The 30 Day Declutter Challenge: Simplify Your Life One Day at a Time

Are you tired of living in a cluttered and disorganized space? Do you feel like your belongings are taking over your home, making it difficult to find what you need and causing stress and anxiety? If so, it may be time to embark on a decluttering journey.

Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary and unwanted items from your living space. By getting rid of things you no longer need or use, you can create a more functional, organized, and peaceful environment. We thank our long-term supporter, Terry Currie for contributing to the themes in this article.

If you’re ready to take on the challenge, here are 30 key areas to tackle and stay on top of clutter:

Day 1: Spice Cabinet

Go through your spice cabinet and get rid of any spices that are expired, duplicates, or that you no longer use.

Day 2: Under Kitchen Sink

Sort through cleaning supplies, sponges, and other items stored under your kitchen sink. Toss anything that’s empty, expired, or no longer needed.

Day 3: Freezer

Check the expiration dates on the food in your freezer and discard anything that’s no longer safe to eat.

Day 4: Refrigerator

Do the same for your refrigerator. Get rid of any expired or spoiled food and organize the remaining items.

Day 5: Pantry

Sort through your pantry and get rid of any expired or stale food. Consider donating unexpired items that you won’t use.

Day 6: Silverware Drawer

Go through your silverware drawer and get rid of any mismatched or damaged utensils.

Day 7: Junk Drawer

Everyone has one! Take some time to sort through your junk drawer and toss anything that’s broken, expired, or no longer needed.

Day 8: Pots & Pans

Do you have any pots or pans that are damaged, rusted, or that you no longer use? It’s time to let them go.

Day 9: Food Storage

Take inventory of your food storage containers and get rid of any that are missing lids, stained, or cracked.

Day 10: Kitchen Counter

Do you have appliances or other items taking up valuable counter space? Consider whether you really need them, and put them away or get rid of them.

Day 11: Dresser Drawers

Go through your dresser drawers and get rid of any clothes that are stained, ripped, or no longer fit.

Day 12: Night Stand & Top

Clear off your nightstand and get rid of any clutter that’s accumulated on top.

Day 13: Kids or Adult Clothes

Sort through your own clothes or your children’s clothes, and get rid of anything that’s outgrown, damaged, or no longer worn.

Day 14: Coat Closet

Sort through your coats and jackets and get rid of anything that’s damaged, no longer fits, or that you no longer wear.

Day 15: Kids Toys

Go through your children’s toys and get rid of anything that’s broken, missing pieces, or no longer played with.

Day 16: Clothes In Closets

Go through your closets and get rid of any clothes that no longer fit or that you no longer wear.

Day 17: Shoes

Sort through your shoes and donate any that are in good condition but no longer needed. Throw away any shoes that are worn out and no longer usable.

Day 18: Under Bathroom Sink

Take inventory of the products stored under your bathroom sink and discard any expired or unused items.

Day 19: Bath

Go through your bath towels and get rid of any that are old, worn out, or stained. Consider donating or repurposing any that are still in good condition.

Day 20: Laundry Room Cabinets

Sort through your laundry room cabinets and get rid of any cleaning products that are expired or that you no longer use.

Day 21: Linen Closets

Go through your linen closets and get rid of any old or unused bedding, blankets, or pillows.

Day 22: Cars

Declutter your car by getting rid of any trash or unnecessary items. Organize your glove box and center console.

Day 23: Family Paper Work

Organize your family’s paperwork and shred any unnecessary documents.

Day 24: Email Inbox

Sort through your email inbox and delete or archive any old or irrelevant messages.

Day 25: Computer Files

Go through your computer files and delete any old or unnecessary documents, photos, or files.

Day 26: Photos On Phone

Sort through the photos on your phone and delete any duplicates or blurry images. Consider organizing your photos into folders or albums.

Day 27: Purse & Wallet

Declutter your purse and wallet by getting rid of any old receipts, expired cards, or unnecessary items.

Day 28: ½ of Garage

Organize one half of your garage by getting rid of any items that are broken, unused, or no longer needed.

Day 29: Other ½ of Garage

Do the same for the other half of your garage. Consider donating any items that are in good condition but no longer needed.

Day 30: Stereo Cabinet

Go through your stereo cabinet and get rid of any outdated electronics or cables that are no longer needed.

To get started, set aside some time each day to work on the task for that day and declutter one area of your home each day for 30 days. You might find things that you forgot you had or that you thought were lost. You may even find some treasures that you can put to use again. You can break up the decluttering into smaller chunks of time if you need to, but try to stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by other tasks. If you’re having trouble deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you’ve used the item in the last year. If not, it’s probably time to let it go.

Once you’ve finished the challenge, you may feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You can enjoy your newly decluttered space and feel less stressed in your home. And, if you continue to declutter regularly, you can maintain that feeling of peace and tranquility in your space.