We all know how overwhelming clutter can be. It can cause stress, decrease productivity, and generally make us feel out of control. But what if you’re so busy that you just can’t find the time to tackle your cluttered spaces?
Fear not, we’ve got you covered! Below are 17 quick and easy decluttering tasks that you can do, even when you’re short on time. Each task should take you around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can easily squeeze them into your busy schedule and still make a noticeable impact.
1. Clean Out Your Junk Drawer
We all have that one drawer that becomes a catch-all for everything we don’t have a place for. Take 15 minutes to empty it out, throw away or recycle any trash, and sort the rest into categories. If you don’t need it, don’t be afraid to get rid of it.
Once everything is sorted, consider using small containers or dividers to keep similar items together. This will help make it easier to find what you need in the future and prevent the drawer from becoming cluttered again.
2. Sort Through Your Mail
Mail has a way of piling up quickly, especially if you aren’t diligent about going through it regularly. Allocate 10 minutes to sort through your mail. Recycle any junk mail immediately and set aside bills or important letters in a specific spot to be taken care of later.
To keep your mail from piling up in the future, consider switching to paperless billing or unsubscribing from catalogs or newsletters that you don’t read.
3. Weed Out Your Wardrobe
Take 15 minutes to go through your wardrobe and pull out any items that you haven’t worn in the last year. If it doesn’t fit, if you don’t love it, or if it’s worn out, it’s time to let it go.
Donate items that are still in good condition to a local charity or consider selling them online. You’ll not only declutter your wardrobe but you might also make a little extra cash.
4. Clear Your Kitchen Counters
Kitchen counters can become a dumping ground for all sorts of items. Spend 10 minutes clearing off your counters and putting things back where they belong.
If you find that items don’t have a designated home, consider creating one. Having a specific place for everything will keep your counters clear and make your kitchen more functional.
5. Tidy Up Your Desktop
A cluttered computer desktop can be just as stressful as a cluttered physical space. Take 15 minutes to delete any files you no longer need and organize the rest into folders.
Consider using a desktop wallpaper with designated areas for different types of files to help keep things organized.
6. Purge Your Pantry
Take 15 minutes to go through your pantry and throw away any expired food. Organize the rest by category and make a note of any staples you’re running low on.
A well-organized pantry will make meal planning and grocery shopping easier and more efficient.
7. Organize Your Bathroom
Bathrooms can become cluttered with half-used products and outdated medications. Spend 15 minutes purging and organizing your bathroom.
Dispose of any expired medications properly (not by flushing them down the toilet) and consider donating unused toiletries to a local shelter.
8. Sort Through Your Shoes
Just like with your wardrobe, take 15 minutes to go through your shoes. Donate any pairs that are still in good condition but that you no longer wear, and toss any that are worn out.
A shoe rack or over-the-door organizer can help keep your shoes organized and easy to find.
9. Declutter Your Digital Photos
Digital photos can pile up quickly and become overwhelming. Spend 15 minutes deleting any duplicates or blurry photos and organize the rest into albums.
Regularly decluttering your digital photos will make it easier to find your favorite memories when you want to look back on them.
10. Clear Out Your Car
Cars can become a second home, filled with everything from receipts to clothes. Take 15 minutes to clear out any trash or unnecessary items from your car.
Keeping a small trash bag in your car can help prevent clutter in the future.
11. Organize Your Handbag or Wallet
Cleaning out your handbag or wallet can make everyday tasks like paying for items or finding your keys easier. Spend 10 minutes getting rid of any trash and organizing the rest.
Regularly decluttering your handbag or wallet can also prevent you from carrying around unnecessary weight.
12. Empty Your Inbox
Emails can pile up quickly, especially if you’re subscribed to newsletters or promotional emails. Take 15 minutes to delete any unnecessary emails and organize the rest into folders.
Unsubscribing from newsletters or promotional emails that you don’t read can help keep your inbox clutter-free in the future.
13. Declutter Your Social Media
Social media can be a source of digital clutter. Spend 15 minutes unfollowing any accounts that no longer serve you or that cause you stress.
Remember, social media should be a source of joy, not stress. Don’t be afraid to curate your feeds to reflect this.
14. Purge Your Bookshelf
Books can take up a lot of space and gather dust if they’re not being read. Spend 15 minutes going through your books and deciding which ones you can let go of.
Consider donating your books to a local library or school, or sell them online.
15. Clean Up Your Craft Supplies
Craft supplies can easily become cluttered and disorganized. Spend 15 minutes organizing your supplies and getting rid of any items that are broken or that you no longer need.
Consider using storage solutions like bins or drawer organizers to keep your supplies organized and easy to find.
16. Organize Your Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies can become cluttered and disorganized, making it difficult to find what you need when you need it. Spend 15 minutes organizing your supplies and getting rid of any products that are empty or that you no longer use.
Consider using a cleaning caddy to keep your supplies organized and portable.
17. Declutter Your Refrigerator
Old leftovers and expired condiments can take up valuable space in your refrigerator. Spend 15 minutes clearing out any old food and organizing the rest.
Regularly decluttering your refrigerator will not only make cooking and meal planning easier but also prevent unpleasant odors.