Checklist to Declutter Your Home
Clutter can keep you from living the happy, productive life that you deserve. However, there are some ways that you can declutter your home. You might want to look into Declutter Fast to learn more about this process. Meanwhile, you can use this checklist to help you get started. Simply check off each item as you do it and before you know it, you will have a clutter free home. Once you do the once-over in your home using this checklist, it will be so much easier to maintain.
Declutter Outside
The best place to start the decluttering process is outside. After all, what is outside of your home sets the idea for what can be expected inside. When you get home after a long day of work and your yard is neat and clean- and welcoming- you won’t care how bad the day was. You’ll be able to unwind and relax.
- Start by looking at your front yard, walkways, and entrance- remove any debris, dead leaves, limbs, etc.
- Trim trees, shrubs, clear out flower beds, plant new flowers, put fresh mulch in beds, etc.
- Wash windows- and keep them clean
- Regularly remove the cobwebs
- As needed, sweep front porch/front door area
- Gather your mail on a daily basis
- Regularly mow the lawn
- Put away your tools in your storage building or garage
- Roll up all hoses
- Take the time to completely clean out the gutters
- Make any necessary repairs to shutters and paint, if necessary
- Repair the fences and other items that need repair
Inside Your Home
Once you have done everything there is to do outside, it’s time to move indoors. The best place to start is in the entry way- and then go through your home, room by room.
Foyer Area
Make sure all coats are hung in an armoire or closet
Make sure shoes are not strewn out in the foyer- have a place for them in the armoire or closet
- Sweep or vacuum
- Dust/polish any furniture
- Purchase an umbrella stand so that you have somewhere near the door to keep them
Den/Living Room
- Figure out the natural traffic pattern to your den/living room area- rearrange furniture so that the traffic pattern is not impeded
- Gather any discarded toys/games and put them where they belong
- Gather any discarded clothing and put it in the laundry or in the room where it belongs
- Gather any empty dishes and take them to the kitchen (more on decluttering the kitchen area next)
- Carefully sort through the stacks of newspapers and magazines- every now and then, throw them out, give them to someone else, or put them in the recycle bins
- Take a look at your window treatments (shades/blinds, curtains/drapes, etc.)- if necessary, replace them
Kitchen
- Make sure that dirty dishes don’t stack up on the counter or in the sink
- Take the time to declutter the counter tops
- Organize your cabinets- and put a system in place to maintain them
- Regularly clean (sweep/mop) the floors
- Make sure that sinks are kept clean and drains kept unclogged
- If you have worn out sponges, dish cloths, or dish towels- replace them
- Refill soap dispensers (if you have them)
- Clean your oven, stovetop, and cabinets on a regular basis
- Go through fridge and throw out anything that is spoiled/expired
- Wash around the doorframes and light switches
- Clean the windows (you did the outside- the inside should be done too)
- Wash pet bowls
- Avoid allowing the trash bags to accumulate or the trash to overflow before it is taken outside
Laundry
- Instead of letting laundry accumulate and doing it once a week or so- make sure that you keep up with it.
- Take the time to fold and put away clean laundry- don’t let it pile up (you may end up not being able to tell what’s clean and what’s dirty)
- Regularly clean your dryer filter
- Regularly clean the washer and the dryer (inside and out- you can get special cleaner bars to run through both)
- Clean sink (if you have one)
- Clean windows
- Sweep/mom floor
- Get a shelving system set up to store laundry supplies so they’re not strewn out- and keep all caps on
- Organize the closet (if you have one)
Bathrooms
- Regularly deodorize (to keep down the stench)
- When not in use, turn off the exhaust fans
- Clean (and maintain) tubs, sinks, and shower stalls
- Clean toilets on a regular basis
- Clean the windows
- Clean toothbrush holders (and sink) to avoid toothpaste buildup
- Clean the mirrors
- Don’t throw towels on the floor- hang them so they can be reused or place them in the laundry room/hamper. Washcloths should be placed in hamper or taken to the laundry room.
- Trash cans should be emptied on a regular basis
- Take time to unclog showers, tubs, and sinks
- Get organization/storage bins for any cosmetics so they’re not strewn all over the counter
Bedrooms
- Before leaving the bedroom, make up your bed
- Regularly vacuum
- Regularly dust furniture and fans/light fixtures
- Hang up/put away clothes instead of leaving them on the floor
- Put away shoes
- Keep towels out of room- they should be in the bathroom
- Dirty clothes should be placed in hamper or taken to laundry room
- Food should not be eaten in bedroom- this encourages bugs and rodents to make their home in your room. If you do have dirty dishes in your room, remove them and take them to the kitchen
- Clear nightstand of clutter- and keep it that way
- Replace any light bulbs that are burnt out
- Organize drawers and closets
- Regularly dust under bed
Why This Works
By using this checklist to declutter your home, you know exactly what should be done and you get a sense of achievement as you do each one and check them off. A clutter free home brings good fengshui- and it also makes you more efficient. If you want to know more about how to declutter, check out Declutter Fast.
