Use This Checklist to Declutter for the New Year

Decluttering is its own kind of an art form. You have to do it consistently enough that it becomes a habit, and you’ll have greater success if you subscribe to a particular decluttering approach or technique that helps you constantly evaluate the things you have, determine whether you need to hold onto them, and if so, where you’ll put them.

Before you can get organized for the long term, though, you need a place to start. I recommend starting off the new year by giving your whole home a once-over using the decluttering checklist below.

Your New Year decluttering checklist

True decluttering is a process that takes place over weeks or months. You need to build a habit of getting rid of what no longer serves you and constantly organizing what you choose to keep. But before any of that happens, you may be faced with an overabundance of junk that makes it difficult to know where to start.

It’s worth setting aside some time to do a broad sweep, focusing on some key areas. As you begin, toss or donate anything in these categories:

• Get rid of anything defective, malfunctioning, or outdated. This includes broken things you swore you’d get around to fixing as well as odds and ends like random device chargers and cords clogging the junk drawer. If you haven’t used that old MacBook charger since 2011, you probably won’t need it again.

• Get rid of any duplicates. Consider redundant kitchen utensils, that tote bag stuffed with tote bags, or anything else that can be consolidated.

• Toss anything expired, from spices to makeup to gift cards, and trust that if you ever need that exact thing again, you can get a fresh one.

• Donate any clothing or linens you haven’t worn or used in recent memory.

• Toss any old paperwork or documents you find, from holiday cards to years-old bank statements. Take pictures of anything essential first, or store them in your filing cabinet. (You still keep a physical filing cabinet, right? You should.)

• Throw out or donate anything mismatched, like a mug that’s missing its saucer or a sock missing a mate. You might find it later, but it’s probably not worth keeping around until you do.

• Donate any single-purpose items you don’t use, like art supplies, sporting goods, or kitchen tools.

These all might seem like common sense, but this is also the kind of stuff we all tend to keep, and it’s what makes up the clutter in our homes.

Next, find your personal decluttering method

A lot of decluttering techniques encourage easing into the process, debating over what you need and whether it sparks joy. I don’t necessarily believe that’s helpful, since it gives you a little too much room to make excuses about why you “need” to hold onto something you don’t actually need, and I am especially against it if you’ve made decluttering your new year’s resolution.

There is no better time than the start of a new year to commit to making quick, objective decisions about what stays and what goes. Capitalize on those “new year, new you” vibes by being decisive and freeing yourself from what no longer serves you.

That said, after your initial sweep, you need to turn decluttering into a habit, and the easiest way is to find a method that works for you. In honor of the new year, I advocate establishing a “one in, one out” mindset. Resolve that for everything you buy, you’ll throw out one (or more) similar items.

I had great luck last year adopting this philosophy with my wardrobe: When I wanted something new, I listed its corresponding peer in my existing collection for sale, then only allowed myself to buy the new thing once the old one had sold (as a bonus, this was like getting a discount on the new item too). Doing this kept me from collecting an overabundance of sweaters, handbags, and shoes, kept my look fresh, and allowed me to share some cherished but no longer wanted pieces with others. You don’t have to sell the things you get rid of, but do commit to not rebuying things you already have. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself right back where you started this time next year.