Which Decluttering Method is Best for You?

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Decluttering is not a one-size-fits-all process, but it is the first step in any organizing project. That’s why Professional Organizers use an array of different methods. 

The only way to know if a technique or system is going to work for you, is to experiment with it.

Some people prefer a slow and gentle approach, others like the pressures of a good challenge.

With so many decluttering methods, there is one that’s bound to work for you (or a combination of them). Let’s explore a few.

Swedish Death Cleaning

The principle behind the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning* by Margareta Magnusson is pretty simple: clear the clutter before it’s too late and someone else (usually loved ones) has to sort through a life’s worth of stuff. But no need to wait until you’re about to kick the bucket to benefit from this method. 

In doing so, you can already ask yourself: “who would want this thing I’m keeping, after I’m gone“. If the object has no particular meaning to you and you can’t think of anyone who would love to inherit it, why keep it?

Although some people may find thinking about their passing a bit morbid, I found it liberating, as it gave me permission to let go of items I thought I had to keep forever, like my medals from when I was a young athlete.

It’s also a great way to pass on your heirloom right now (and make sure your people actually want it), instead of waiting.

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Decluttering with purpose

• Slow and gentle

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• A little morbid for some

• It takes longer to rehome your stuff 

Konmari - Spark Joy

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up*, the ever popular technique developed by Marie Kondo, probably doesn’t need any introduction anymore.

Again, the idea behind it is quite simple: Does this item Spark Joy (AKA, make you happy in some way). I liked the idea so much I wrote a post about it.

This method has you go through your stuff by category and not by room. You are supposed to bring all the items from one category, let’s say clothes or books, in one location and sort through it in one go. The piles of stuff you’re starting with can be quite the mental challenge if you have a lot to declutter.

One thing Marie Kondo doesn’t do is prescribe a specific number of things you should own or not. This is for you to judge. Numbers can certainly be a great guideline, but they are not the end game here.

Sometimes we keep items out of some form of obligations (from others or self imposed). This method can be helpful in eliminating objects that bring sadness, guilt or resentment, or that are clearly for a future self we might never get to. 

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Only keep what you love and serves you right now

• Very methodical (prescriptive)

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• If touching items brings all the emotions for you, this is not a method you could use on your own.

• The piles of stuff can be overwhelming

Hire a Pro Like Me 😉

Having an objective person that can advise you and work with you to speed the process, is the best way to proceed. I’ve noticed that clients find it beneficial to have someone giving them permission to let go. It can help you bypass the emotions associated with decluttering and get you to your desired outcome faster.

Stop drowning in your clutter and start living a spacious life »»»» Check my services here.

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Keeping you accountable and speeding up the process

• Expert eyes and experience you may not have

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• Having someone touch your stuff, may feel uncomfortable at first (go virtual instead)

• Cost can be prohibitive (but I promise it’s well worth it)

Spending Freeze

I first read about a spending freeze in The Year Of Less* by Cait Flanders.

This book documents Cait's life over a period of twelve months, during which she only buys consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car and stops spending on pretty much anything else.

A whole year might be way too much for you and it will not help you get rid of your current clutter, but it will stop the flow of clutter in its tracks. 

Imagine the progress if for one month, nothing, but necessities came into your home, while you decluttered the superfluous!

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Stop clutter from entering your home

• Save money by spending only on necessities

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• Can be very restrictive (if you like to break rules, this might not be for you)

• You still have to declutter your stuff in the meantime.

Packing Party

Popularised by The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus), this method will have you actually pack your belongings as if you’re moving house. Like, everything in carefully labelled boxes, stored away in your home. Over the course of a predetermined period of time (around a month), you unpack the things you need and use as you go.

A little extreme, I know, but great if you want fast results. At the end, you are left with lots of stuff you haven’t used and could potentially get rid of (donate or sell). 

This might not be for you, but I like the mindset. A less extreme approach would be to go through your stuff “as if“ you are moving. What would you really take with you if you had to move? What might you find that’s been lurking at the bottom of a cupboard that you really don’t want, need or use?

If this method is for you, you can read about it here. Ans may I suggest you use reusable boxes like these.

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Intense but effective

• Show how little we really need to be happy

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• Doesn’t really take into consideration seasonal or sentimental items

• Takes a lot of work in a short period of time

Other Minimalist Games

There are many other “games“ you can play to help you make decluttering decisions:

- 30 x 30 - On day one, declutter 1 item; on day two, declutter 2 items and so on. At the end of the 30 days you will have decluttered 465 items.

- Timer - Select a small area, put a timer on (let’s say 15 minutes) and go.

- 12-12-12 challenge - Locate 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home.

- Four-Box Method - Get four boxes and label them: trash, give away, keep, or relocate to tackle one area at a time.

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• Gamifying is a great way to have fun with a boring task

• Can be done with others as a friendly competition

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• Numbers are not always a good measure of success

• Newness of the challenge can wear off

The “Ex Test”

One more for good luck!

This one is funny, and I’m sure, would yield great results (especially with a glass of wine and a friend). Here is the idea: would you contact an Ex Partner (romantic, work-related or friend) you have strong negative feelings towards, to get this item back?

If the answer is “Hell No!“, then you know what to do. 

Pros 👍🏻👍🏻

• All in good fun

• Could yield very clear decisions

Cons 👎🏻👎🏻

• May bring emotions you don’t want to deal with

• Need to pair with other methods

Here are a few more tips to trick your brain into decluttering.

Did I miss a method you absolutely love and swear by? Let me know in the comments.

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