8 Decluttering Habits You Need To Maintain A Clutter-Free Home

I’m all about clearing the clutter. However, it will be a never-ending job if you don’t develop the decluttering habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home. I’ve seen it time and time again, you work gallantly to declutter, and then, in what feels like no time at all, it’s back to exactly where you started.

Why Creating Decluttering Habits Matter

When you work hard to declutter your home only to have the clutter come back it can be discouraging, to say the least. Have you ever felt this way? If so, you are not alone.

I have good news, it doesn’t have to be this way. By implementing decluttering habits you really can keep your home clutter-free.

Creating the right decluttering habits will allow you to keep the clutter from coming back in. In turn, you’ll soon have the simplified home you dream of!

How To Create Decluttering Habits To Maintain a Clutter-Free Home

Before we talk about the decluttering habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home, you’ve got to get rid of the clutter. After all, it’s pretty much impossible to maintain a clutter-free home without getting a handle on the clutter that’s there now.

If you need some help getting started decluttering read this post. You may also want to join the VIP list where you’ll receive the master decluttering checklist, you can sign up below.

Are you ready to get started working on the decluttering habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home?

The best part is that none of these habits take more than a few minutes to complete if done regularly. With a little bit of consistency, these habits will allow you to keep a clutter-free home.

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1. Keep a Donation Basket Handy

Having a donation basket is with zero doubt the simplest and most convenient way to practice daily decluttering habits. This allows you to easily declutter as you go about your day.

Basically, all you need is a simple basket that is placed in closets and/or a central location. I keep a large bag in our closets and a decorative basket similar to this one, in my living room.

As you go about your day and come across an item that should be decluttered, just place it straight into your decluttering basket. Once the basket gets full you take the contents to your local thrift store or other charity.

With a decluttering basket, you do a bit of decluttering every day without having to invest a ton of time. There is no need to take everything out of drawers or closets or have piles around your home that you’re sorting. You’re able to declutter as you go about your normal day.

And, because it’s not overwhelming to declutter a little at a time it’s easier to stay consistent.

Remember you don’t need a fancy basket, a box will do the job just as well. I personally prefer a cute decorative basket. Because I keep it out as part of my décor, it’s so easy to just toss decluttered items into the basket as I go about my day.

2. Make Decluttering a Part of Your Regular Routine

I’m a big advocate for regular routines to simplify your life. They put things on autopilot and make it easy to catch up if you miss a day.

Honestly, before I had a cleaning routine, I’d spend all day Saturday trying to catch up on housework. There were time’s I felt like all I ever did was clean. But all that changed when I started using a regular cleaning routine.

If you don’t have a regular cleaning routine, start one that will work for you. Here’s mine.

The one thing I want you to do differently is to add a tiny bit of decluttering to your routine. I recommend decluttering in the morning. Mornings are a good time because this is the time our energy is at its highest.

I know for me that by mid-afternoon I’m usually wanting a nap. I have to start thinking of dinner, the kids are home from school and an array of things need to be done. But if I add decluttering to my morning chores it gets done consistently. A regular decluttering habit only requires 10 to 15 minutes of your time.

Another thing that’s been super helpful is having my routine include a 15 minute tidy-up each evening. This helps keep clutter at bay by keeping things picked up. It’s helpful to involve the family in this. Make it a habit to have everyone do a quick clean-up either before dinner or before the kids have their T.V. or free time.

3. Create Systems For Problem Areas

Every home has at least a couple of problem areas that make sticking to your decluttering habits a little more challenging. For me, I have two main problem areas that I’ve had to create systems to keep a handle on the clutter. They are paper and clothing (my coffee cup addiction has gotten much better).

Decluttering Habits for Paper

I seriously believe that paper is evil and multiplies on its own. Even with a system in place to deal with it, it’s the number one cause of clutter in my home. There’s just no escaping it completely.

Nevertheless, I have created certain systems that have helped to keep it under control and stop it from becoming actual clutter.

You can read the details here on how to conquer the paper clutter. For now, just know that having some type of system in place for this problem area is necessary to maintain a clutter-free home.

Decluttering Habits for Clothing

I’m never going to fully be a part of the 33 item wardrobe club. I like clothes and fashion. It’s one of the ways I express myself. However, I have put certain systems in place to make sure I’m not dealing with overstuffed drawers and closets that stress me out trying to figure out what to wear in the morning.

I generally maintain a capsule wardrobe so that the majority of my clothing all goes together. I’m also relentless about following the one in one out rule. For every new item of clothing I buy, I have to get rid of something else in that same category. And I only keep clothing that I feel great in.

There are some great tips here for starting a capsule wardrobe.

Maintaining these habits prevent cluttered dressers and closets.

4. Follow the One in One Out Rule

I talked a little about this above, in how I deal with clothing clutter. Let me just tell you that this habit has helped me maintain a clutter-free home more than any other habit I’ve talked about.

The one in one out rule states that for every new item that you bring into your home, you need to get rid of one item in the same category. So if you purchase a new decor item, you need to get rid of one decor item you already own.

I promise this is one of the most important declutter habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home.

5. Keep Surfaces Clear

Clutter accumulates so easily when you have a lot of things out. When your flat surfaces are filled with miscellaneous items and you place another item on that surface it’s so easy to leave it there. As more items are placed on your flat surfaces clearing them becomes overwhelming.

To maintain a handle on the clutter keep your flat surfaces as clear as possible. This way when one item is placed on a flat surface it’s pretty darn easy to pick up that one item and return it to its proper home.

Develop the habit of keeping your flat surfaces clear and you’ll avoid the dreaded clutter creep.

6. Have A Place for Everything

There’s a popular saying, “a place for everything and everything in its place”. This is one of the must-follow decluttering habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home.

In fact, there are several benefits to following this rule. For starters, it allows you to readily see what items are in your home that you simply have no room for. Of course, having no room for your stuff means you need to declutter it.

As you get in the habit of putting things away (back in their place), make the effort to do it right away. Avoid putting items down on tables and other flat surfaces. The truth is clutter is caused by failing to return things to where they belong.

Get in the habit of having a specifically designated place for the items in your home and then returning those items to their space when done using them.

This little habit literally only takes a moment to do and can be the difference between a peaceful calming home and a chaotic clutter filled one.

7. Have Scheduled Planning Sessions

Part of my regular routine involves a weekly planning session every Sunday. This is the day I sit down with my planner and schedule all the normal house stuff that needs to be taken care of, work on budget adjustments, and note bills due that week. I also plan out my meals and shopping list. I even put things like a plan for self-care that week.

By having a plan for the week, you keep a handle on your home and make sure you’re planning for the things that matter. Also, you’re less likely to go out and shop for things you don’t need.

8. Stop Buying Things You Don’t Need

Speaking of shopping, stop buying things you don’t need or things that will make do. There is no reasonable way to maintain a clutter-free home if you’re regularly bringing in new stuff.

We often get into trouble with shopping because we want a particular item and can’t find exactly what we want. We then pick up something we think will do until we find or can afford what we really want. All this does is waste your decluttering efforts. Not to mention it also wastes a lot more money than you think.

The benefits of having a clutter-free home and the time for enjoying the things that matter most far outweigh any temporary benefit you get from needless shopping.

So what are you waiting for, start implementing these decluttering habits you need to maintain a clutter-free home. Stay consistent and you’ll have the clutter-free home you’re dreaming of.