Why a Decluttering Challenge?

Clutter can accumulate before you know it, and no matter how tidy a home is, there are always areas that can be more organized.

If you struggle with keeping your spaces tidy and organized, we want to show you how little changes can make a big difference over time.

Living in a densely populated city, like Vancouver, storage space is at a premium, so minimalist living is an asset. Due to Vancouver’s rainy, humid climate, properly storing your items is also important to protect your belongings from damage due to moisture or mold.

Starting on the 1st of the month, we invite you to join our 30-day decluttering challenge! Set aside 5-30 minutes per day to declutter one of the following areas in your home. We promise you, it’ll be worth it. Not only will you have a tidier, less cluttered space, but by doing this 30-day decluttering challenge, you will also be developing new habits that will stick!

We’ve designed this decluttering challenge a little differently. We know that you’re busy and that some days you will have less time than others and some of the tasks listed will take more time than others, so to set you up for success, we’ve listed the 30 areas to tidy over the next 30-day decluttering challenge, but we’re letting you choose which you get done each day!

Once you’ve completed the task, knock it off the list by checking the box. Download or print off the checklist, and let’s go!!

30-Day Decluttering Checklist

Charging cords and cables – It’s easy to end up with a stash of old charging cables, headphones, and cords that are either old, frayed or don’t match any of your electronics. If you have a lot of charging cables for various electronics, write a small label and use scotch tape to secure it to the cable to take the guesswork out of which charger is which.

Utensil drawer – Declutter your main utensils (forks, knives, spoons) and cooking utensil drawers, removing any damaged or duplicate items. Vacuum out any crumbs, wash your utensil tray and wipe down the inside of the drawers.

Medicine Cabinet – Check for expired medications and toiletries and ensure you dispose of them properly – most pharmacies will accept expired medications.

Linen Closet – Remove old, worn-out towels, facecloths, sheets, and bedding. Consider using baskets, clear bins, or dividers to keep your linens neat and tidy.

Freezer/Fridge – Check for expired food and condiments. Use this opportunity to defrost your freezer (if needed) and clean the inside of your fridge.

Pantry – As with your fridge and freezer, go through your pantry to remove any expired or open/stale foods. Vacuum any crumbs and wipe down shelves. Place any dry goods into sealed storage containers or jars to keep them fresher.

Board Games/Video Games/Puzzles – Donate any games you no longer play (make sure all pieces are there and video game discs etc aren’t scratched or damaged).

Shoes – Toss out worn-out shoes, or donate any that are in good condition that you no longer wear.

Bakeware – Excess/duplicate pans will take up valuable kitchen space. For this decluttering challenge, aim to declutter these items by half.

Books/Magazines – Consider donating books you’ve already read to your community library boxes (also known as little free libraries) around your neighbourhood. Or, if you have a yard with space, consider starting your own!

Socks/underwear drawer – Reorganize your intimates using these clear apparel organizers from this Vancouver company!

Hats/Toques/Mitts – Bins for your main closet shelves are a great way to store these items, once you’ve decluttered.

Outerwear – Donate any jackets/outerwear that no longer fit, or that you find you don’t wear often.

Toy Room/Office – Get your children involved in the process of decluttering/donating toys and games they no longer play with. If you don’t have a toy room/toys to declutter, use this day to declutter your office space (papers/bills, excess office supplies).

Children’s Clothes – Children grow quickly, so it’s a great habit to get in to declutter their drawers and closets every 3-4 months.

Closet – Donate any clothing items you haven’t worn in the last 6 months. If you have a lot of seasonal clothing, consider swapping and storing out-of-season clothing in under-bed storage cases or bins.

Small Appliances – Small kitchen appliances like waffle irons, air fryers, Instapots, food processors, blenders, immersion blenders, rice cookers, etc can take over your kitchen cupboards before you know it! Take stock of the items you have and donate any appliances you don’t use regularly.

Cleaning Supplies – Organize your cleaning supplies and discard old sponges or cloths.

Bathroom Cupboard – Toss old/expired hair and body care products.

Junk Drawer – Every home has a junk drawer – that catch-all space where all the “little” things go. But just because it’s called a junk drawer, doesn’t mean it needs to look “junky”. Organize this space so you can quickly find what you are looking for using drawer organizers and small containers.

Arts/Crafts Supplies – Did you know you can recycle old paints, dried-up paint brushes, sponges, markers and highlighters, pencils and used canvases? Our local Opus Art Supplies stores take care of it all.

Seasonal Decor – Seasonal decor can take up a lot of valuable storage space, so consider downsizing your decor to free up space.

Pet Items – If you’ve got pets, you know how quickly items like toys, bedding, leashes, treats, etc can accumulate. Consider donating any (new/in good condition) pet items to one of the local animal rescues.

Reusable mugs/water bottles – Do you have more than 2 travel coffee mugs or reusable water bottles (per person) taking up space in your cupboard? If your answer is yes…you know what to do.

Jewelry & Accessories – Trends change and so does your style. If you’ve got accessories taking up space that you never wear anymore, it’s time to give them a new home.

Digital Declutter – Emails, contacts and messages – This can become a major issue before you know it, as we are bombarded with promotional, informational and marketing emails daily. What seems innocent enough (giving out your email address to get a 10 or 15% discount at checkout) can end up wreaking havoc on your inbox. Clear out and unsubscribe from emails, delete old contacts from your phone and archive old files on your computer.

Decor & Art – Less is more. Look at your wall art and decor and consider removing a few pieces. You may be surprised by how much more open a room can feel when there are fewer things hanging on the walls!

Car – Clear out your centre console, trunk, glove box, and even those little pockets on the doors.

Shower and bath – Is your tub/shower surround overtaken by products? It’s a common occurrence. So this is your call to pare down the bottles clogging up your bathtub and shower. And, make sure you finish using it up before opening a new one or trying a new scent!