Declutter With Me: A Real Closet Demonstration

Today I want to walk you through a real decluttering session.

This is not staged.
This is not perfect.
This is exactly what it looks like.

I decluttered a closet at my girlfriend’s house, and I want you to see the process in action because this is where things really click.

Before we jump in, I want to share two things I use now that I didn’t use back then.

1. The “I Don’t Know What To Do With It” Box

This is a game changer.

Instead of standing there, overthinking, second guessing, and getting stuck, you just put it in the box.

Done.

Then when you’re finished, put a lid on it, write “I don’t know what to do with it” on it, and put a reminder in your calendar for four weeks from now.

Also write down where you put it so you can find it again.

When you go back to it, you’ll likely get rid of half or more because you didn’t need it.

That one simple step keeps you moving.

2. The “Put Away in This Room” Box

If something belongs in the room you’re working in, but you can’t get to where it goes, don’t stop.

Don’t rearrange.
Don’t start organizing.

Just put it in a box for that room.

You’ll take care of it at the end.

This keeps you from getting completely sidetracked.

The Process

You set a timer.

15 minutes
30 minutes
or 1 hour

Then you work.

You pick up one item at a time and decide:

• Do I love it?
• Do I need it?
• Does it belong in another room?
• Is it garbage?
• Is it giveaway?

That’s it.

No overthinking.
No organizing.
No deep decisions.

Just movement.

Your Anti-Sidetracking Setup

Have containers ready:

• Garbage
• Give Away
• Put Away (another room)
• Storage
• Papers
• Shoebox (small important items)

This is what keeps everything under control.

You are not walking all over the house.
You are not starting new projects.
You are staying right where you are.

A Few Important Rules

Do not organize while you declutter.
If something is obvious and easy, fine. But this is about removing what doesn’t belong.

Do not go through papers.
Put them in a box, label where you found them, and deal with them later.

Do not leave the room.
That’s how it all falls apart.

What Happens at the End

When the timer goes off, you disperse everything.

• Put away items go where they belong
• Garbage goes out
• Give away items go out of the house
• Storage gets a lid and gets put away

Then you’re done.

And here’s the part I want you to hear:

This closet took about 30 minutes.
With talking.
With interruptions.

For you, it could be 15 minutes.

One Last Thing

Have a pad and pen with you.

When you notice you need something, write it down.

• Hooks
• Containers
• Supplies

Do not stop to go get it.
Just write it down and keep going.

Want Help With This?

• Tracking sheets
• Direction on where to start to declutter
• A mini decluttering planner
• A list of the supplies you’ll need

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

With Love,
Kathy
The Tidy Tutor