Decluttering Cure 2024 - Tasks & Discussion

ApartmentTherapy · 2024-09-16T11:54:17+00:00

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Welcome to the first day of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! This free 14-day program will guide you on how to start decluttering your home, and by the end you’ll achieve a tidier space in just two weeks. (Sign up now if you haven't already to get each assignment delivered straight to your inbox.)

Whether it’s your first time joining us or you’re a seasoned pro, we're so happy you’re here. Let's introduce Stephanie Nguyen, Apartment Therapy’s senior editor of cleaning & organizing. As the person in charge of the program, Stephanie is so excited about all the decluttering we’ll do together.

If you have any questions about the program, today's assignment, or decluttering in general, Stephanie is here in this forum thread answering them today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Drop your questions below!

And without further ado, here's today's task: set up your three outboxes — and tell us below what you used as your outboxes!

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Comments

Rebecca

I have an unbelievable amount of baby clothes and maternity clothes in my closet, so I cannot wait to get started on this assignment to help me get ready for our baby who is coming in March. I live in a NYC apartment with less than luxurious closets to say the least, so keeping my clothes decluttered is a must. Any suggestions on the best places to donate baby clothes?

StephanieNguyen

Hi @Rebecca ! Congratulations!! I recommend dropping off baby clothes to a donation center, charity, or non-profit organization. Little Essentials in Brooklyn accepts new and gently used children’s items.

Larger non-profit organizations, like Goodwill and The Salvation Army, can get overwhelmed with donations, so it always good to call and check if they need baby clothes first.

travis9403

Hi!

Do you have any suggestions on getting the family "on board"? So much of our clutter is generated by my family members, and quite frankly, they have no wish to declutter any of it. If it's in their bedrooms, I'm OK with that—it's their space, after all—but it's bleeding out into the rest of the house. I feel like it's "me vs. them." This may be a no-win situation. Maybe it needs to be shoved back into their room, and the bedroom doors closed. I KNOW if I de-clutter it by myself, World War III will start.

Thanks!

Travis

meleena6625

Hi everyone, my kitchen counters and my dining table seems to multiply with paper and small stuff and I just don't know how to get a hold of it. I haven't found the perfect method yet! It's so frustrating 😫

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2147#Comment_2147

Hi @travis9403 . It's definitely hard to get other people in your home onboard with your decluttering efforts. I have a few tips that you can try! It's best to lead by example and also explain why decluttering is so important for the whole family. Set a realistic goal and timeline to get things done. And once you've reached the finish line, celebrate or have a reward in mind for you all to enjoy.

If you have young children, making decluttering into a game can boost their interest in it. It also helps to implement rules or methods that can make decluttering more bite-sized and manageable. The "10 Things" rule is so simple and easy, and this writer swears by it: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/10-things-clutter-rule-36945730

I hope this helps you!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2148#Comment_2148

Hi @meleena6625 ! Paper clutter is so tricky because it can be everywhere. (We dedicate a whole day to paper clutter on day six of the cure.)

I recommend decluttering first, sorting through piles based on what needs to be kept or tossed immediately. For the ones you're keeping, you can sort them into things you need to address now or need to file away for later.

For additional steps, it can be helpful to take a look at the clutter that you've accumulated and see if anything can be minimized in the future. For instance, if you are still getting paper bills, can you switch to online only?

And, once you've decluttered, consider implementing an organizational tool to keep clutter at bay, like a mail holder.

lindsay5391

Just signed up for the 14 Day Challenge to declutter. I have an Amazon Box labeled Donate, a storage container for my Maybes and another cardboard box for Sell. I have put them in the spare room, so I can easily get to them. Looking forward to getting back some peace of mind with declutterring.

RlJ

We have a room full of so called inherited stuff. I need to call museums and other museums and get the hutch inside and out the garage and in to the living room. I need to clean it, paint part of it. All seems overwhelming. I also have a bag of clothes donations and the donation place I used for years does not take clothes anymore and directed me to to a place I have never been to. Procrastnation ugh.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2152#Comment_2152

@lindsay5391 thanks for joining us and excited for all the decluttering we'll be doing. Great outboxes!

akinnyc3405

Thanks for the Trash & Recycle reminder. I find that much of my decluttering involves more complicated Recycling: worn-out clothing, old sneakers, etc. Living in NYC, I hate to put these into the trash, but it's tough to find places that accept these. Would you have a reliable, up-to-date source on this kind of recycling?
Nike doesn't accept shoes in most NYC locations (just north Bronx).
Greenmarket rules have changed since the pandemic, and many locations have closed.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2153#Comment_2153

Hi RIJ! Decluttering inherited items is soo hard. We dedicate a whole day to addressing clutter with sentimental value in our Decluttering Cure, but even that isn't enough to get through it all. I recommend breaking down each thing you have to do into bite-sized manageable steps. Sounds like you have a few already in mind, but include "calling museums" and "bringing the hutch inside" as individual tasks will be so helpful in checking off items on your to-do list.

We also go over decluttering clothes and where to donate all the things you decluttered during our program. Setting aside a day on my calendar to get donations out the door has been helpful for me. If the place you haven't been to is too far away, I definitely recommend looking for lesser-known organizations that are closer to you, as some of the larger-known organizations (like Goodwill) can get overwhelmed with stuff.

I hope you join us!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2160#Comment_2160

Hi @akinnyc3405 ! That's a great question. For anything lightly used, but still good, I definitely recommend donating as much as possible. But for the worn-out/old products you mentioned: for shoes, you can check out Soles4Souls, and for clothing, For Days, has a Take Back Bag program, and Madewell, in partnership with Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ program, will take any denim jeans you own and recycle them.

WonderKat

Hey there. I'm taking my kid to college in about 10 days and then I'm moving from the apartment we've been in for the past year back to my bungalow. I did a tremendous amount of decluttering before we moved (I'd been in that house for 2+ decades), and I'll do it again before I move back. My life is really different now so I use fewer things in my kitchen, for example, than I used to, so I'll make some decisions about what will be in our everyday life back at the house and what will get put in the basement storage for Thanksgiving and label the moving boxes accordingly. I'm also entering a new phase of life on my own so I'll let go of a lot of clothes that I don't love (so many blah clothes uninspired by WFH life) to make room for new ones as I fill in my new look. Overall, I need this move back to the house to continue the momentum I've built up going into a really good time for myself and not feel like a step back in time.

Needclutterhelp

Starting a kitchen remodel. Will have thrown out two bags of trash. Boxed up the not needed frequently items. And recycled a bunch of bottles. Biggest culprit, take out containers. Also need as many tips as possible on paper clutter. Looking forward to this decluttering journey. Day 1 was a success!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2165#Comment_2165

Hi @WonderKat! Way to go on all of your decluttering efforts thus far. Decluttering to downsize and move can be a lot and utilizing basement or temporary storage with labeled boxes is such a great idea. Tomorrow, we go over some basic ground rules for decluttering that I think can be so helpful when decluttering clothes (which we'll also get to on day 5!) — like asking yourself: "Would I buy this again today?" or "Will I use it in the year ahead?

I hope by joining our Decluttering Cure, you'll be able to keep up the decluttering momentum you have going.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2166#Comment_2166

@Needclutterhelp Awesome job so far and congrats on finishing up day one! We tackle paper clutter on day six of the cure — so happy to have you join us on your decluttering journey.

You can see the full calendar here too: https://cdn.apartmenttherapy.info/image/upload/v1725402251/at/art/design/Special-Projects/2024/13_DeclutteringCure/TaskOverview_8.5x11/DC2024_TaskOverview-8.5x11_Final.pdf

ApartmentTherapy

decluttering-cure-day-2-guiding-principle-ground-rules.jpg

It's day two of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we'll be establishing our guiding principles and setting some ground rules to make decluttering so much easier. A guiding principle can be a word, phrase, rule, statement, or philosophy that will resonate with you and keep you on-track. Share with us below what your guiding principle is!

ApartmentTherapy

It's day three of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we'll be decluttering one messy junk drawer in just 15 minutes. Share with us below how your day went! Did you find anything interesting in your junk drawer?

ApartmentTherapy

It's day four of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure, and we're tackling our one spot in our kitchen — whether that's the cabinets (one or all of them), a drawer, the entire fridge, or your pantry. Let us know below what you got to today.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day five of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Let's spend some time today going through the clothes in our closets using a five-step method that'll help you declutter clothes in under an hour. Tell us below how it went today! What stood out as clear “yes” and “no” items for you in your closet?

ApartmentTherapy

It's day six of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we're going to take down our paper clutter. This task will require you to dig in more since paper piles can be a mix of practical and sentimental things and can be found everywhere. Tell us below how your day went. What pile did you tackle today?

ApartmentTherapy

We are at the halfway point of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! How are things going for you? For day seven, we're going to deal with one of the hardest types of clutter: ones that have sentimental value. As you go through the assignment, make sure to take breaks and reach out for support. Tell us below what you notice about your sentimental clutter.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day eight of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we're going to do just one thing to prevent clutter from happening in the first place. For instance, cancel a subscription you no longer need or sign up for online statements only. Let us know below what you chose to do today.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day nine of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure, and we're going to achieve a clutter-free bedroom in under an hour. Get ready to declutter and tell us below how it went today.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day 10 of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we'll be decluttering your busy bathroom in just three steps. Set aside 15 minute, 30 minutes, or an hour (whatever time frame works for you!) for the assignment. Let us know below what you discovered in your busy bathroom today?

ApartmentTherapy

It's day 11 of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure, and we're going to be identifying a clutter problem area in our homes — and then addressing it. This could be a counter with items all over it, an overstuffed drawer, a messy cabinet, or disorganized shelves. Tell us what your clutter problem spot is below.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day 12 of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Today, we're going to be addressing the "maybe" outbox we set up on day one that's filled with items you're not sure if you want to keep or let go. To finally make decisions on these things, we'll be practicing the “box and banish” method. Share below what's in your "maybe" outbox.

ApartmentTherapy

It's day 13 of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure, and we're going to address all the items that need to be donated, sold, or given away. Let's get these items out of your house as soon as you can, so they can be useful to someone else. Do you have a great tip on where to donate or sell unwanted items? Share it below!

ApartmentTherapy

Congratulations on making it to the final day of Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure! Whether you joined us on day one or jumped in on day five, you should be proud of the fact that your home is tidier and more organized than before. All we want you to do today is enjoy your decluttered home to the fullest. You can choose to sit back and relax in all your hard work or expand your celebration by inviting a friend over for lunch or hosting a gathering at your place. It’s all up to you! Tell us below how you'll be celebrating.

DanielaAraya

Wooo day two! Today is all about setting the tone for your decluttering journey. Whether it's "less is more" or "if it doesn't spark joy, it's gotta go," your guiding principle is here to help you stay on track

Whenever I start to stray from a goal, I always remind myself to go back to the ‘why.’ So when in doubt, try going back to your guiding principle, and then ask yourself why you joined the Decluttering Cure in the first place. Just imagine how amazing you’ll feel on day 14 🤩

Hollis

I love all the guiding principles from the article!! I think I might write down a few and keep them above my outboxes as a reminder.

Another one I've come back to over the years is a Zac Brown lyric: I've got everything I need, and nothin' that I don't.

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2175#Comment_2175

I love that, Hollis! That's a great one haha

Zephy

@travis9403 For getting other people on board: my experience is that it's best to start with my own stuff. When I declutter my own stuff, my partner often starts decluttering his stuff too. But when I try to declutter/organize communal stuff in the kitchen, living room, storage closet, or other shared areas, thinking I'm making things better, I inevitably change some arrangement he's come to rely on (that looks to me like random mess) and provoke a lot of resistance. So my advice would be to declutter YOUR stuff first (your clothes, books, papers, hobby stuff, whatever), and then innocently comment afterwards how great your X looks now that it's all cleaned out and neat, and how good you feel now that you can find everything easily and don't have a lot of useless junk, etc. And stop there!

You can also make rules about not keeping personal items in public rooms. Let the kids do whatever they want in their rooms, but the public rooms have to adhere to a certain standard because they belong to everyone. Maybe discuss with everyone what the rules should be? I've learned to ask my partner questions before I change things — find out what he's using, what works for him, and then try to find a mutually satisfactory compromise that works for both of us.

Good luck!

akinnyc3405

What lovely guiding principles! I often use the concept in leading workshops: I never thought to apply to decluttering. How helpful! Mine will be...it won't be perfect in one day!

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2177#Comment_2177

This is also how I've approached decluttering and other new habits. If you lead by example, you'd be surprised how much you can inspire others over time 😊

nichole1801

I like Lisa’s principle from Organize 365 that if it talks back to you, it’s gone. I first used it to toss a pair of pants that had been in my closet for a decade and never fit quite right. ‘Yackety yack, don’t talk back’ is a whimsical reminder.

feral_housewitch

As a Taurus rising, "useful and/or beautiful" is a good guiding principle for me. I am so ready to declutter my stuff! I was quite "minimalist" before my kids came along—but the 4- and 2-year-olds sure accumulated a lot of stuff…and somewhere along the way my spouse and I lost our minimalist ways. Now our home is full of SO MUCH JUNK that I have to manage. Some days I fantasize about putting all our stuff in a pile and burning it just to start fresh. I think that means it's time for a change! This Cure couldn't have come at a better time.

abi2513

I’ll be moving house soon having been in this flat for 20 years. I’ve not really found any decluttering guidelines that work for me until discovered the one that I will be using. It was in an ADHD tips article. The guiding principle is “if this got poo on it, would you wash it off or throw it away?” The second I saw this I was able to look round my belongings and separate them into keep or throw with a clarity I’ve never had before 😆

DanielaAraya

You'd be surprised what you can accomplish in 15 minutes ⌛

Think of today's task like speed dating for your junk drawer. Who's getting a second date, and who's going home (read: to the donation bin)? Set a timer and find out! Now the real question is, which junk drawer to choose? 😅

Zephy

I've decided to devote my entire Cure this year to my desk and file cabinet, so the whole 14 days will be about decluttering drawers (and dealing with sentimental stuff like old letters). So far, I have decluttered my 3 file cabinet drawers. To my surprise, they were relatively easy. I guess that's because the contents are all the same kind of thing — paper records. As Marie Kondo says, paper records will never spark joy, so do your best to chuck 'em all! I was actually able to consolidate two drawers' worth of files into one drawer (mostly due to reorganizing, with some chucking). Moving on to the desk for the rest of the Cure (8 drawers plus the desktop), I expect it will get harder — lots of sentimental stuff, and miscellaneous items and stationery supplies that might or might not be useful. We'll see.

losfrangeles

Would you believe that I don’t actually have a junk drawer because my house has such limited storage? All the kitchen drawers are full of kitchenware, flatware, cat food, and one big one is used for bookcase overflow.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have decluttering to do. I just technically don’t have a junk drawer.

leti9275

Whoever thought this would take 15 minutes was dreaming. It took me more than 15 minutes just to collect all of the batteries in my junk drawer and put them into a container. It took me all morning to do the whole drawer. And since the first step is to take everything out of the drawer, you can’t really stop after 15 minutes.

citykitty

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2160#Comment_2160

I love utilizing my neighborhood "Buy Nothing" group on Facebook. I'd bet your specific neighborhood has one too. It can be a little more time consuming to snap pics and post then arrange pickup etc, but it's also a cool way to connect with your neighbors.

wendther2819

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2148#Comment_2148

I definitely have this problem too, and then it feels too overwhelming to begin. I have found a method that helps me—it’s Dana White’s tidying method which you can find on YouTube. Hard to describe here but she has a lot of videos demonstrating. It just seems to help to have a set of steps laid out to take you from messy to clean. Then once it’s tidy, I’d suggest repeating the method every week or so just to keep it that way.

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2191#Comment_2191

Awesome job already decluttering multiple drawers!! The sentimental stuff can be tough. If you need to chat through any piece in particular as you go through, feel free to share. I know I will probably need some advice when I get to that part as well 💛

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2197#Comment_2197

Hi Leti! If this is taking you longer than intended, try not to focus on the time as much as the task itself. The important part is that you're doing it, and that's worth celebrating! Bit by bit is better than nothing at all

user8725248

My junk drawer had been organized not too long ago so I hit some of the drawers in my bathroom- took more than 15 minutes but I could listen to an audiobook and then chat with my brother online. Filled a paper bag half full of stuff to throw away!!!

DanielaAraya

Today’s kitchen clean-out is all about tackling one spot. Yes, just one! I'll be tackling my mystery spice cabinet that has turned into a catch-all for tupperware and all the things

Remember, even the smallest decluttering win can make the world of difference in how you'll feel in your home 🏠

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2205#Comment_2205

That sounds so productive! Love a good audiobook or podcast to power through a cleaning session

megi3a67553

Next to my pantry in the kitchen, there's a closet where I keep the recycling bin, the vacuum, other cleaning tools, small appliances I don't use regularly, and - since it has a rod - all my spare hangers. I noticed that garden supplies, car supplies, and cat toys had crept in and were taking up too much room, so I reorganized it, removed the excess, and vacuumed. Now I'm looking for a cleaning tool organizer - tired of using nails in the wall to hold brooms and mops.