2024 Declutter Challenge
20 Tiny Projects to Start Moving Forward
With the new year, the air is filled with the promise of renewal and fresh beginnings. It’s the perfect time to embark on a decluttering journey that will not only bring a sense of order to your home but also help you start the season on the right foot. Say goodbye to the remnants of winter and embrace the vitality of the new year with these 20 tiny projects. Let’s get started on creating a more organized and inviting space!
Here we go!
- Declutter Your Bathroom Beauty Stash
It’s amazing how our bathroom cabinets can accumulate an abundance of lotions, potions, and makeup over time. Whether they were gifts, impulse buys, or hotel freebies, it’s time to sift through the clutter. Keep what you’ll actually use and consider donating the rest to shelters, your kids, friends, or your local church. A decluttered bathroom is a fresh start for spring.
- Reclaim Your Closet Floor
Take a moment to clear the chaos from your closet floor. This simple task can make a world of difference. Remove dirty laundry, straighten out your shoes, deal with shopping bags, and toss out any unnecessary items that have found their way onto the floor. By starting with the manageable step, you’ll set the stage for a more comprehensive closet organization project down the line.
- Tame the Plastic Bag Invasion
Do you have an overflowing collection of plastic grocery and shopping bags scattered throughout your kitchen? It’s a common clutter culprit. Gather these bags and consolidate them into one designated spot. Consider recycling the excess to minimize your environmental footprint. This small change will create a tidier and more eco-conscious kitchen space.
- Declutter the Kitchen Junk Drawer
It’s time to tackle that notorious kitchen junk drawer, where all sorts of odds and ends have taken refuge. Take a half-hour or so to empty it out and sort through the chaos. You’ll likely discover a treasure trove of items that can be thrown away or placed in their rightful homes. Once you’ve decluttered this tiny space, consider using containers to keep it organized. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to find what you need in a streamlined junk drawer.
- Audit Your Medicine Cabinet
Turn your attention to the medicine cabinet and review its contents. Check for expired medications and anything beyond your comfort zone in terms of safety. This project demands attention to detail, but you can efficiently go through your medicine cabinet in a short time. Make space for current necessities by discarding outdated items. Consider adding clear or wire mesh containers to keep things organized and accessible.
- Refresh Your Linen Closet
The linen closet is often an overlooked space that can benefit from decluttering. Begin by taking out all the towels and sheets. Match up sheet sets and say goodbye to linens for beds you no longer own or ones that are old, torn, shrunken, or unattractive. Consider donating extra blankets. By creating breathing room in your linen closet, you’ll simplify the task of putting away clean laundry.
- Sort Through Magazines and Catalogs
Are piles of magazines and catalogs taking up valuable space in a corner of your home? It’s time to reduce the clutter. You can quickly sift through them by sorting by date and setting a cutoff date for what to keep. While you might want to hold onto certain magazines, clearing out the rest will free up space and help you stay organized.
- Tackle Old Mail Stash
Dig out that box or bag of old mail you’ve stashed away in a closet. Sorting through this accumulated pile is a satisfying project because it’s likely well-marinated with bills you’ve already paid and outdated information. The majority will be ready for recycling, and you might even discover something you’ve been searching for.
- Declutter Under-Sink Cabinet
Take a moment to address the clutter lurking under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. These spaces often become mini-junk drawers over time. Remove everything and decide what truly belongs there. Anything that doesn’t should either find a new home or be added to your donation pile.
- Share Your Office Supplies
Do you have a surplus of office supplies that you’ll never use in a lifetime? Consider donating them to a teacher who often spends their own money on classroom supplies. Sharing these items can make a difference in someone else’s life while clearing space in your workspace.
- Dive into a Filing Cabinet Drawer
Choose any drawer in your filing cabinet—it’s time to tackle the paperwork. The older, the better, as you make your first pass through those files. Identify documents that are now too old, have been replaced, or are no longer relevant. Most of this paper is well past its prime and can be easily tossed or shredded. You’ll undoubtedly streamline your filing system and reclaim some much-needed space without breaking a sweat.
- Refresh Your Kids’ Wardrobes
If you have children, it’s time to reevaluate their clothing. Kids grow quickly, and chances are, half of what’s in their closets and drawers no longer fits. Parents have a knack for recognizing what’s outgrown. Head into your kids’ closets and pull the items that can be sent to relatives, friends, or donated to a charitable organization. Some pieces might be boxed up for younger kids to wear, but there will likely be items that are ready to go now. It’s an opportunity to contribute to someone in need.
- Streamline the Schoolwork Stack
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably accumulated stacks of your children’s schoolwork over time. It’s time to sift through the ever-growing pile of artwork and assignments. Not every piece needs to be kept. Take a fresh look at last year’s schoolwork and consider what’s truly worth preserving. You’ll find that it thins out surprisingly easily.
- Declutter for Your “Fur Babies”
Don’t forget about your beloved pets when decluttering. Assess their belongings, including destroyed pet toys, nearly empty grooming supplies, and expired medications. Keeping their spaces tidy and safe is just as important for their well-being as it is for yours.
- Revamp the Pantry
Return to the kitchen and pay a visit to your pantry. It’s a bustling place with items constantly coming and going. Every calendar quarter, give your pantry a thorough reset. Remove everything to identify what has expired, what’s too old, and what you tried but nobody liked. Organize similar items together and put everything back in an orderly and accessible manner.
- Purge Your Purse or Wallet
Take a moment to empty your current purse or wallet. Check for receipts, especially those you can’t deduct for tax purposes, and toss them. For the ladies who frequently change purses, extend this to cleaning out all your other bags. You might discover that favorite missing lipstick or an item you’ve been searching for.
- Unearth Old Electronics
For the tech enthusiasts, it’s time to address those piles of old, outdated electronics hidden away. Gather up the electronics from all family members and make a trip to your local electronics recycler. Free up space in your drawers and say goodbye to cluttered gadgets.
- Tackle Garage Hotspots
The garage often becomes the final resting place for everything. On a nice day, venture into your garage and confront those decisions you’ve been postponing by stashing items there. You don’t need to tackle the entire space at once—pick a corner and unearth items that have overstayed their welcome. Process out the trash and recycling that have been patiently waiting for your attention.
- Trim Down Your Shoe Collection
Yes, it’s time to talk about shoes. You probably have more than you need. Some are past their prime, with sticky plastic, crumbling rubber soles, or sizes that no longer fit comfortably. Bid farewell to those well-worn pairs and consider donating the ones you won’t wear. Create space for shoes that truly serve you.
- Revive Your Bedside Table
Is your bedside table a cluttered mess? Those small horizontal surfaces tend to accumulate items you toss there before drifting off to sleep. Clear out the trash and return things to their proper places. Freshen up your bedtime routine by decluttering your bedside table and drawers.
This will really get your started off in a good direction! Happy Decluttering!
Provided by Gayle Goddard, The Clutter Fairy