Decluttering

Decluttering with Clean With Kate: your guide to dealing with clutter in your home

Welcome to Clean With Kate, your go-to source for practical and effective cleaning and organisation tips. Decluttering is a crucial step towards maintaining a tidy, stress-free home, and this page will guide you through the process with simple, actionable steps. You can also find in-depth decluttering routines and motivation on my YouTube channel, Clean With Kate, where I share real-life decluttering sessions, FlyLady-inspired methods, and practical advice for getting on top of your house and keeping your home organised.

Why decluttering matters

A home with less clutter is easier to clean, more visually appealing, and creates a sense of calm. Clutter can lead to stress, overwhelm, and wasted time searching for items. By decluttering, you create a space that works for you, rather than against you. Plus, it’s a key part of the FlyLady system, which I regularly share on my channel and website.

Where to start: The basics of decluttering

Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if like me you have years’ worth of accumulated belongings. The key is to start small and work consistently. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1) Set a timer

Decluttering doesn’t have to take all day. Set a timer for 10–15 minutes and tackle one small area at a time. This is a great way to incorporate decluttering into your daily routine without feeling exhausted.

2) Use the 4-box or bag method

Grab four boxes, bags or baskets and label them:

  • Keep – Items you use and love.
  • Donate – Items in good condition that someone else can use. I like to put these items in. a bag or box that I will also donate at the same time as the items.
  • Recycle – Items that can be repurposed or properly disposed of.
  • Rubbish – Anything broken, outdated, or unusable.

Sort items into these categories as you go.

3) One Room at a Time

Instead of trying to declutter your entire home in one go, focus on one room or even one drawer at a time.

  • Start with high-impact areas like the kitchen, where clutter accumulates quickly.
  • Move to hidden clutter areas like cupboards and drawers.
  • Finally, tackle sentimental items last, as they require more decision-making energy.

4) Follow the 80/20 Rule

You likely use 20% of your belongings 80% of the time. Identify the most-used items and let go of the ones that serve little to no purpose.

5) The One-In, One-Out Rule

For every new item you bring into your home, aim to remove one. This keeps clutter from creeping back in.

6) Decluttering by category

Sometimes, it helps to declutter by category rather than by room. Marie Kondo is great for decluttering by category. Start with a category that is easy for you and tackle that first. decluttering is like building a muscle, the more you do it the easier it gets. Leave the categories that are most difficult for you, until last.

Here are some categories to tackle when you are decluttering:

  • Clothing – If you haven’t worn it in the past year, consider donating it.
  • Paperwork – Shred unnecessary documents and organise important ones in a filing system.
  • Toys – Encourage children to choose toys to donate and keep only favourites.
  • Books & Magazines – Keep only those you love or plan to read again.
  • Kitchen Items – Declutter duplicate utensils and unused appliances.
  • Sentimental items -old photos, cards, letters etc

Decluttering Tips Table

To make decluttering even easier, here’s a handy table with quick decluttering tips:

Tip Description
Set a Timer Work in short bursts of 10–15 minutes to avoid overwhelm.
4-Box Method Use boxes for Keep, Donate, Recycle, and Rubbish.
Start Small Begin with a single drawer or shelf to build momentum.
One Room at a Time Focus on one space to prevent spreading the mess.
Follow the 80/20 Rule Keep only the 20% of items you use most.
One-In, One-Out Rule Remove an item for every new one you bring in.
Daily Resets Spend 5–10 minutes tidying daily to prevent clutter buildup.
Seasonal Decluttering Go through items at the start of each season.
Mindful Shopping Think before buying to prevent unnecessary clutter.

Decluttering with the FlyLady System

As a strong advocate of the FlyLady system, I incorporate decluttering into my weekly and daily cleaning routines. Here are some FlyLady-inspired decluttering tips:

  • Declutter for 15 minutes daily – Small, consistent efforts prevent clutter from building up.
  • Focus on zones – Each week, work on a different area of your home.
  • Get rid of hot spots – Identify clutter-prone areas (like kitchen counters) and clear them daily.

Watch my FlyLady videos on YouTube for guided decluttering routines and motivation!

Maintaining a clutter-free home

Once you've decluttered, keep up with these habits:

  • Daily Resets – Spend 5–10 minutes tidying up at the end of each day.
  • Seasonal Decluttering – Do a quick declutter every season to stay on top of things.
  • Mindful Shopping – Before purchasing, ask yourself if you really need the item.
Join me on YouTube for more decluttering motivation

For real-time decluttering sessions, FlyLady-inspired methods, and practical organisation tips, subscribe to my YouTube channel, Clean With Kate. You’ll find videos on decluttering routines, before-and-after transformations, and motivation to keep you going.

Let’s make decluttering simple, manageable, and even enjoyable!

Visit my YouTube channel here: Clean With Kate