Decluttering

Secret Cleaning Hacks from Happy Simple Mom Readers

September 13 // by Brooke

As moms, most of us have those cleaning hacks that are our go-to options for messes.

I asked my readers what their best cleaning hacks were and these are the responses that I got. Some are hilarious, some are really great ideas, and some are both!

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Secret Cleaning Hacks from Happy Simple Mom Readers:

#1 When you are done with a Swiffer duster and ready to toss it, use it to dust around your toilets! It makes cleaning them later easier because you’re not wiping up wet dust. Then just throw it away because now it’s gross. -Ashley G.

– OR – Put your Swiffer duster in a lingerie bag, wash, and reuse. -Rose Ann

#2 Hide everything and turn on my Scentsy. -Leah A.

#3 Clear counters Wiping counters takes seconds when you don’t have to move anything except soap dispensers. In the kitchen, the Chemex and an electric kettle are always out but I have them sitting on a cheese board so I only have to move one thing. -Ashley N.

Picture of cleared off kitchen counters to it's easier to wipe them up.

#4 I use wet dryer sheets to get bugs off the front of my vehicle. I also use dry dryer sheets on my baseboards to help keep dirt and hair off of them. -Keleigh

#5 Owning less and making my own cleaners. -Tina

A secret cleaning hack from Tina, making her own cleaners and owning less. Picture of spray bottles and scrub brush.

#6 Put things where they go the first time. -Leah J. A.

#7 Put laundry away the moment it’s out of the dryer. -Yen

#8 Use Clorox wipes daily. -Bonnie B.

#9 Don’t answer the door. -Diann H.

#10 Use a kitchen roll, the thick kind, to dust (paper towels, for us Americans!). -Patricia G.

#11 Get a cleaner! -Jan M.

#12 White vinegar and baking soda. Natural and a great cleaner and brightener.

Get some baking soda (say a couple of tablespoons ) and pour about a couple of teaspoons of white vinegar on top. Be careful, as it fizzes up. If you put it in a container, be aware it will fizz up over the top, so allow room.

Make a paste from the baking soda and white vinegar, say on your dirty stovetop, and let it sit! You can leave it for a few minutes or several hours. Just wipe off with a damp cloth.

You can eyeball it for bigger projects. I use it to clean hard-to-reach built-up dirt in corners too.

This mixture has multiple uses- ovens, glass, etc. Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom of the oven and spray on the vinegar. Just put some in a clean spray bottle, let sit.

As above, wipe off with a damp cloth. Repeat as many times as necessary. It’s safe to use and has no fumes. -Lois T.

#13 Don’t put things down – put them away! -Lucie R.

#14 A feather duster! -Denise C.

#15 “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Apparently something my grandfather said. Keep only what you love. -Jen R.

#16 An old toothbrush. -Kate B.

I have several old toothbrushes for nooks and crannies! -Cornelia L.

#17 I set the vacuum in the living room and plug it in. If I get company, I say, “Oh, you caught me in the middle of cleaning.” lol. -Deborah F.

#18 People coming over. -Stacia B.

#19 The air duster spray for the tiny corners in the raised paneling on cabinets. -Suzette B.

#20 Steam it. -Kristen K.

#21 OHIO – Only Handle It Once. -Darina C.

A Secret Cleaning Hack from Darina C. that says OHIO, Only Handle It Once.

#22 I really have applied the clutter-free flat surface rule! -Teresa N.

#23 Cut a Magic Eraser into 3-4 pieces – it lasts longer. Use ammonia overnight in a plastic bag to clean stove burner things! Burnt-on stuff wipes off. Can soak a paper towel that way too. -Elaine R.

I like to use off-brand sponges. They work amazing, and they cost half the price. -Happy Simple Mom

#24 I vacuum crumbs off of my stove and out of the microwave and air fryer. It takes a lot less time and does a better job. Then I wipe everything down. -Roxanne K.

#25 Cleaning the bath with a long-handled broom so I don’t have to bend. -Abigail W.

BONUS CLEANING HACK:

Declutter first. Then, cleaning will take half as long. Once you’re clutter-free, put your cleaning tasks on a rotation. If you don’t get to something this week, no big deal. You will see it again next week!

Download your free copy of the Happy Home Cleaning Schedule by filling out the form at the bottom of the post. 👇

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Do You Need to Declutter Your Phone Apps?

July 14 // by Brooke

Do you need to declutter your phone apps? I didn’t think so, not at first anyway.

Technology is fantastic. Technology allows us to carry around a phone, calculator, camera, and even a miniature-sized computer.

One of my favorite things about my cell phone is the ability to use an app for just about everything.

There’s an app for that!

Seriously, there is an app for everything.

No more searching online for your favorite retailer.

No more doing your budget with pen and paper or on a boring spreadsheet.

Want to track your food? Snap a quick picture with your phone, and the app will even tell you how many estimated calories you are consuming.

Need a guided mediation? There’s an app for that too.

My goodness, we almost don’t need to think anymore. Our phones do it all.

However, with every benefit of a good phone app, there are some downsides too.

Related Post: End Feeling Addicted to Your Phone

Too many apps come at a financial cost

It’s really not a big deal. This app only costs $2.

Hey, this app is only $5 per month!

Wait a minute, how much am I spending on apps every year?! Do you know?

Apps can be pretty cheap. Not all of them, but many of them are.

Thing is though, those small purchases can really add up over a year, and a lot of us don’t know how much we are spending on them.

Apps are like the dollar section at the front of a Target store. It’s just $1. This item is only $3. Before you know it, over the course of a year, you’ve dropped $300 on nothing more than cheap, plastic crap.

Recurring subscriptions can really add up!

In addition to the up-front cost of many apps, many of them have recurring subscriptions. Those sneaky marketing gurus.

I know, I know. You signed up for their 7-day free trial, but you’ll remember to cancel in time. Or will you?

I get it. I get it because I’ve gotten suckered into thinking I needed a whole lot more subscriptions than those I could get for free elsewhere or never use.

Go in now and see what apps you are signed up for on a subscription basis?

Not sure how?

iPhone users: Click on Settings. Then, click on your profile name at the very top. Next, click on Subscriptions. Here you can see any and all subscriptions you have signed up for on your iPhone.

Android users: You can manage recurring subscriptions on your GooglePay account. You can find your subscriptions by clicking on the Google Play Store, click on your Google profile in the top right corner. Click on Payments & subscriptions. Then click on subscriptions.

Too many apps can lead to screen clutter

Like physical clutter, clutter on our phone screens can be really draining mentally.

I’m a sucker for the little search function on my phone. That’s the fastest way to find an app that’s buried on page 3 inside a rarely used folder.

However, life is a lot easier when I have a much more systematic approach to the apps on my phone and how they are organized.

Just like with the clutter in your home, less is more. More space, more clarity, more calm.

Not sure about decluttering an app? Just delete it.

It’s not gone forever. You can always download it again if you need it.

I go through phases with needing specific apps. It’s nothing to delete an app, like one that tracks my Christmas spending, and then downloading again next Christmas.

The same goes for food tracking apps. I go through phases where I want to track my food. However, if I’m not in one of those phases, I’ll delete it until I’m ready for it again.

Usually, the data stays with an app unless you cancel your account. You’re just cleaning up a bit. No harm.

Too many apps can create mind clutter

No matter your preference, whether you are an app queen or just an app novice, having too many can be a lot to handle mentally and keep sorted.

Look for apps that consolidate your efforts, if at all possible.

You may not need three food tracking apps, two running apps, a free budgeting app because you like how it handles one piece of the budget and then a paid budgeting app because you like how it handles another.

Pick one. Then, stick to it, learning all its functions and possibly even upgrading… on just that one.

Don’t make things too difficult either.

If you are a pen and paper gal, it’s OK to not use a calendar app.

If you are a budgeting spreadsheet person, no one will know if you use it over a really, cool budgeting app. (I’m a budgeting app gal myself.)

My point, it’s OK to not have an app for everything.

If you land on a website that wants you to download their app to keep reading their material, click the little button to X out of it or the button to “stay on the web.”

If the content is ONLY available with an app, then find the info somewhere else if it’s a one and done thing.

Like the clutter we diligently keep out of our homes, keep the clutter off your phone. Don’t fall into their trap.

Apps can waste your time

App clutter isn’t just a visual mess. It creates a mess with your use of time as well.

How much time do you waste looking at the apps on your phone?

Yes, include your social media time.

It’s why companies offer apps. It’s way harder to pop in to the mobile website than it is to simply open an app.

Bored? No reason to read a book. Open your phone.

Line too long at the grocery store? No worries. Stare at the app on your phone rather than making conversation with the stranger in front of you.

Apps are great…until they aren’t.

They become time wasters, distractions, and suck up valuable time we could be using to learn a new skill, make a connection, or simply exist peacefully.

If you aren’t sure how much time you are spending on apps on your phone, look it up!

You can see how much screen time you are using on your iPhone and even adjust the settings for you and your family.

Got an Android? You can check out your screen time on those devises as well.

How to declutter your phone apps

There are several ways you can declutter the apps on your phone.

The first method is pretty straightforward.

Simply scroll through all the folders and pages on your phone and delete the ones you don’t use any more. (First make sure you aren’t paying for them still!)

If you don’t have time to actually go through the apps on your phone, then automate their deletions.

You can go into the settings of your phone and select for any apps not used in the past X days to auto-delete. Easy-peasy!

If you enjoy decluttering your phone apps, try decluttering your home too!

Break a habit

If you pick up your phone and scroll through your apps simply to pass time, breaking this habit may prove difficult at first.

Don’t worry. You aren’t broken. They designed these apps with that purpose in mind.

Like breaking any bad habit, your efforts will take some time.

If you are trying to spend less time in the abyss of apps, consider setting yourself up for success by giving yourself alternatives.

Carry around a book or magazine so you have something in your hands to touch and keep your mind busy.

Go for a walk or stretch instead of reaching for your phone to scroll through another app.

Have a conversation with someone, even a stranger, when you feel the desire to reach for your phone.

Give yourself alternatives. Retrain your brain to exist, without the infinite entertainment hiding on your device.

Pile of books to choose from instead of scrolling through your phone apps. — Pick a book to read instead of scrolling through your phone apps!

Declutter your apps, declutter your mind

Apps on your phone aren’t just a money and time suck. They have a huge impact on your mental existence.

Consider decluttering your apps to not only declutter your phone, but to declutter your mind. You may find you enjoy life a little bit more, and maybe save a few bucks too.

The Ultimate Guide to Declutter Your Bedroom

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Decluttering For a Move? Start Here.

June 24 // by Brooke

Are you decluttering for a move sometime soon? Know someone who is? Start here.

Check out these helpful hints to get your home decluttered before moving, whether it’s a local move or a cross-country move.

Start early

If you are wanting to declutter before moving, start early, if at all possible. This luxury doesn’t always exist, but for many of us, we know at least a couple of months in advance of our plans to look elsewhere.

As soon as you even start to consider the idea of moving, start the decluttering process.

Decluttering before your move will make packing faster AND cheaper.

Start selling

Chances are, you have some high value items you’ve been meaning to declutter but they have a higher value, and you simply haven’t had the time or desire to sell them.

Now is your time.

Moving is the perfect motivator to sell items you no longer use but can still earn a little bit of cash for.

One of my favorite outlets is selling clutter on Facebook Marketplace. I have more luck here than with any other online resource.

Don’t outpace your chances for success. You are working on a timeline here. The more you sell, the less you have to move!

On that same note, some items you may be tempted to give away for free could easily sell for $5-$10.

We just had a bunch of used wood leftovers in our home from taking apart an old wooden bar. The wood was useless to us, so we sold it for $10. I couldn’t believe how many people reached out to buy it!

Don’t wait to sell either. If you come across an item, snap a picture with your phone and get it listed immediately.

It’s best to start selling now, before you are busy with all the details of buying and selling a home.

Related Post: Declutter FAST This Weekend!

Consider the last time you used an item

When you are decluttering before a move, it’s the time to be brutally honest with yourself.

When’s the last time you used an item? A month ago, 6 months ago, years ago?

Be honest with yourself.

I think of our scuba equipment. We’ve had this scuba equipment since the year we got married, 15 years prior.

That’s also the last time we used it!

It’s obvious there are no scuba trips in our near future, and if there are, we could probably rent them.

It hurts to let go of things we don’t use, especially when they represent the type of person we hoped to be rather than the person we are now.

Weigh the costs

Moving can be EXPENSIVE!

If you are decluttering before a cross-country move, it can cost more than a nice, used car.

You must weigh the cost of moving an item with the benefit of keeping an item.

If you are making a cross-country move, items are often charged by weight.

Therefore, if you have an exercise weight set you’ve never used other than that one January four years ago, now might not be the time to decide you will “start working out” as soon as the move is over.

Moving can sometimes involve storage units.

Maybe you plan on selling your house before you find a new one. If this is the case, you might have to put your stuff in storage.

If you plan on being in a temporary home, your stuff may be in storage for quite a bit of time.

Storage units get more and more expensive the bigger they get. Don’t end up paying for a giant storage unit just to store stuff you don’t really need or love.

Related Post: The Invisible Cost of Clutter

Take advantage of your timing

Moving is the perfect time to declutter, especially if you’ve been putting it off for a long time now.

Consider this your fresh start. You are moving into a blank canvas for a home.

Don’t clutter up your next home. Now is the time.

Got too many kids’ toys? Take advantage of the timing.

There’s a good chance your kids may not miss any toys you’ve gotten rid of once they are in a new home.

Moving can be exciting for kids. There are new spaces, and you can give them the gift of a clean space with plenty of room for play!

Check out this post about how to get rid of toys (with your kids help).

Have you always hated that you couldn’t park your car in the garage?

Come up with a plan to get rid of items you store in there or make room for them elsewhere by getting rid of other clutter.

Use the timing of your move to tackle this project, giving yourself and your family a fresh start.

Donation box with toys in it. — Toy donation box.

Declutter and then pack up off-season items

When decluttering before a move, you might want to start with some off-season items.

I can get emotionally tied to my Christmas decorations in November. Surely I will use them all.

However, if you are moving in the summer months, now is the perfect time to declutter those off-season items without all the emotions tied to them.

Better yet, if you declutter now, you may not even remember the items you donated or tossed by the time that season rolls back around.

You will simply know you have more space!

Once you have decluttered these off-season items, pack the remaining ones away for your new home.

Now you have a head start on the packing, and you’ve made space for your new place!

Create an experiment box

I always think of the time period before moving as a bit like camping.

You start to put all your belongings in boxes, and you learn to love on the bare necessities until you get into your new space.

If you have items you aren’t sure about decluttering, now is the perfect time to create what I like to call an “experiment box.”

Let’s say you have some kitchen appliances or cups or plates you know you probably don’t need anymore, but you are afraid to let them go. I mean, what if?

Go ahead and pack them up in a box. Then, put the box in a corner, your garage, or somewhere out of the way.

Mark the box “experiment box” or draw a giant question mark on it. Then, re-evaluate your need for this box shortly before your move.

Did you miss what was inside? Do you even remember what’s inside?

If you don’t miss it or remember what’s in there, chances are you can move it to the local donation center rather than to your new home.

Related Post: Where to Donate Your Clutter

Picture of "experiment boxes" with a question mark to help with decluttering for a move.

Move only the stuff you want, declutter the rest

Take advantage of your move as the perfect time to declutter.

Moving is stressful enough.

You don’t want to take a whole bunch of stuff only to realize you paid for it to get relocated and then not want it.

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Is Your Clutter Invisible?

June 13 // by Brooke

My clutter is invisible. It has become part of the landscape of my home, and I didn’t even see it happening.

We are getting ready to move, and my realtor said, “Just declutter and then we will get pictures.” I about spit out my tea.

My realtor is a friend. She knows I blog about decluttering. Nothing will humble you more than being told you are still growing, even in your own field.

Where does the clutter come from?

What happened?

I’ll tell you what happened. Our clutter became invisible.

We started homeschooling this year. We added a shelf, and we kept our homeschooling to that one shelf. I was pretty proud.

We didn’t have an entire room dedicated to a schoolroom. We used our kitchen table, the great outdoors, and apparently this shelf, at max capacity.

Slowly, with time, our clutter started to simply become part of the landscape of our home. That’s just where stuff went so it was easily accessible. My home wasn’t really cluttered, was it?

I mean, we were spending a lot of time there, but surely things were as orderly as they had always been. Turns out, not so much.

Invisible clutter

I started to look around. Like really, really look around.

I was walking through my house as a prospective buyer. I was being critical, and I saw things I had not seen in years. Maybe this has happened to you.

Take a look around your home right now. Choose a clean space.

Really, do it.

Looking at this “clean space”, do you see clutter?

So often, our clutter becomes invisible. Things find permanent homes in a space, even the CLEAN spaces where they don’t belong.

How does that happen?!

>> Don’t have a clean space? Try these twenty quick hit areas to declutter to help make a dent in the mess!

Identify your dumping ground

One easy spot where clutter becomes invisible is at your dumping ground.

Do you have a dumping ground?

It’s that spot where you literally dump all the things when you come in the door, or when you’re busy or don’t know where those items go.

It’s almost like a junk drawer, but often visible.

After a while, many of us forget our dumping grounds are even a mess. It’s just that spot where we put things.

Heck, we may even think the area is “clean” or clutter-free because all the areas around it are cleared, and that’s where our dumping items belong… even though they don’t.

Has your dumping ground become a host for invisible clutter?

>> Check out this post on how to really declutter your dumping ground, finally finding a home for ALL THE THINGS.

Cluttered table — This was my dumping ground before we really decluttered our home!

Look at your flat surfaces

I love decluttering flat surfaces. This is where clutter often becomes organized or perfectly decorated, so it’s extra invisible.

Take a look at the following areas for the invisible clutter:

Shelves
Counters
Furniture tops
Nightstand
Table
Desk

What do you see on these flat surfaces?

Maybe you’ve decorated, buying the most up to date knick-knacks.

Maybe you put out seasonal décor with every new holiday or season.

Or maybe you are showcasing your collections, but your collections look cluttered and messy, as there are no shining stars.

Grab a box or a laundry basket, and start removing items that don’t belong or seem like too much.

Before you know it, you will realize some of those items had become invisible, just another part of the landscape in your home.

>> Learn more about the flat surface clutter rule.

Messy desk. — Check your flat surfaces for invisible clutter!

Peek into your closets

As we were preparing for our move, I started to look into our closets for clutter.

I was surprised, even with all my organizing and decluttering tactics, there was still clutter to be handled.

In theory, there’s a one-in, one-out rule in our home, especially with clothing. However, it’s easy to forget the one-out and just fully embrace the one-in! 😉

Grab a bag and look for some easy items to toss or donate right now.

Maybe you have a few pairs of shoes (that you hate) taking up valuable space on a shoe rack or on the floor.

Check out your closet shelves.

Are there items up there you long ago decided you were done with but have become invisible? Go ahead and grab them for donation.

Related posts: Declutter Your Closets Fast

Pile of clothing to donate. — Get rid of clothes or other items that you don’t want.

Look under your counters

Like your closets, under your kitchen and bathroom counters become little invisible clutter grounds.

It’s so easy to decide you don’t like a new hair product or cleaning product and then buy a different one. Then, when the new one comes home, we don’t get rid of the stuff we don’t use any longer.

Grab a trash bag or donation bag and go check it out. You might be able to set a timer for just five minutes and clear out a decent amount.

Related post: Create a Minimalist Bathroom

Change your mindset

Even if you aren’t planning to move, pretend you are moving.

Start in a corner and scan the room.

Are there things you wouldn’t take with you? Why not?

Go ahead and grab a box. Throw in the items you aren’t taking with you on your pretend move and get rid of them.

This new mindset makes your invisible clutter visible once again, as you are finally looking at it differently.

Related Post: Where To Take Your Clutter

Sofa with invisible clutter sitting on it with a messy coffee table. — Really take a look around and view your room from a fresh perspective. Is there some invisible clutter?

Don’t let clutter become invisible

Clutter can easily become a permanent part of your home’s landscape, ultimately making it invisible to you.

Look at your home with a fresh, new perspective.

Scan the room. Do this daily for a week or two, just five minutes at a time. You may be surprised what you see that you didn’t see before.

Related Posts:

Declutter Your Kitchen

Declutter To Reduce Stress and Anxiety

How to Declutter When Your Family Hates It

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13 Genius Ideas for Getting Rid of Things After Decluttering

February 5 // by Brooke

After we declutter, sometimes it can be difficult to know how or where to get rid of our unwanted items.

Some people can’t leave the house, some donation centers are closed, or contact isn’t preferred, you must get creative when getting rid of your stuff.

Here are several genius ideas for getting rid of your clutter, even if you can’t have contact with others or you’re unable to leave your home for whatever reason:

1 – Charity pick-up options, often veteran charities

Look around in your area for possible charitable donation pick-up options. Many charities run for the benefit of our veterans, or other causes, offer free pick-up options.

Simply find a location in your area, give them a call, and arrange for a date and time.

I actually used this service when my children were very young and I was working full time outside of the home. I would leave my donations on our front porch, and they would pick up the items while I was at work!

It was a win-win situation.

2 – Local churches

If you prefer to donate to a church, call around and see if any are offering pick-up options for your stuff. If they are not, you may wish to see if they have any volunteers that would be willing to help with this easy, contactless option.

Even if your local church isn’t offering pick-up service, there’s a good chance they offer some sort of contactless drop-off option or would be willing to work with you for any needed donations.

3 – Local charities and thrift stores

With thrift stores and charities, you can usually arrange a drop-off for donations.

Our local donation centers actually have employees taking donations from your car, but I’m sure if you asked them to allow for a contactless drop-off, they would be more than willing to accommodate.

Ideas for local charities:

Goodwill
Arc
St. Paul de Vincent
Veterans of America
Women’s shelters
Homeless shelters
Food banks
Animal shelters
Community centers

Start by searching these suggestions online, then call facilities local to your area. Sometimes it just takes a simple phone call to confirm their processes!

4 – Facebook Marketplace

Facebook marketplace can be a gold mine for getting rid of your clutter…like you can actually make money on your ~~junk~~ stuff.

Don’t worry. It’s actually pretty simple.

Simply create a Venmo or PayPal account (or gasp, agree to use cash), leave the items on your front porch, and rely on the good ole’ honor system.

Most people aren’t trying to rip you off, so the honor system works well for an easy delivery.

Related Post: Selling Your Junk on Facebook Marketplace

5 – Online Consignment Shops

Did you know you can sell a lot of your stuff without ever leaving your home?

If you have nice clothes with some resale value, try sending it off to an online consignment shop.

With so many corporate positions continuing with work-from-home, many of us no longer need our super large business casual wardrobes.

The only drawback to trying to sell your nice clothes, the market for those buying nice clothes has also shrunk.

My favorite online consignment shop is with Thredup. You can print a clean-out kit label, and you can even schedule a pick-up with USPS. You never have to leave your home, and there’s a chance you’ll make a few dollars.

Hands typing on a computer, selling clutter online.

6 – Sell your stuff online

If you have nice items with some value, there’s a chance you can sell it on eBay or Poshmark. Selling on these sites isn’t free, but they are fantastic online outlets for reaching tons of potential buyers.

You can even print your own shipping labels at home if you want to avoid the Post Office!

7 – Bin drop-offs

I don’t know what to really call them, but have you seen those drop-off bins for clothes and other random items around town?

These are great options for getting rid of items without taking a lot of extra time, besides a quick stop and toss.

The trick is making sure they are still in operation, so they aren’t overflowing with items.

Don’t leave your stuff next to these bins. Only use them if you can get your stuff safely inside.

You can often find these bins at local retailers, schools, donation centers or even at grocery stores or gyms.

Donate your gently used clothing and shoes to a drop box to help others in need.

8 – Facebook Groups

Many communities have created local groups on Facebook. Some of my favorites for getting rid of clutter are Buy Nothing Project groups or local Buy-Sell-Trade groups.

These groups are great when the regular outlets aren’t working for you.

Porch pick-up and drop-off are the most popular method of giving and receiving items from these groups.

Simply search on Facebook “buy nothing NAME OF YOUR COMMUNITY”. See what comes up, and ask to join.

9 – List your items for free AND as a “lot”

My youngest outgrew a size of clothing during the height of our pandemic shutdown. She was able to wear big sister’s hand-me-downs, but I was stuck with three garbage bags of clothes with no plan to get them out of our house.

Pre-pandemic, I would have taken the outgrown clothes to a kids’ consignment shop. For any clothes not purchased, I would immediately take to the local charity’s donation center.

I could not sell the clothes or give them to the local donation center while they were closed.

I could have waited a few weeks for things to open back up, but instead, I listed the entire lot of clothes for free on Facebook Marketplace.

The deal was they had to take all three bags, no sorting through the bags. If there was something they didn’t want, it was now their responsibility to donate it.

This worked out fantastic! There was a mom in the neighborhood who was having her own issues, as she couldn’t get out to buy new clothes for her daughter who just moved up a size.

When you have clothes, shoes, dishes, old movies, books, or any other items that are similarly related, you can always list them as a “lot.”

By doing so, you ensure the entire group of items goes out, rather than trying to get rid of each item individually.

When listing your items, simply take a picture of the whole lot. Don’t worry if all the individual items aren’t visible.

10 – Have a “free stuff” party or free garage sale

If you have a whole bunch of stuff to give away, have a “free stuff” party or even a free garage sale.

This isn’t your typical party or typical garage sale, as you aren’t trying to collect money.

Get all the items to your garage, front porch, or somewhere similar, and put a quick small note on your give-away items that says “FREE”.

Then, set a date and time for your big event.

Finally, get the message out to your friends, family, and/or neighborhood.

You could post large ticket items on Facebook Marketplace as “FREE” along with the date and time of your free garage sale.

Do the same on any local buy-sell-trade groups you’re in, as well as, perhaps, a neighborhood Facebook group.

You do not have to be present for this to be a success. Simply place your items in a designated area in front of your home, remember to tag them as “free,” and then invite others to come and take them!

It may sound weird, but remember, others may be in need. Your old stuff may be a big blessing for friends, family, or neighbors.

This idea is inspired by an article I read once regarding an older couple looking to downsize their home. They wanted to share all their blessings with their favorite people.

Their solution was to throw a party!

The couple prepared appetizers, drinks, and had only one rule. If you came, you had to leave with at least one thing.

It worked beautifully for getting rid of stuff. The best part of the whole story, they were able to share their stories and memories about items with the people who took them.

Stuff laid out on a table outside for people to pick through.

11 – Make your adult kids come get their stuff

If you are holding on to clutter that belongs to your adult children, it’s time to get it out! Call your kids, and tell them to come get their stuff.

If they won’t come and get it, take it to their house and leave it on their front porch. Not kidding.

It sounds harsh, but once your kids are adults, it’s time for them to take all of their stuff with them.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t hold on to memories of your children. You may have a box or two full of memories from your kids. Hold on to that stuff, if you like.

However, if your kids have boxes of trophies, stuffed animals, books, etc., that they want to keep, it’s time for them to keep those memories inside their own four walls.

Related Post: Why is Decluttering So Hard?

12 – Roadside pick-up with a FREE sign

I lived in a neighborhood once where we could set something out a couple days before trash day and it would be gone within hours.

It was an almost guaranteed method for getting rid of something that was in decent shape but not worth the effort to try and sell or haul away.

Expert tip: Check the weather first. You don’t want to ruin something with rain/snow before someone has the chance to pick it up.

If no one wants your clutter, it may be a sign it has no value and should probably be thrown away. Luckily, it’s already on the curb for trash pick-up!

13 – Trash

I hate filling up our landfills with unnecessary trash, but sometimes, it is unavoidable.

The best thing about living a simple, more clutter-free lifestyle, is you have a huge impact on the environment with all your new habits future foward.

Does it change that your excess junk is hurting the planet now? No. However, you are moving in the right direction for a new way of living.