How to Declutter Your Home Quickly: The 30 Day Declutter Challenge

How many of you have started to declutter your home this month? The need is real, and many of us feel drawn to clearing the clutter and starting a new year with a fresh mind and neat cupboard.

If you need help and guidance though, you’re in the right place. Today’s post shares a plethora of information on decluttering, why you should get started, how to keep motivated and a challenge to keep you on track. 

So, if you’re here to get support in your decluttering mission, I have plenty of it. 

Let’s get started!

How to Declutter Your Home Quickly – the 30 Day Challenge!

Firstly let’s look at what it really means to declutter your home and why it’s important. 

What is Decluttering?

Why Declutter Your Home?

I think most of us understand what decluttering your home means, but do we realise why it’s so important?

For me, this falls into two categories:

1. You want to declutter
2. You need to declutter

Let’s take the first one, you want to declutter. 

It’s likely you’re feeling overwhelmed by the clutter and untidiness in your home. You appreciate that your home feels more relaxed and peaceful when the clutter is cleared. 

Furthermore you may have a goal that every 6 months or so, you clear out your cupboards, getting rid of unwanted items to either make way for more, or to ensure you don’t start hoarding possessions. If you have children, they tend to accumulate treasures at an alarming rate, so clearing their belongings is very good practice. 

In this age of conscious consumerism, in the wake of climate change, fast fashion and living a more sustainable life, many of us want to live more minimally, passing on our unwanted items to charities, pre-loved sites and friends or family. 

I think that’s probably quite well established, the ‘want’ is real and decluttering your home is a necessity. 

Now let’s examine the ‘need‘. Why should you need to declutter your home?

For me this comes down to emotional wellbeing. Some of us don’t realise that hanging onto a huge volume of ‘things’ can affect our mental health. We constantly feel overwhelmed, find it difficult to plan and feel that life is out of control – simply because our home feels that way. 

If you think your home feels out of control and you don’t know where to start, decluttering is the answer.

That can feel like an uphill task though, which is why I’ve created this 30 day plan. I’ve taken the hard work out of the planning for you.

I’ve given you the areas to tackle and put them in order – it takes away a lot of the emotion we have attached to certain parts of our home – so you can follow this easily and without too much thought. 

How to Get Started?

Firstly, you need to download the 30 Day Declutter Your Home Challenge Sheet HERE. 

How Much Time Should you Set Aside for Decluttering?

It’s important to be consistent and split down the bigger goal into smaller tasks. That’s why the challenge works so well. 

Have a read through the challenge tasks, some will take longer than others but they’re mixed up so you shouldn’t get too many big jobs back to back. 

Identify which are the bigger tasks that may take longer and ensure they’re scheduled for a day when you have the time to do them – possibly a weekend – but feel free to move them around if not. 

I’d suggest between 15 minutes and an hour per day. If that seems like too much, save up a few tasks to do them altogether freeing up a day where you can ‘split’ one of the bigger jobs. 

What is the 30 Day Decluttering Challenge?

So here it is – The 30 Day Declutter Your Home Challenge – designed to help you declutter your home. 

I’ve created this with January in mind, hence Day 1 focuses on tidying the festive decorations, but if you’ve already done this or are reading at a different time of year, just skip this day. There are actually 31 days in this challenge, you may have noticed, but many of you will have tackled the decorations already. Alternatively, the final day of sorting your phone photos is optional. 

What we have here is ready-made plan. A list of jobs to tackle over 30 days or a month, so you don’t have to think too hard about what to do next. 

It’s easier to stay on track and not become distracted. If you miss a day, you’ll need to catch up, but if you have spare time you could always move onto the next day’s activity. 

Download the challenge checklist and print it off. Stick it on your fridge or somewhere conspicuous where you can always refer to it. 

DOWNLOAD THE DECLUTTER YOUR HOME CHALLENGE PRINTABLE HERE

What Tasks are Included?

Ok, so lets look at the tasks I’ve created to help you declutter your home. 

1. Holiday cards and decorations
2. Kitchen cupboards
3. Kitchen drawers
4. Fridge/Freezer
5. Cookbooks and Recipe Cards
6. Cleaning Supplies
7. Paperwork and Mail
8. Desks and Desk Drawers
9. Junk Drawer
10. Bathroom Cabinets
11. Makeup and Toiletries
12. Nightstands/Bedside Tables and Dressers/Chest of Drawers
13. Bedroom Wardrobes
14. Underwear and Sock Drawer
15. Linen Closet
16. Craft Supplies
17. Loft or Basement
18. Laundry Room
19. Medellin and Vitamins
20. Magazines and Books
21. Garage Storage
22. Vehicles
23. Garden Shed
24. Kids Dressers
25. Kids Drawers
26. Kids Toy Box
27. Kids Books, Puzzles and Boardgames
28. Porch / Patio
29. Pet Items
30. Electronics
31. Bonus Extra Day Phone Photos

Tips for Accountability in the Declutter Your Home Challenge

You’ll have much more success at this if you do it with someone or ask a friend to keep a check on your progress. 

Accountability is a big thing when tackling something like this and will improve your results. 

If you’re doing the challenge you could tag me on social media @jenstanbrook and use the hashtag #chicdeclutter so I can follow you and give you some support. 

You could also come and join my Love Chic Living Home Decor Tribe and find an accountability partner in there – or simply share your story and progress asking others for there’s. It’s free to join and you’re all welcome. Click here to become a member of my Facebook Tribe. 

Declutter Your Home FAQs

Why declutter your home quickly?

Well sometimes it’s a good idea to work through a job, particularly a larger one like this, in one big task. Too many distractions and you can undo the good work you’ve already done. Plus, you’ll feel energised and motivated to continue the more you do. 

Why follow a challenge?

It’s good to feel you’re part of a ‘movement’ working with others towards one particularly goal. You can share your tips, advice, problems and issues. Share your wins, share your negativity, but keep talking and taking inspiration from others. 

Use social media as I mentioned above and the tag #chicdeclutter

What can I expect?

Some days you may feel less motivated than others, these are the days you’ll need to dig deep within yourself and just get on and do it. Keep on track. 

You’ll find that once you start, the rewards will outweigh anything negative and you won’t be able to stop. Sorting and clearing clutter is incredibly cathartic (it can be hard to part with many things, but once you know how, you’ll feel lighter and clear headed). 

How do I do the challenge?

Print of the challenge sheet and pin it to a noticeboard or your fridge. Download the Challenge Sheet HERE

Set aside a time each day to to do your daily task and stick to it. Then when you’re complete, mark it done on the challenge sheet. 

What if I stop the challenge half way through?

If you fall behind, it can be hard to get started again, but don’t give up. Reach out to a friend who knows you’re doing the challenge and let them know. Ask them to make you accountable, and to maybe drop them a message or text each day once you’ve done your decluttering task. If they don’t get the message they get in touch to encourage and remind you to get it done. 

You can join my Facebook Group – the Love Chic Living Home Decor Tribe – and share your progress there. 

Accountability is a big support element of the challenge and can really help you see it through to the end. Set yourself up with an accountability partner as soon as you can. 

Can I do the declutter your home challenge in less than 30 days?

Of course! If you feel you can do more than one task per day, then go for it. Just mark of the tasks you’ve done and give yourself a huge pat on the back for being so productive. 

Can I start the Declutter Your Home Challenge any time?

The challenge is designed to be used at any point during the year. Just start on your Day 1 and move on from there. If you’re using it outside of January you’ll want to ignore the first activity of sorting out the festive decorations. 

How can I make decluttering my home more fun?

Definitely do it with friends or another like-minded group of declutter lovers. 

Challenge your friends to join you. Ask them to keep you accountable. 

Share your progress on social media – Instagram perhaps with a photo a day of the jobs you’ve tackled. Remember to use the tag #chicdeclutter so I can follow along too. 

Can I swap activities to suit me?

Of course. It’s your home after all, just make sure you’re still doing one task per day in the declutter your home challenge to ensure you stay on track and finish the 30 tasks by the end of the month or period. 

Further Reading for Decluttering and Tidying your Home

There are lots of resources you can watch and read to help you in the declutter your home journey. I’ve listed some out below which may be useful so you can arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible. 

The Emotional Wellbeing Benefits of Decluttering – Love Chic Living

I’ve mentioned the wellbeing benefits of decluttering your home in today’s post, but this article goes into a lot more detail of how you can benefit your mind and body from a tidy home. 

How to Keep Your Home Tidy – Swoon Worthy

Some great tips here on generally keeping a tidy home once you’ve decluttered. This is an important part of not falling into bad habits and cluttering up your home once again. 

Decluttering Tips from the Storage Experts – We Love Home

You couldn’t find a better group of professionals to give you advice on a home declutter than the storage experts, so this one is well worth the read. 

20 Tips for a Tidy Home – Fresh Design

There are some lovely ideas here for keeping your home tidy – well worth a read. 

How to Make Money from Decluttering – Family Budgeting

Did you know that when you declutter your home you can actually make yourself some money? Yes, it’s true. Find out all the ways you can clear the clutter and reap the financial benefits in this great article. 

Why Are We So Scared to Declutter – Thrifty Home

Let’s examine the emotional issues around decluttering in more detail. This blog post covers the issues that many of us face when we have to say goodbye to our most beloved possessions. 

Could You Use a Professional Declutter – A Beautiful Space

Have you ever thought about employing someone to help you declutter? For some, it’s the only option – even the very wonderful 30 day declutter your home challenge isn’t enough – and we need a little support and guidance from a professional. This article examines one blogger’s experience of a professional declutter fairy godmother. 

The Life of a Professional Declutterer – The Design Sheppard

A fascinating insight into the world of a professional declutter company and how they can help you clear the pieces you find hard to part with. 

Tips for a Declutter from Someone Who Knows – Natasha Denness

When I first met Natasha she had just done a massive declutter of her home to live a more minimal life. Many years later she still lives this way and has some incredible tips on how you can follow her example. 

5 Steps to Declutter Your Garage – Cosy Home

Sometimes, a specific area of our home needs specific attention. Declutter your garage with these 5 steps as given by Cosy Home blog. 

So, have fun with the Declutter Your Home Challenge and do let me know how it goes. 

Remember to tag any social media posts with #chicdeclutter and keep me up to date on your progress. 

Jen x