How to Declutter 70% Faster: 7 Tips to Get It Done Without the Overwhelm

Ever looked around your home and suddenly felt like you were drowning in stuff? That was me a few years ago. I had piles of things I didn't even remember buying, and the idea of decluttering felt so overwhelming that I kept putting it off. But when I finally tackled it, I realized I was making it way harder than it needed to be. I wish I had known these simple tricks to declutter 70% faster—so today, I’m sharing them with you!

1. Start with the Easy Win: Trash & Obvious Clutter

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got random snack wrappers, expired coupons, broken crayons, and a few empty Amazon boxes lying around. Before you even think about sorting through sentimental items, do a quick sweep for trash. Grab a trash bag and walk through each room, tossing anything that’s clearly junk. This gives you an immediate sense of accomplishment and clears space for the real decluttering work.

Action Step: Set a 10-minute timer and do a “trash dash” through your home. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter your space feels!

2. Declutter in Bite-Sized Sessions

I used to make the mistake of pulling EVERYTHING out at once—dumping my entire closet onto my bed, thinking I’d sort through it in one go. Spoiler alert: That never worked. Instead, I started decluttering in small, focused sessions—15-20 minutes max.

Decision fatigue is real, and if you try to do too much at once, you’ll burn out. Instead, tackle just one category at a time—like T-shirts or kitchen gadgets—so you stay focused and make better choices.

Action Step: Pick one small area to declutter today (just a drawer or a shelf) and set a timer for 15 minutes. Then walk away when time’s up!

3. Use the 1% Rule

Instead of aiming for a perfectly organized, Pinterest-worthy space, focus on making things just 1% better every day. This idea comes from Atomic Habits, and it changed the way I approach decluttering.

Ask yourself: “How can I make this space 1% better right now?” It could be as simple as tossing expired food, folding blankets, or putting loose papers in a folder. These small wins add up quickly!

Action Step: Walk into one room right now and make one tiny improvement. It all counts!

4. Make Decluttering Enjoyable

Let’s be real—decluttering isn’t always fun. But I learned that pairing it with something I enjoy makes all the difference. I started putting on my favorite podcast, blasting music, or even sipping a cup of coffee while decluttering. This simple trick turned an overwhelming chore into something I actually looked forward to.

Action Step: Before your next decluttering session, create a playlist or queue up a podcast that will keep you entertained while you work.

5. Get Things Out of the House Fast

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was letting donation bags sit in the corner for weeks. If the clutter isn’t actually leaving your home, it’s not really gone! Now, I set a deadline—if I don’t take it to the donation center or sell it online within a week, I drop it off at the nearest donation bin.

If selling your stuff is slowing you down, ask yourself: “Is it worth the time and effort, or should I just donate it and move on?” Sometimes, peace of mind is more valuable than a few extra dollars.

Action Step: Make a plan for how you’ll get unwanted items OUT of your home. Donation, recycling, selling—just don’t let them linger!

6. Ask the Right Questions

Sometimes, we hold onto things just because they’re there. To speed up decision-making, I started using two simple decluttering methods:

• The Fire Method: If this item was lost in a fire, would I replace it? If not, I don’t need it.

• The Moving Method: If I were moving tomorrow, would I go out of my way to pack and transport this? If not, it’s time to let it go.

Action Step: Pick up an item you’re unsure about and ask yourself these questions. Be honest—do you really need it?

7. Declutter as You Go

The easiest way to declutter faster? Make it part of your daily routine. Instead of waiting for a “big decluttering day,” I now keep a donation bin in my closet. When I try on a shirt and realize I don’t love it, I toss it in. When I notice a toy my daughter hasn’t touched in months, into the bin it goes.

This habit keeps clutter from building up in the first place, so I never have to do those exhausting all-day cleanouts.

Action Step: Find a box or bin and designate it as your donation station. Whenever you come across something you don’t need, drop it in.

Final Thoughts

Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming or take forever. By breaking it into small sessions, focusing on quick wins, and making the process enjoyable, you can clear your space so much faster. Plus, once you build decluttering into your routine, it becomes second nature!

You can find all of my favorite Organization Goodies, here!

Let me know in the comments—what’s the hardest thing for you to declutter?

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