16 Decluttering Mistakes You Might Be Making
As someone who has helped thousands of people declutter, I can tell you that the number one decluttering mistake everyone is afraid to make is #16 on my list. That is, decluttering something you may actually need or may regret getting rid of. While this is a valid concern, this is actually the least likely mistake you'll make! Most people are at far greater risk of making some of the first 15 mistakes on my list. So let's dive into the mistakes (and I will tell you about the time I made that mistake when we get there.) Keep reading or watch the video here to see if you're making any of these mistakes!
1. Riding around for weeks or months with donation boxes.
I too, have done this. You declutter, take the boxes to your car, and then they sit there indefinitely. The best way to fight this is to literally schedule a dropoff time in your calendar. Or, you can go a step further and schedule a pickup! This gives you a deadline if you're doing a lot of decluttering.
2. Shifting or hiding clutter.
Sometimes you just need to get rid of the visual clutter quickly, so you shove everything in a drawer or move it to another room or even to the basement where it languishes. This can make your space look better, but don't mistake it for actual decluttering. You're only hiding the problem this way, not fixing it.
3. Following someone else's decluttering advice.
So, obviously, you're reading a post about decluttering advice, LOL! It's great to watch videos and see what works for other people, but you should always take into account what will work best for YOU and your personality. How do you operate best?
Do you want to dive in and do it all at once or make slow gradual progress? Both methods work, but one way will work better for you than another. Put some thought into how to best attack the clutter, and you'll be much more successful. I even have a video here on decluttering slowly versus all at once. Check it out here.
4. Touching each item a bunch of times.
This will slow you WAY down. You won't make much progress if you move items over and over again. Touch it once, decide what to do with it and where it goes, and then put it there.
5. Putting off decisions.
I am definitely NOT a decisive person in general. I like to do research and really think about things before I make a decision. But with decluttering, that just isn't efficient. When you touch something, decide immediately what to do with it. If you have a “maybe” pile, make sure it doesn't get too big. Not everything can be a maybe!
6. Decluttering before you're ready.
This really can't be forced. You should wait until you're mentally ready to get rid of the clutter. Decluttering can be especially painful if it's after the death of a loved one or if it's after a child has left for college– basically any emotionally charged situation. It's okay to wait until you're in the mental space to handle it. You'll be more successful this way!
7. Thinking it's a one and done situation.
Decluttering is an ongoing process. Once you get rid of the clutter, you have to maintain it. You'll have to keep decluttering. You may not have to do it to the same extent, but it's an ongoing process, and you'll need to keep donating or getting rid of stuff regularly, or you'll end up right back where you were.
8. Not watching what comes back into your home.
If you want to stay clutter free, you have to keep a sharp eye on what comes back into your home. If you like to shop, this will be especially important. Watch your purchases, and realize that if you buy something new, you should get rid of something you already have so your items don't build back up again.
Paper clutter is another thing to watch out for. Check out this video if you need extra help taming your paper clutter!
9. Keeping things “just in case.”
You can always come up with a scenario in which you will need or use any given item. You usually know the cost to replace something, but what is the cost of keeping it? When things pile up, it causes mental stress, saps energy from managing the items, and can just in general make your house a not so fun place to be. Is it worth keeping it? Will you even be able to find it if you need it?
10. Asking your kids' opinions.
I am NOT saying you should declutter people's possessions without asking them. But with kids it's more of a gray area. Young children don't really understand, and if you ask them, literally EVERYTHING is their most favorite toy ever.
Rephrase the question. Ask them which three stuffed animals are their favorites. Ask them to put their favorite toys in a bin. It keeps it more positive, and you are less likely to declutter something important. They can give input without keeping every single item until their room is so full they can't find the toys they love.
11. Dreading or complaining about decluttering.
If you want your family to join you in decluttering, then think and act positively about it. They're more likely to want to do it themselves if you have a positive attitude! You're also more likely to enjoy it or at least dislike it less. Attitude is key!
12. Hold onto things for a yard sale.
Are you ever actually going to have a yard sale? They are TONS of work! You have to organize, price, store, set things out, actually have the yard sale and sit out working the sale. Is it worth it? Most of our items are worth next to nothing. Will it pay you enough to make it worth it?
If you have a few more expensive items, would it be better to put them online to sell?
If you have a yard sale every year like clockwork or have a firm date set, then by all means, save your stuff (preferably pre-priced!) for that yard sale, but for most of us, it just isn't going to happen.
13. Selling too many items online.
Online selling is work, too! You have to take pictures, list the item, answer questions, and then meet up with the person (and lots of times they are no-shows!!). I don't usually list an item if it's worth less than $100. If you want to list more, then accept that it will take time, and treat it like it's your job because it is definitely work!
14. Getting distracted by your clutter.
This mostly applies to sentimental items. It happens to me with baby clothes. I know I'm done having children, so it's easy to sit and remember my kids in a favorite outfit or look at pictures… and then an hour has gone by!
Reminiscing is good, but set aside a time to do that later or make a note, but don't get distracted from your goal of decluttering and lose momentum.
15. Decluttering someone else's stuff.
It is NEVER okay to declutter someone else's stuff without asking them first. This causes trust issues and makes them feel defeated and as if they have no control. It's also not a good way to help them want to declutter themselves.
Decluttering is contagious. If I'm cleaning up my side of the closet, my husband inevitably tidies up and gets rid of a few things as well. The best way is to lead by example!
16. Decluttering something you actually need.
This is the mistake people fear the most, but it's also the most rare. In ALL my years of ruthless decluttering, I've regretted something maybe 3-4 times. And I can really remember only one incident clearly.
When we were first married, we were gifted some beautiful stemware. But we were in apartments or small houses, so it was stored away from the kitchen, and it was a huge hassle to get it out, wash it for company, put it away, etc. I decluttered it when we moved 3 houses ago.
Now I have a much bigger kitchen with plenty of storage, and I want them back! They're on my Amazon list right now, and I'm planning to re-purchase the exact same ones! Am I mad that I got rid of them? No. I would have moved them 3 times by now. They wouldn't have been used in all that time, and they may have gotten broken in the moves. I can also easily replace them. So it was okay.
I'd rather make this mistake once or twice than keep a bunch of stuff I really don't need. I also follow the $20/20 rule. Could I replace it for $20 or less or in 20 minutes or less? If so, then I don't stress about getting rid of it. If I keep too much, I probably wouldn't even be able to find it if I did need it again!
Hopefully this helps you avoid some of the most common pitfalls in decluttering! I have an entire decluttering playlist on YouTube if you want more tips or if you want to figure out which decluttering style suits you best!
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Copyright 2024, Get Organized HQ.
Brandy Says
Always a pleasure
Laura Gilbert Says
Fabulous list! So true, every one of them.
JANNA Says
Love number 16! I am going to use the $20/20 rule.
Michele Says
Great idea the $20/20 rule. I will use that one!
Alex Says
Wow, this article really hit home for me! I definitely fall into the trap of moving clutter around instead of actually dealing with it. And I’ve got to admit, I’m still a bit nervous about mistake #16. Out of curiosity, in all your years of decluttering, do you remember any specific instance where you got rid of something and then ended up needing it again?
Kas Says
Reading this is great motivation to get my booty in gear and finish purging and organizing my office/craft room! It’s funny – I’m fantastic at getting someone else’s home de-cluttered & organized, but when it comes to my own, I’m all “analysis paralysis,” as my husband likes to call it. lol
Thanks for the great advice & motivation!
Linda Says
I definitely regret a few things that I got rid of. They were “old” and surely the “new” is better? WRONG! One item was my mom’s mixer which was a wedding gift. The handle was glued together. I got a Kitchen Aid mixer instead plus $100 worth of accessories and I HATE it! My mom’s mixer was so much better and you can’t buy one like it today. Another item was my great-grandmother’s crockpot. It had a metal pot so that I could brown the meat then slow-cook it. My new one was ceramic and so I had to use 2 pots now. Finally I found an old metal one at a church sale but it’s smaller. Again, irreplacable. I got rid of things my mother sewed, and now I regret that. More items. I do like the $20/20 rule, so long as you know you CAN replace an item.
Lisa R Says
Great, specific ideas people can actually use. Thank you!
Gayle Says
I love your ideas..so smart and true!
We’ve been in this house 35 years with two grown kids and three grandchildren in their 2p’s. We are both 73 and have lots of family pictures in frames because people never pull out scrapbooks. We do have two digital frames used already.
when I die I want my grandchildren to be able to go through stuff that is important to them and I certainly can’t store it in their small places now. They have already said its important to them as their “Gigi.”
Also a friend and I have had trouble giving up stuff from our careers. It’s almost as if the things that we created, the speeches we gave ,the classes we taught ,the articles we wrote ,the Powerpoints we made, the curriculum we used, are all reminders to us now of what we accomplished (and probably attached to our self-worth.) We are in our 70’s and sometimes the past accomplishments mean a lot more now because we cant repeat it!
They bring memories of our career usefulness and purpose. (I started out as an elementary teacher and you know teachers collect everything)!
Also I’ m a book collector and have lots more to donate to our library annual booksales. There goes more decisions…what books to part with.
Thanks for all you do!
Patricia G. Says
I have been widowed twice. One thing I always tell people is to not let anyone pressure them into parting with a loved one’s things until they are ready. I put a box of my husband’s things in a closet with a date 6 months ahead on it. I then took the box down, parted with a few more things & changed the date to 6 months later. Twenty years later, I still have one of his sweaters.
Mariane Netten Says
Asking your children’s opinion is not a mistake. My children may be different but they have never had a problem donating their toys. I sit on the floor with them and go through each piece. If both kids say no, then I donate. If one says yes and the other no then we keep it for awhile and revisit later. I have always hated reading about parents who just get rid of the kids stuff without talking to them. I have nothing left my childhood because my parents did that and I am sad about that. My house may not look like a magazine spread but my kids are very generous with their stuff and I think it’s in part because I ask them and include them with the de cluttering.
Frances Manka Says
I’m in decluttering mode and I’m going room to room. My #1 rule is that I can’t mess up any room that has already been completed. I don’t stash anything there, if it doesn’t belong in that room it doesn’t become a temporary home for it. DON’T mess up anyplace you have already cleaned up. I catch myself headed in one room to put something and I’ll actually stop short of the doorway and say “This doesn’t belong here” and I turn right around and put it where it does belong. Unfortunately, my basement is going to take the brunt of all of this but so be it – one room has to be last!