How to Declutter Your House Fast

Piles of paper, drawers of junk, toys crammed in corners, and please don’t look under the bed, right? Nobody really likes clutter, yet so many of us live with it. Decluttering your home might seem like a monumental, never-to-be-achieved act. However, there are really only three causes of clutter. When we understand these three causes, we can become decluttering professionals in no time. The tips to declutter your house fast will help you get started and take you to that clutter-free home you seek.

As I passed the counter, I realized for the hundredth time it was cluttered. It had been for quite some time; however, I kept putting it off. But not today. “Okay,” I told myself, “Ten minutes.”

I got into my “hare” mindset, deciding to work quickly and decisively.

Swooping up the pile of school papers first, I looked through each. I quickly filled out two forms, took a picture of a piece of artwork, and dropped it with the rest into the recycling.

I realized we didn’t need several miscellaneous items laying there, so I threw some away and put the others in the donation box.

Next onto my work stuff. We were in a new house, and I didn’t have a good system yet. My laptop, binder, and a few files didn’t really have a home. I used them consistently but in different places, which meant I typically left them on the counter nearest where I last worked.

That pile of necessary often invited the unnecessary to join it. It needed a place of its own that was convenient. I ran to the basement and grabbed my old backpack. That would keep everything together, it was mobile enough to be convenient (thus I’d stick with it), and it would limit me to keep and use only the essentials that fit into the pack.

As I put away the crayons and preschool supplies, I decided to do that right after preschool next time. I hollered for my son to come put his toys away in his bedroom where they belong. (Again, my clutter definitely encourages the kids’ clutter!) Lastly, we discussed how in the future he would put his toys away right after using them so that the younger kids couldn’t get into them.

With the counter cleared, I checked my watch: less than ten minutes. Booyah! 🙂

Finding the Time to Declutter

Part of the reason so many of us never declutter the house is we don’t feel like we have time to do it all right now. The great news is that you don’t have to declutter your home all at once.

After you learn the principles of clutter-free living, you can work through your home space by space, whenever you have a minute. Meanwhile, you won’t be gathering new junk piles. Soon enough, clutter will no longer be the norm.

That being said, if you are motivated to take care of it all right now, you can declutter and organize your whole life in an hour a day for two weeks. Join the free challenge and get started today.

Why Declutter

In case your decluttering ambition is short-lived, here are three really good reasons to declutter and keep your house tidy (enough). These can be motivating if you feel stuck or serve as a pat on the back when you’re moving forward.

1. Save Time
   • Clutter takes time. It takes time to move it around and find what you’re actually looking for. Decluttering takes some time up front, but when you implement systems that prevent clutter from building up, you will save a lot of time in the long run, time that can then be devoted to the people and efforts that matter most.
2. Lessen Stress
   • According to studies, a home that is perceived as “cluttered” can increase cortisol (a stress-hormone) levels and harm the mental well-being of individuals living there. Additionally, clutter tends to negatively impact the psychological relationship one has with “home.” Keeping a tidy house should be much less about what a visitor will think of us or our home and much more about how we and our children feel in that home.
3. Teach Your Children Important Lessons
   • As you declutter, you help teach your children that happiness is not connected with an accumulation of stuff. Sometimes it is hard to let go of the possessions that clutter our home, but when we remember our true priorities and where joy actually comes from, the task becomes much easier. We can increase happiness as we focus on gratitude, finding and realizing purpose, and uplifting relationships.

The Three Causes of All Clutter

With some motivation as to our why for decluttering, we are ready to move on to the how. Remember, there are three causes of clutter, and when we understand these, we can declutter in a hurry. So here are those three reasons we accumulate clutter.

Cause #1: We Don’t Actually Want the Stuff

We don’t actually need or want the things causing the clutter, even if we think we do. Whether it is because of laziness, procrastination, a different priority, sentiment, or whatever other reason, we keep stuff we don’t want because it seems easier. We just have too much stuff.

Cause #2: The Stuff Doesn’t Have a Place to Live

I know my mom is not alone in quoting, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Oftentimes, the items cluttering our living space don’t have a designated place to go. Gratefully, organization is a skill that can be learned.

Cause #3: We Don’t Have a Routine for Keeping the Stuff in Its Place

Maybe school papers do have a designated file or the toys should be in a certain tub. However, we often experience a break-down in actually putting those things away. This can happen if there is no system or routine for keeping things tidy, individuals that should be responsible don’t know the routine, or there is no accountability for the routine.

The Three Questions that Solve All Clutter

When we understand these causes of clutter, we can use three matching questions to clean-up and prevent further clutter from accumulating. Ask these questions in the following order.

Question #1: Do I Actually Want to Keep This?

Consider the specific item of clutter and whether it is serving a purpose in your home. Decide if this is actually a need, a want, or an accidental accumulation. Remember less is usually more.

We often hesitate to let go of items because of sentiment or in order to save money, thinking we may need it later. While both of these considerations can be positive, we also need to be realistic.

How many sentimental items do you really want? Keep only the best. Can a sentimental item serve a dual purpose such as decorating?

You might need a chord later, but will you really need 17 chords later? Is the mental and physical space worth the $2 it would cost to replace this item if necessary?

Question #2: Where Does this Belong?

Create a place for all your things. In general, the best places are those that are accessible to the people who need to get to it and not to those who shouldn’t. (Think toys low and scissors high for example.)

Additionally, simple solutions are usually best. We don’t need fancy label makers or a thousand different bins.

Question #3: Why Isn’t This Where it Belongs?

Make sure there is a routine for things being put away. Teach that routine to the individuals who need to know it. Hold individuals accountable to fulfill their responsibilities. That accountability can be as simple as a reminder and not doing it for them.

Back to the Cluttered Counter

Here’s a quick look at how these questions applied to my cluttered counter.

I looked at each item and asked, “Do I really want these?” The school papers and miscellaneous items were out.

Next, I asked, “Where does this belong?” I needed to find a home for my work stuff. A simple solution was found.

Last, “Why isn’t this where it belongs?” I was responsible for putting away the crayons and preschool supplies, and I committed to doing that right away next time. My son was accountable for his toys, and my reminder helped him take care of them. Additionally, he would do it right after he finished using them in the future.

These three questions make the process of decluttering quick and easy.

Ten Tips to Declutter Your House Fast

1. Work with the time you have. Don’t wait for that perfect, empty day when you’re going to get it all done at once. There’s a 99% chance that day won’t come.
2. Stop getting more stuff. Free, on sale, the latest craze, it doesn’t matter. Just say, “No.”
3. Create limits for yourself. For example, you could limit yourself to one file of paperwork or one box of keepsakes per child. Not only will you keep the amount of stuff manageable in this way, you will also be left with only the best.
4. Take pictures of things you want to remember but don’t actually need to keep.
5. Involve family members in keeping the house clean. If needed, here are some tips for starting new routines.
6. Finding a good cause to donate your belongings to makes it easier to pass things on. Choose a family or charity that will benefit from your items.
7. Consistently keep a box or designated space ready for donations.
8. When you get something new, consider giving away something old.
9. Don’t do your kids’ work for them. Eye contact, patience, working alongside, and consistency can teach almost any child to keep a tidy house.
10. Keeping a home clutter-free definitely gets easier with practice. Start today, and keep practicing!

You Can Make it Happen

My invitation to you is to declutter one space today. One counter, one drawer, or one corner of a bedroom will do.

Think about the three causes of clutter, and the three questions we ask to get rid of it. Do I actually want this? If yes, where does it belong? Why isn’t it there?

Understanding these will help you quickly take care of your clutter and prevent it moving forward.

These tips for decluttering your house shouldn’t induce guilt. Rather, I hope that they give you the tools you need to help create your ideal atmosphere in your home, an atmosphere of peace, learning, laughter, and love.

What problems do you have with clutter? Do you have other tips for decluttering? Please share in the comments.

Check these posts if you want specific tips for decluttering the kitchen, bedrooms, paperwork, or toys.

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