Quick Decluttering Tasks in 10 Minutes or Less:
Decluttering your home doesn't have to be a daunting task. With these practical quick-decluttering ideas from home organization experts, you can make a significant difference in just a few minutes. Here are 50 items that you can declutter in 10 minutes or less:
- Expired medicines and skincare products from the medicine cabinet
- Trash and receipts from purses and backpacks
- Loose change and empty containers in bags
- Throw blankets scattered around living rooms
- Toys left out of place in common areas
- Coffee mugs and dishes left outside the kitchen
- Mail piles and random paper clutter
- Old or unused clothes from a small section of the wardrobe
- Single-use plastic containers no longer in use
- Broken or unused pens and office supplies
- Magazines or newspapers that have been read and can be recycled
- Food packaging or snacks past their expiration dates in the pantry
- Excess kitchen utensils from a junk drawer
- Expired or unused spices and condiments
- Old chargers and cables that don’t work
- Out-of-season accessories like scarves, hats, or gloves
- Extra plastic bags from previous shopping trips
- Unnecessary plastic or paper packaging from new purchases
- Unused or empty glass jars for repurposing
- Random small tools that don’t have a home
- Books you no longer intend to read or keep
- Unused decorative items that clutter shelves
- Old or duplicate sunglasses and eyewear cases
- Excess makeup or beauty products you don’t use
- Duplicate kitchen gadgets taking up drawer space
- Scattered receipts you don’t need to keep
- Old cables or adapters in the tech drawer
- Items that don’t belong in each room (e.g., toys in kitchen)
- Expired coupons and flyers
- Surplus toiletries or hotel samples
- Scrap paper or notes no longer useful
- Mismatched or single socks missing their pair
- Old phone cases and accessories
- Excess scarves or belts
- Unused batteries
- Broken jewelry or costume pieces
- Old greeting cards or invitations
- Expired coupons or loyalty cards
- Pet toys or supplies no longer used
- Loose buttons or sewing materials that are no longer needed
- Random hair ties, clips, or pins
- Old receipts or warranty papers beyond retention time
- Excess wrapping paper or gift bags
- Empty or half-used candle jars
- Photographs or prints duplicates you don’t want to keep
- Dried-out markers or crayons
- Old phone manuals or unused instruction booklets
- Paper clips, rubber bands, and desk clutter
- Random travel souvenirs that no longer hold meaning
- Expired food or drinks in fridge or pantry
The strategy is to focus on small, specific zones or item types rather than trying to "deep clean" in one go—this makes quick wins manageable and motivating. For example, a 10-minute session could be clearing out purses, or sorting just the medicine cabinet, or tidying a single junk drawer. The key is consistent, brief sessions that add up to lasting change.
Prioritize discarding expired, broken, or no longer used items and returning misplaced things to their homes to quickly reduce visible clutter and mental load. Using containers like segmented mail organizers or small pouches can help maintain order as you go.
- By listening to a podcast about home organization, you can discover additional strategies for quick decluttering in your home environment.
- Decluttering your home involves more than just getting rid of old items; it also includes rehoming items that don't belong in their designated spaces.
- A blog on home improvement can offer numerous tips for decluttering and creating a harmonious lifestyle in your home-and-garden space.
- Consider taking a course on decluttering to learn additional techniques and gain a holistic understanding of organizing your living space.
- Continuously apply decluttering principles to your home in brief sessions to ensure a consistent reduction of clutter, both visible and mental.
