You may feel like there are as many different decluttering methods as there are items of clutter in your home. This can make deciding how to go about decluttering your home even more overwhelming than the clutter itself.
Let’s eliminate that overwhelm and break down 6 of the most popular decluttering methods. Next, we’ll look at some of the pros and cons of each method so you can easily determine which method is best for you.
As we go through each of the methods for clearing clutter, I want you to note that there is no wrong or right way to declutter. Each home is as unique as the person living there so you use the method that works best for you!
In fact, when it comes to determining what the best method for clearing clutter from your home is, the answer is simple. The best decluttering method is the one that you’ll stick to. That is the most important consideration and your guiding factor.
With that in mind let’s look at 6 decluttering methods.
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6 Decluttering Methods For Clearing the Clutter
The KonMari Decluttering Method
This is probably the most well-known decluttering method. After all Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, has sold more than four million copies.
This method of decluttering advocates for choosing what to keep rather than declutter. You do this by going through your home and determining which items spark joy!
The KonMari Method recommends decluttering by category rather than location. You start with clothing, then move on to books, papers, etc. You’ll end with sentimental items.
The Pros: This decluttering method is very popular and many, many, people find it to be effective. It’s a great way to ensure you are getting rid of any duplicates and items you just don’t use.
Because the KonMari method is known for its focus on sparking joy, it can lead to a more emotionally connected and organized home.
The Cons:
This method can upend your entire home since you are working in categories rather than rooms. If you run out of time to complete the process you’ll be left with a big mess.
The method demands a significant time investment.
Another con to this decluttering method is that not all items “spark joy” but they are useful. This can make it hard to determine which items to get rid of. This is especially true when it comes to things like appliances or cleaning supplies.
The Four Box Decluttering Method
Under this decluttering method, you will sort items into four categories. To do this, you’ll use four boxes and label them: Keep — trash — donate — undecided.
As you go through the items in your home, you will determine which category they fall into. Then place them into one of the corresponding four boxes.
The Pros: For the most part this method is pretty straightforward and allows you to contain items you’re decluttering. Instead of getting stuck on an item you simply place it in the undecided box.
The Cons:
The basic con of this decluttering method is the undecided box.
When decluttering you want to make decisions and make them as quickly as possible. Having an undecided box could require you to go back to those same objects over and over again.
If you think it will be easier to decide whether to declutter an item on a future date, I can promise you it won’t be. If you can’t make the decision now, it’s not going to be easier to do later.
One workaround with this is to seal the box when it’s full and write the date on the box. If after 6 months you have not needed any of the items in the box donate the entire box. Do not open it, just take it straight to the donation center.
The One Item A Day Decluttering Method
This is probably the simplest of the various decluttering methods. The concept really is simple, you declutter one thing every single day.
The Pros: This is a great way to get started decluttering if you’re feeling overwhelmed with your clutter. You see these small steps build up in a fairly short period of time.
It’s a simple method that builds the decluttering habit as part of your daily routine.
The Cons:
It’s way too easy to lose consistency with this method. Most people who go more than a few days without decluttering an item tend to just give up altogether.
It’s also going to take more time to see results. Yes, small results do add up and are better than nothing. But the truth is those small steps do take more time to see a measurable impact.
Using a PDF Decluttering Checklist
This decluttering method involves using a checklist to guide your decluttering efforts. You can create your own unique checklist or download a pre-made PDF Decluttering checklist.
Once you have your checklist, you’ll declutter each item on the checklist and then mark them off as you complete decluttering that particular item.
I do have a free Master Decluttering Checklist which you can get by clicking the link above or signing up below.
The Pros: The decision of what area to declutter is done for you. It also feels good to mark off items on a checklist and know that you’re making progress.
The Cons: If you use a PDF decluttering checklist it most likely will not cover all the areas in your home. Your home is unique to you and you may need to make adjustments to the checklist.
The Minimalist Game Decluttering Method
This method was created by The Minimalists. It’s another popular method that has been used by many with great success.
Essentially, each month the number of things you declutter corresponds to the day of the month.
For example, on the first day of the month, you declutter one item, two items on the second day, and three on the third, all the way through the end of the month.
If you continue with this method each day, by day 31 you will have decluttered 496 items.
The Pros: You can declutter a lot of items from your home without feeling overwhelmed. Your home will stay intact for the most part while allowing you to make a tremendous impact on your clutter.
The Cons: Similar to the one item a day method, this decluttering method requires you to stay consistent each day.
The difference here is that the intensity increases each day. As the month goes on you’ll need to find more and more items to declutter each day.
Swedish Death Cleaning
If you think the name Swedish Death Cleaning sounds a bit morbid, don’t worry I do too. However, there are actually some real benefits to using this method for clearing the clutter.
A while back I was really curious about what Swedish Death Cleaning was and wrote an entire post on it. In doing that I learned it is worth exploring as a valid decluttering method.
Essentially, it involves slowly decluttering your home so your death isn’t such a burden for those you leave behind.
The focus of this decluttering method is to begin organizing and decluttering your possessions based on what you would like to pass on to your loved ones. You then let go of the rest.
It is a slow and methodical process that can be very effective.
The Pros:
It encourages you to go slow, reflect, and be purposeful in the items you choose to keep. The Swedish Death Cleaning method fosters open conversations about our belongings.
This decluttering method also relieves a lot of the burden on family members after you are gone. It’s a great opportunity to have family help you with the decluttering process so you are not doing everything alone.
The Cons:
The method was created for those in their senior years. If you are younger and have no heirs to pass things on to the process may not work for you.
Regardless of your age, this method can also be emotionally taxing.
It can also be hard to focus on your death as a significant benefit of decluttering is being able to simplify and enjoy your life now.
Choosing the Decluttering Method That’s Right For You
We have looked at six of the most popular decluttering methods, each offering unique advantages and drawbacks.
What’s important to remember is that the choice of decluttering method depends on your unique preferences, goals, and circumstances. There is no single best method. Nor is there a right or wrong way to the decluttering process.
What matters is that you choose a method that will work for your life. This is the key to achieving a decluttered and simplified life.
You deserve a home you love, what method will you get started with today?
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