How to Finally Conquer Your Home’s Clutter Without Hiring a Pro

How to Finally Conquer Your Home’s Clutter Without Hiring a Pro


Are you fighting a never-ending battle against mess and clutter? Maybe you’re thinking about hiring a professional organizer to transform your messy house into a clean slate but are turned off by the cost. An expert organizer is sure to get your home looking fantastic, but that’s not the only way to achieve a clutter-free home. If you’re the hands-on type or on a strict budget, you can achieve professional-quality results with DIY decluttering and organizing.
3 Keys to Effective Decluttering1. Work in zonesDon’t jump from the kitchen cabinets to the bedroom closets, or your decluttering efforts will be just as disorganized as your home. Instead, focus on one type of item or one room at a time. It will be easier to assess what you own and choose the best way to organize.
2. Skip the maybe pileDo your decluttering projects usually end with a “maybe” pile that’s twice as big as the pile of stuff you’re getting rid of? If you want a clutter-free home, you need to be decisive about what stays and what goes. If you haven’t used an item in years or didn’t remember owning it until pulling it out of a box, then it needs to go.
3. Keep only what you loveThere’s usually a good reason things become clutter. Sometimes, we never needed it in the first place. Other times, there’s something about an object’s design that stops us from loving it. If you’re keeping items that aren’t quite right, replace them with versions you like enough to use.
Step-by-Step DeclutteringClean as you goBefore you start decluttering, plan for clean-up. This may be the only chance you get to clean out-of-the-way space before your next big cleaning project. You could clean as you go, but if you’d rather speed things up, hire a cleaning service to deep clean each room while you focus on the organizing. Most cleaning services in Sacramento charge between $121 and $403, so you could still be saving over the cost of a professional organizer.
Eliminate kitchen duplicatesAre you holding onto more dish towels than you could ever use, three sets of measuring spoons, and scratched-up skillets you’ve relegated to the back of the cupboard? Kitchen clutter makes cooking and clean-up harder and constrains space in the room we need it most. Eliminate duplicate kitchen items and reorganize so your kitchen has everything you need in easy reach and nothing you don’t.
Simplify your wardrobeIf you have lots of clothes and nothing to wear, the problem isn’t too little clothing — it’s too much. When you can’t see what you have, you reach for the same old outfits out of habit. Pick out the items you wear most, then choose complementary pieces to keep. If it doesn’t suit your style, is tattered, or doesn’t fit, recycle or donate it.
Downsize the toy collectionToss or recycle toys that are broken, missing pieces, or are rarely used, then organize the remaining toys into a system that’s age appropriate for your children. Labeled storage bins (these can be purchased for less than $12) are great for toddlers and elementary schoolers. For older kids’ gadgets, try these electronics organization ideas. If you know your kids will protest and argue why they need to keep the Barbie with dog-chewed legs, you may want to do this project in secret.
Organize the garageIs your garage full of clutter while you park on the street? Reclaim your parking space by donating or throwing away old paints, fertilizers, and other chemicals through your city’s hazardous waste disposal. Long-forgotten recreational equipment and duplicate yard tools are also great candidates for donation or sale. After reducing garage clutter to the essentials, add wall and overhead storage to keep the floor clear.
Put the rest in storageYou may decide to hold onto some items, like family heirlooms, that you regularly don’t use but aren’t ready to part with. If that’s the case, don’t try to cram them into your garage, attic, or basement. Store your items elsewhere by looking for deals at a storage facility nearby. Storage units in Sacramento can fluctuate in cost depending on the month—particularly in September and February, when prices are at their highest and lowest, respectively. You can expect to find that costs vary by about $23.44 each month.


Most people want to live in a clean, organized home. Unfortunately, when you’re surrounded by clutter, it’s hard to know where to start. Rather than letting decluttering anxiety stop you before you start, tackle the mess step-by-step and watch your home transform before your eyes.


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