and resetting it before bed every day
30. Clutter and stuff on the kitchen counters
31. Kitchen appliances you don’t use

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN APRIL

1. The contents of your partner’s wallet (with their agreement!)
2. Foreign currency you’re not likely to use
3. Stuff on the floor for clear access and flow through your home
4. Remove everything off the stairs – they’re not extra shelves!
5. Curtains that haven’t been washed in years – wash them!
6. Keys that you don’t know what they’re for
7. The contents of your purse
8. The contents of your handbag
9. Old remote controls you no longer use
10. Old perfumes that have gone stale
11. Dirt and dust by keeping up with some minimalist cleaning routines
12. Old aftershaves that have gone stale
13. Cufflinks that don’t have a pair
14. Scooters your kids never use
15. Bad habits that make you feel unhappy and/or unhealthy
16. Leaflets and flyers that come through your letterbox
17. The contents of your car
18. Your hallway/entrance way
19. Old mobile phones and accessories
20. Excess plastic bags
21. Damp when you could open the window and let in some fresh air
22. Anything on your calendar that you don’t want to do
23. Receipts you no longer need
24. Bank statements you no longer need
25. Debit and credit cards that have expired
26. Old glasses that you never wear
27. Nearly empty bottles from the bathroom
28. Things that you don’t love in your home
29. Home office stationery supplies that you don’t use or have duplicates of and don’t need
30. Glue that doesn’t stick anymore

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN MAY

1. Dead batteries
2. Your garage
3. Unused cookbooks
4. Food that you’re not likely to use
5. Storage containers that you’re not likely to use
6. Tupperware containers that don’t have lids
7. Shoes that your kids have outgrown
8. Baby stuff if you’re not going to have any more kids
9. Reference books if you can find the information on the internet
10. Old photos that you could scan and store in digital format
11. Photos that you needed to take at the time but no longer need to recall that memory or information
12. Hand-me down clothes that realistically you’re not likely to use or wear
13. Half-finished craft projects that your kids have forgotten about
14. Desktop icons on your pc that you no longer use
15. Your loft/attic
16. Your porch and front door so it’s welcoming for you and visitors
17. Fuzzy photos or duplicate photos that you don’t want to keep
18. Games on your phone that you don’t use
19. Air fresheners and room scents that are no longer smelling of anything
20. Newsletters that are no longer of interest and which you can unsubscribe from
21. Half-finished DIY projects which you can make a plan to get done
22. Your kitchen
23. Dead plants
24. Old paint/chemicals in your shed you never use
25. Broken garden furniture
26. Outdoor toys that aren’t played with anymore
27. Bedding that doesn’t fit any of the beds currently in your home
28. Light bulbs that don’t fit any of your lighting
29. Excess Christmas decorations that you don’t use
30. Greeting cards for past birthdays, anniversaries and other events that you’ve been keeping for sentimental reasons
31. Clothes that you don’t feel right in or are outside of your normal signature style

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN JUNE

1. Clothes that make you feel sad or depressed
2. Guarantees for products you no longer own or that have expired
3. First aid kit items that are past their expiry date
4. Fire extinguishers past their expiry date
5. Your evening routine and what you do before bed to wind down ready for sleep
6. Expired sunscreen that no longer protects you from the sun
7. Dirty laundry that should be washed
8. Ironing that needs to be done
9. Board games that your family never plays with
10. Old cameras you no longer use
11. Cushions that aren’t comfy, look nice or serve a purpose
12. Rugs that trip you up
13. Old maps because you have a sat nav
14. Old toothbrushes
15. Address books if you keep your contacts on your phone (and it’s backed up)
16. The cupboard under your kitchen sink
17. Your larder for out-of-date food or food you don’t like to cook with or eat
18. Cleaning products that you don’t use or like the smell of
19. Your time that feels like it slips away like water
20. Your family commitments that make you a 24/7 taxi service
21. Old travel guides and maps that are out of date or you’re not likely to need
22. Your wardrobe
23. Your home office
24. What you do in the mornings as part of a simple, but effective morning routine
25. Old candles that are too short to provide adequate light
26. Torches that are broken
27. Family heirlooms, memorabilia and other sentimental items to declutter
28. Things that bring back bad memories
29. Library books that you haven’t returned
30. Baby toys you’re never going to use again

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN JULY

1. Things that are under the sofa you’ve forgotten about or didn’t know were there!
2. Arguments that can be resolved through communication and compromise
3. Tension that arises through stressful situations, a bad work-life balance or other worries that you could create an action plan to deal with
4. Pet toys that have seen better days
5. Excess hats/gloves/scarfs
6. Your bathroom using this free Bathroom Declutter Checklist
7. Grime on windows
8. Pots in plants in the garden that need a bit of TLC
9. Feeling lonely when you could phone a friend, volunteer locally, join a book club or more
10. Car parts and accessories that you don’t need or don’t know how to use
11. Unused phonebooks
12. Unused fitness and home gym equipment that reminds you of how much you’re not using it!
13. Hallways and corridors that ideally need to be clear for people to pass by easily
14. Under stairs cupboard and storage spaces
15. Table linen, napkins and serving ware that you never use but takes up valuable space
16. Cardboard boxes that you don’t need and can be recycled
17. Kids’ furniture and highchairs you no longer need
18. Digital photos stored on your phone or computer
19. Doubles and duplicates of anything you only need one of
20. Goals that don’t align with your future plans
21. Mis-placed priorities that eat up your time, energy and other limited resources
22. Things that upset you when you could let them go and move on
23. Recipes you don’t use
24. Water bottles that you have multiples of or that leak
25. Kids’ cutlery you no longer need
26. The contents of your garden shed
27. General rubbish in the waste bins around your home
28. Take away menus
29. Product packaging
30. Old dressing up clothes your kids don’t wear
31. Plastic hangers from shops

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN AUGUST

1. Old make-up brushes and make up applicators
2. Old pillows that have lost shape, are uncomfortable, give you neck ache or are stained
3. The glove box of your car
4. Old mattresses that aren’t good for your back or are uncomfortable to sleep on
5. Kids that don’t do as they’re told (only joking!)
6. Things that bring you down so you can learn to find joy in the little things
7. Stuff that’s lurking under your bathroom sink
8. Tea towels that are too thin and worn to dry your dishes
9. Underwear that doesn’t fit your body properly
10. Sleepwear that you want to replace to feel good!
11. Unhealthy eating habits such as too many ready meals and other processed foods
12. Postal bills which you can swap for online ones
13. Opt out of marketing phone calls
14. All the drawers in your home
15. All the cupboards in your home
16. Uncared for flowerbeds that need weeding and tending
17. Loyalty cards in your purse for shops and places you don’t go to anymore
18. Sticker books and colouring books have been used up
19. Stuffed furry toys
20. Excess Lego
21. Kitchen utensils
22. Things that are stuck on the front of the fridge
23. Your noticeboard
24. Laundry room and laundry supplies
25. Tin foil, baking paper, cling film etc
26. Baking supplies
27. Clean laundry – put it away!
28. Excess blankets that might be cosy but add clutter too
29. General paper clutter that lies in piles around the home waiting for you to sort through it
30. Stationery supplies so you know what you’ve got and what you need to replace
31. Your home office desk so you can be productive and effective

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN SEPTEMBER

1. Shredded paper that needs to be disposed of
2. Your living room
3. Unwanted gifts that you can donate/recycle
4. Things that don’t add value in your home
5. Your space so your outer environment is relaxing, welcoming and calming
6. Your To Do list so it’s not a dumping ground for all your thoughts and stuff you have to remember
7. Your mind so you’re thinking clearly
8. TV programmes that you never watch and just waste your time
9. Unkind words that you later regret saying when you could have been kinder and gentler instead
10. Christmas presents you bought just in case
11. Feeling unmotivated through lack of confidence and self-esteem
12. Old mascara that’s past its best and could cause infection
13. Plasters that don’t stick anymore
14. Scissors that no longer cut
15. Computer accessories you don’t use or know how to use
16. Elastic bands that have built up randomly and you keep for those ‘just in case’ moments
17. Watches you no longer wear
18. Your self-care routine so it’s realistic, practical and enjoyable and fits around your life and lifestyle
19. Unhealthy snacks that are full of sugar and give you a quick energy rush which quickly subsides
20. Your morning beauty routine
21. Things that you don’t want in your home
22. Your evening beauty routine
23. The types of food you cook so you can eat simple healthy meals without stress
24. Smoking and other bad habits that aren’t healthy for your body or mind
25. Drinking too much alcohol and regretting it afterwards
26. Overthinking and over-analysing which clutters your mind and causes anxiety and other mental health problems
27. Your Christmas decorations
28. Spending too much so you stay within budget
29. Relationships that don’t serve you or aren’t based on mutual love, respect and support
30. Things that make you unhappy and replace them with things that make you happy instead

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN OCTOBER

1. Double-booking yourself with too many appointments that over-run
2. Keyrings you don’t need but you still carry around every day
3. Your kitchen junk drawer
4. The storage drawer under your bed and other sources of hidden clutter
5. Camping equipment if you’re not likely to go camping again and couldn’t borrow the items again if you needed to
6. Tools that you don’t use or know how to use
7. Paintbrushes and decorating supplies that are past their best or you can’t or won’t use
8. Things that you don’t really need and could give to charity to help others in need
9. Unwanted gifts that could be donated to others who might benefit from them more
10. Expired coupons and vouchers
11. Anything that you haven’t used in the last year apart from high value items it would be difficult or expensive to replace
12. Feeling inadequate when you have everything you need inside of wonderful, unique you
13. Pet supplies and pet medicines that are past their best or you don’t use
14. Seasonal clothes that could be put into storage
15. Stuff on top of the wardrobe that you’d forgotten about
16. Old school reports for the kids which you can scan and save electronically
17. Tax and VAT records that you’re no longer legally required to keep
18. Debt by sticking to a budget, keeping on top of your finances and getting help and support if you need it
19. Too many credit cards that take up space in your purse and tempt you to make impulse purchases you often later regret
20. Memberships to gym clubs that you took out but never use
21. Subscriptions you never use but still pay out for
22. Your time by decluttering your schedule, being less busy and more intentional with how you spend it
23. Things you purchased on impulse which seemed a good idea at the time but you never use
24. Bad memories and things that make you feel sad and upset
25. Any information that you can find on the internet if you need it
26. Time looking mindlessly at social media
27. Stuff that’s squashed into your wardrobe that you’d forgotten about
28. Hobby supplies you no longer use or get enjoyment from
29. Things that waste time in your day such as mindless scrolling of social media or losing things because you’re not organised
30. Cobwebs on the ceiling
31. Dust on the skirting board and in those difficult-to-reach places

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN NOVEMBER

1. Old greetings cards
2. Kitchen utensils you never use
3. The kids’ bedroom(s)
4. Empty glass jars you’ve held on to just in case
5. Spare buttons from clothes you no longer own
6. Concert or theatre programmes that you bought at the time but never looked at since
7. Holiday brochures and leaflets for which you can find the same information on the internet
8. Your kids’ school bags and the stuff that’s stuffed right at the bottom since the beginning of term
9. Things you used to collect but are now sitting in a box out of sight and out of mind
10. Valuable items you’ve been meaning to sell but haven’t
11. Plates with cracks
12. The spare room
13. Glasses with chips
14. Mugs with cracks and chips
15. Excess saucepans and lids
16. Roasting pans and trays that are rusty or damaged
17. That one thing on your To Do list that you never get around to doing (or you keep putting off)
18. The playroom
19. The corner or area of your home that’s never looked quite right and you want to change the décor or switch around the furniture
20. Window sills
21. Excess Halloween sweets you’re never going to eat (or shouldn’t eat!)
22. Flower vases you don’t like to look at or don’t support your cut flowers
23. Your partner’s shoes but only if they agree
24. Your kids’ shoes that don’t fit or they don’t like to wear
25. Invites, engagements and activities in your schedule that you don’t enjoy and don’t want to do
26. Blunt razors that need replacing because they don’t work well anymore
27. Your recycle bin on your computer which you can empty at the click of a button!
28. Fittings for the vacuum cleaner that you never use or don’t know how to use
29. All the TVs (try it for a month!)
30. The internet (is it even possible?!)

THINGS TO DECLUTTER IN DECEMBER

1. Lighting that’s too bright or hard
2. Colours in your home that you don’t love and feel right living with
3. Too many conflicting patterns and colours that busy the mind and make your home feel cluttered
4. Décor items that aren’t really to your taste but you move and dust around them anyway just out of habit
5. Old furniture that you’ve inherited or acquired that you don’t like
6. Paintings and pictures on your walls that you don’t love or like to look at
7. Photos that you don’t love to look at or mean something
8. Regret for things you haven’t done but you can still do if you put your mind to it!
9. The coffee table in your living room
10. The top of the fridge
11. Old notes that you no longer need but that you’ve kept lying around just in case
12. To Do lists that hang around not done but add pressure and weight to your cluttered mind
13. Random phone numbers in your phone or address book that you don’t know what or who they’re for
14. Baking trays and tins that have gone rusty
15. Your plans for Christmas that make you feel stressed out and unhappy
16. Exercise that’s too tough to fit in with family life so you put it off – walk daily instead
17. Empty beauty and bath product bottles that are sitting on the side of the bath
18. Old food in the fridge that’s stale and gone off
19. Mouldy fruit in the fruit bowl
20. Empty jars and bottles that have gone back into the fridge
21. Lipstick that doesn’t suit you, that you don’t wear or that’s past its best
22. Books your children have outgrown
23. ‘Bags for life’ that build up and you never get around to using
24. Shoes that don’t fit, feel uncomfortable or that you don’t wear
25. Bras that are misshapen, seen better days and no longer support you
26. Knickers that have gone grey and have holes
27. Your email inbox by deleted unwanted emails, actioning what needs to be dealt with archiving the rest
28. Toys in every room (try to keep one room that’s toy free)
29. Your contact list for friends and family so it’s current and correct
30. Emergency numbers that are out of date and obsolete
31. Your approach to life so you’re happy with a simple, easier, enjoyable life!

MAKE A START AND BUILD A DECLUTTERING HABIT

This is a really long list and it’s probably not possible for you to declutter everything on this list perfectly and completely. However, that’s not what successful and stress-free decluttering is all about.

Decluttering isn’t a job you do once and then forget about it. It’s something that requires ongoing maintenance. It’s also quite probable that every time you look at the inventory (the stuff) in your home, you’ll come to a different conclusion on whether it stays or goes. We change, life changes and the stuff we need and love can change too!

My aim with this list is to provide some ideas and raise your general awareness about what might be cluttering your home and life. Remember also that little steps to build a decluttering habit can add up to big clutter-free progress over the longer term!

RESOURCES ON DECLUTTERING

Here are some helpful articles and resources on decluttering which you might like:

• Hidden clutter spots and how to deal with them
• How to declutter fast
• How to declutter when you feel overwhelmed
• How to find the motivation to declutter
• What to do when you’re stuck in a decluttering rut
• Declutter Starter Kit – a free workbook to help you start decluttering your home, schedule, heart and mind.
• Simplify Your Home – a step-by-step decluttering guide and workbook to help you declutter your home room-by-room. Decluttering checklists, actionable steps plus plenty of expert tips to declutter your home, overcome obstacles and keep that clutter away for good!

DON’T MISS OUT!

I’m Antonia and on this blog I share practical inspiration to simplify your home, time and life. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest! You can also subscribe to Balance Through Simplicity and receive regular simplicity tips straight to your inbox for free. Make sure you never miss an article plus you’ll get a copy of my free Declutter Starter Kit as a welcome gift!