{"id":1174,"date":"2016-06-02T11:34:25","date_gmt":"2016-06-02T16:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/?p=1174"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:53:00","slug":"declutter-life-get-control-stuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Declutter Your Life: How to Get Control of Your Stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From unintentionally acquired objects like shopping bags, takeout utensils, and junk mail, to bargain buys that don\u2019t fit into our already over-full closets, to aspirational purchases that we hope will help us get our lives together and start living a Pinterest-worthy existence, clutter has a way of insinuating itself into our homes on a daily basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If not dealt with proactively, the constant influx of items can quickly blanket every available flat surface, creating an atmosphere of chaos that can easily translate into feelings of helplessness, apathy, and depression (and <a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/6-surprising-costs-keeping-stuff-youre-not-using\/?utm_source=declutter%20your%20life%3A%20how%20to%20get%20control%20of%20your%20stuff&amp;utm_medium=%23muckfoving%20blog\">it&#8217;s not good for your budget<\/a>, either).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The \u201cWhy\u201d of Clutter<\/h2>\n<p>Most adults own garbage cans, recycling bins, and storage containers and know how to use them. The real issues behind clutter run deeper, often including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Lack of maintenance routines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Even if you have great management skills at work, the urge to decompress once you get home can lead to poor management of stuff. Having to add daily and weekly decluttering sessions to your calendar can seem like a drag.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>\u201cStock-up\u201d syndrome<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Both bargain shopping and holding onto items \u201cjust in case\u201d can lead to overflowing storage areas. Most of us have a hard time passing up sales or letting go of items that we \u201cmight need\u201d \u201csomeday.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Indecisiveness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A decluttering session can involve making decisions about dozens&#8212;or even hundreds&#8212;of items at a time, which can quickly grow exhausting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Guilt<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: From the artwork that your child lovingly finger-painted at daycare to the weird travel mugs that your aunt likes to give you every holiday season, it can be difficult to get rid of things that others have given to us. It can also be hard to let go of items that we\u2019ve spent a lot of money on and not gotten a lot of use out of without feeling shame over the waste.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your personal clutter situation has gotten out of control, it can be helpful to pinpoint the primary causes behind the build-up, do a room-by-room purge, and then put better habits and routines in place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/charity-donation\/\">Need a Donation Pick-up? Get an Up-front Price.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>Performing a Clutter Intervention: How to Purge Troublesome Items<\/h2>\n<p>Here are some common sources of clutter and how to deal with them:<\/p>\n<h3>ELECTRONICS &amp; APPLIANCES<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cE-Waste\u201d is an ever-growing issue, as many households swap out everything from computers and televisions to phones and tablets at an ever-accelerating pace. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.electronicstakeback.com\/resources\/problem-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electronics Takeback Coalition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Americans currently throw out about 400 million devices per year. Packaging and accessories only add to the waste. Here\u2019s how to handle the process of replacing devices:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Product packaging<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: For devices under $100 (or whatever price point feels comfortable to you), consider recycling product packaging as soon as you verify that your new gadget works as expects. For more expensive devices, keep packaging in a designated area until the warranty date has passed, marking the \u201ctoss date\u201d in your calendar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Charging cables and earbuds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Set up a charging station or two in a convenient locations and then keep only as many charging cables as you need. Donate duplicates nonprofits or refurbishers. Ditto the cheap earbuds that come with many devices&#8212;keep a spare pair on hand and donate the rest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Old devices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: First, wipe any hard drives clean using software such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.killdisk.com\/features.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Killdisk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Then, check with local libraries, schools, and nonprofit organizations to see what they might be able to use. If you can\u2019t find a match there, move onto refurbishers&#8212;then check with your city to find local recycling options.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Appliances<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If your appliances aren\u2019t in good enough shape to donate to Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization, check with your city to figure out the best way to recycle and\/or get rid of them. Many cities have detailed information and systems in place for helping you get rid of major household items in the most ecologically responsible way possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>SENTIMENTAL CLUTTER<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to memorabilia, limit the amount of physical stuff you allow yourself to keep from year to year. Think about it\u2014if you so much as fill a standard 12x12x16-inch moving box every year with stuff you just can\u2019t bear to part with, you\u2019ll need to add a good-sized closet to your life every 10-15 years just to keep up with the accumulation. Examples of sentimental clutter include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Old projects and awards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you\u2019re many years past junior high, you might consider getting rid of that rainforest diorama and the awards you won for it a the science fair.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Kid art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Preschool- and elementary-school-aged kids create a lot of art. Some of it is precious, most is not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Baby clothes and toys<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Kids grow really fast, and many caretakers are tempted to hang onto mementos from the days when they were teeny and cute.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Greeting cards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Every year, most of us receive a substantial number of holiday and birthday greetings. It can be hard to toss anything containing personal photos and notes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Gifts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Along with cards, well-meaning friends and relatives often give us gifts when the occasion calls for it. Unfortunately, many of our loved ones don\u2019t share our exact taste or know what we truly need or want.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Souvenirs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Those \u201cViva, Las Vegas!\u201d shot glasses seemed like a good idea at the time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Deceased relatives\u2019 possessions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: As if hoarding your own stuff\u00a0out of guilt isn\u2019t bad enough, when someone close to you passes away, it can be really hard to get rid of the stuff they\u2019ve amassed through the years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the keys to organizing sentimental objects:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Adopt a \u201cno guilt\u201d policy over donating unwanted gifts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you can\u2019t get friends and family to adhere to a \u201cno gifts\u201d policy, be ruthless in donating items you know you won\u2019t use. Think of all the waste you\u2019ll be creating if you don\u2019t let these objects find their way to those who will truly want and use them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Digitize what you can<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: You can photograph mementos and organize them into albums, which are much less bulky and difficult to store than actual objects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Designate special containers for memorabilia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Each year, get a nice box or plastic bin, label it with the year, and place anything that you want to keep specifically for the memories into the box. If you run out of space, sort some objects out of the box.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Don\u2019t just sort once<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sometimes things are fun and\/or meaningful to have around for awhile, and then, after a few years, they become less special. Every year, review the items you\u2019ve saved from previous years. Did you enjoy looking at each and every one of these items? Is there anything that can go?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Think long-term<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Is your current organizational strategy going to work for the next 20-40 years without necessitating moving into a 10,000-square-foot dwelling that your children will have to excavate after you pass on? If not, rethink sooner than later.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>\u201cJUST-IN-CASE\u201d CLUTTER<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of all of the types of clutter hanging around our homes, this type can be the source of the most anxiety. What if you find the other half of that pair of socks, or need a dozen plastic yogurt containers immediately after getting rid of your stash of stray items? Well&#8230;what if you do? Eliminating the following types of clutter may cause you to purchase the occasional replacement, but you\u2019ll live a much more peaceful existence in the meantime:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Old clothes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Save one outfit for dirty work like yard clean up and painting projects. One. Get rid of the rest of the outdated, stained, and or ill-fitting clothing clogging up your closets and drawers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Mismatched items<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Socks, earrings, tupperware\u2014items that consist of more than one piece frequently lose their mates. After conducting a reasonably exhaustive search, and potentially saving the pieces missing mates in a designated location for a month or two, toss them out.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Broken\/dull tools and utensils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The cheap, dull knife with the melted plastic handle? You don\u2019t need to save that.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Empty containers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: From condiment jars and plastic tubs to organizers that aren\u2019t currently in use, these can take up quite a bit of space. Recycle or donate any receptacles that don\u2019t find a use within three months of taking up residence in your home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Unidentifiable hardware<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Random screws, washers, keys, and the like are staples of junk drawers everywhere.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Sticky, scratched sunglasses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Along with half-used tubes of lip balm, fuzzy hair ties, and other stray personal items that have passed their prime, you can let these go.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Half-dead pens and pencils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Only keep as many writing utensils around as you can use up within a year. When weeding down you collection, start throwing out the items that are in the worst condition first.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Junk mail, flyers, and coupons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Evaluate offers as soon as they arrive and only keep the ones you\u2019re 99 percent certain you\u2019ll actually use. Catalogs can be tossed immediately\u2014you don\u2019t need to browse them for more items to clutter your home with.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>KNOWLEDGE, RECORD-KEEPING &amp; HOBBY CLUTTER<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home offices and libraries can easily start to overflow with materials you\u2019re sure you need or want to reference again \u201csomeday.\u201d Here\u2019s how to deal with common culprits:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Books<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sort through your book collection at least once a year and weed out anything that\u2019s outdated or that you\u2019re unlikely to read again. When purchasing new books, make it a policy to buy digital copies of those that you know aren\u2019t likely to be special enough to warrant shelf space\u2014or take advantage of your local library!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Magazines and newspapers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you\u2019re still subscribing to print editions of periodicals, make it a matter of routine to recycle old copies at regular intervals. You can likely look up anything you need to reference again online.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Receipts and billing statements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Believe it or not, you don\u2019t generally need to keep receipts and billing statements around indefinitely. Keep receipts for as long as you think you might need to return an item, or for five years if you\u2019re claiming something as a tax expense. Billing statements can be discarded as soon as you confirm that your account balance reflects your latest payment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Product warranties and manuals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Keep a special file for these and go through it every year to cull anything that you no longer need.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Hobby equipment and craft supplies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you have a current stash, be honest with yourself about what you will and won\u2019t use going forward, and sell or donate unwanted items. When starting a new hobby, go slowly. Try to buy supplies only for projects you have intentions of starting immediately, and resist the urge to build up large stashes of materials. Instead, get creative and see what you can do with limited options.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/charity-donation\/\">Need a Donation Pick-up? Get an Up-front Price.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion: Keeping Clutter Under Control<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even when you know how to keep a handle on clutter, it can be difficult to manage it on a day-in, day-out basis. Here are some tricks for keeping clutter under control:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>CLUTTER TESTS<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The \u201cWill I Use This Today?\u201d Test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: When you\u2019re struck with the overwhelming impulse to purchase something new or to hold onto an item that hasn\u2019t seen the light of day, let alone actual use, in months, ask yourself, \u201cWill I use this today?\u201d If you\u2019re buying a flat of refried beans from Costco, do you plan to make burritos tonight? If you\u2019re trying on an item of clothing, do you wish you could wear it out of the store? If you\u2019re holding onto an old gadget, will you use it today instead of it\u2019s newer counterpart? If not today, then when? For new purchases, if the answer is \u201csomeday,\u201d buy the item \u201csomeday.\u201d For current possessions, err on the side of purging.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>The \u201cCan I Rent or Borrow This?\u201d Test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It\u2019s common knowledge that books and movies can be easily borrowed or rented, but when starting a new hobby or learning a new skill, many people make the mistake of buying a lot of expensive equipment when they could easily rent or borrow it. Want to learn photography? Many services rent out a full range of equipment by the day, week, or month. Want to go skiing or boating, but suspect you won\u2019t do so more than twice a year? Renting is your BFF. Whether you\u2019re considering throwing something out or purchasing something new, this can be a good solution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>The \u201cCan I Easily Replace This?\u201d Test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you can easily replace an item with a few dollars and a quick errand or a speedy internet delivery, use the \u201cwhen in doubt, throw it out\u201d rule without guilt.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>DECLUTTERING HABITS<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Unsubscribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Take a hard look at all sources of recurring clutter, and try to eliminate as many as you can. Get on a \u201cDo Not Mail\u201d list to unsubscribe from junk mail. Convince your friends and family to go \u201cno gifts,\u201d or to only gift consumables and experiences. For newspapers and magazines, give up print subscriptions and go digital. If hanging out on Pinterest and Instagram causes you to want to buy stuff, spend less time on these channels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Declutter daily<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Regularly dealing with clutter is a much more effective strategy than \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unfuckyourhabitat.com\/why-is-marathoning-bad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marathoning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d Set reminder on your daily calendar, then set a timer for 20 minutes and use the time to clear flat surfaces, sort incoming items, and return stray possessions to their homes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Make donating a routine practice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Set up a designated donation bin so that you always have an immediate place to put items you want to give away. Then put a monthly Goodwill run on your calendar, or schedule a regular donation pickup.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these techniques in place, you\u2019ll find yourself automatically reducing clutter and creating a peaceful, inviting home. Once you feel on top of things, you\u2019ll be inspired to stay that way.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/charity-donation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Need a Donation Pick-up? Get an Up-front Price.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From unintentionally acquired objects like shopping bags, takeout utensils, and junk mail, to bargain buys that don\u2019t fit into our already over-full closets, to aspirational purchases that we hope will help us get our lives together and start living a Pinterest-worthy existence, clutter has a way of insinuating itself into our homes on a daily [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[644937412],"tags":[644937610,644937611,644937612,644937613,644937614],"class_list":["post-1174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","tag-declutter","tag-get-control-of-clutter","tag-get-rid-of-junk","tag-types-of-clutter","tag-why-we-clutter"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Declutter Your Life: How to Get Control of Your Stuff - Taskrabbit Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the reasons why clutter is hard to control, declutter your space, then keep it under control with a few simple habits.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Declutter Your Life: How to Get Control of Your Stuff - Taskrabbit Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the reasons why clutter is hard to control, declutter your space, then keep it under control with a few simple habits.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Taskrabbit Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TaskRabbit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-06-02T16:34:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-28T14:53:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Declutter-Your-Life.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"849\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"565\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Taskrabbit\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TaskRabbit\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TaskRabbit\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Taskrabbit\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Taskrabbit\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/79980819db552826ffdc7c92a3eaa086\"},\"headline\":\"Declutter Your Life: How to Get Control of Your Stuff\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-06-02T16:34:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-28T14:53:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2350,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/declutter-life-get-control-stuff\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.taskrabbit.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/03\\\/Declutter-Your-Life.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"declutter\",\"get control of clutter\",\"get rid of junk\",\"types of clutter\",\"why we clutter\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Tips &amp; 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