This declutter checklist is filled with ideas to help you clear clutter quickly, one room at a time—no overwhelm, no full-home overhaul required. The printable PDF makes it easy to track your progress and chip away even when life is busy. Here’s to less clutter, more breathing room, and a home that feels calmer and easier to manage.

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Chances are you’ve minimized before. Maybe even done a full-on home declutter. I know I have! But seasons change, kids grow, and routines shift, and once again, drawers become full, counters get crowded, and your home feels harder to manage. 

If that’s where you are, you’re not alone—and this list is for you.

It’s an approachable, room-by-room decluttering checklist I’ve refined over years of simplifying our home, filled with easy things to let go of or put away that make a significant impact. No massive overhaul or hours-long organizing sessions—just simple wins that help you reclaim space, time, and energy for the things that matter most.

If you like to check things off as you go, grab my free printable declutter checklist and tracker below. It’s the same one I use to reset our home whenever it starts to feel fuller than I like. Hang it somewhere visible, and chip away at it whenever you have the energy and a small pocket of time. There’s something so satisfying about watching those boxes fill in!

Printable Decluttering Checklist

How to Use This Decluttering Checklist

Don’t feel like you have to tackle this whole list at once. Think of it as a menu—pick one space, set a timer for 10–15 minutes, and start with a few easy wins. You’ll be amazed at how even small efforts add up.

A few tips before you dive in:

• Start where clutter affects you most. That might be the entryway, kitchen counters, or your workspace.
• Work room by room. Focus on one space per day, week, or even month—whatever fits your schedule.
• Be prepared to purge & put away. Have 3-4 bags or boxes nearby: donate, trash, recycle, and relocate.
• Use the printable. Download my free checklist + tracker above to keep track of your progress and enjoy the satisfaction of checking boxes as you go.

If you want support beyond the checklist, be sure to check out my SOS Declutter Method and 10 Rules for Organizing Any Room to simplify the process and create systems that actually last.

Now, let’s start with some easy wins where clutter greets us first: the entryway.

Entryway

The entryway is the first thing you see when you walk in and, unfortunately, the first place clutter tends to land. These small entryway edits can make a surprisingly big difference:

1. Out-of-season items like coats, gear, and shoes
2. Duplicate or broken umbrellas
3. Catch-all baskets that have turned into clutter collectors
4. Keys, keychains, or lanyards you don’t use
5. Entry rugs or doormats past their prime
6. Shoes, purses, bags, outerwear, and accessories you don’t use at least five times per week (relocate these to the closet)
7. Returns or donations waiting by the door (put them in a car and schedule a time this week to drop them off)
8. Extra pet leashes, toys, and accessories
9. Outgrown kids’ gear, backpacks, and sunglasses

Kitchen & Pantry

I love a deep kitchen declutter, but if you’re short on time, here are a few quick things you can toss to free up counter and cabinet space with minimal effort:

10. Expired pantry items, snacks, and baking ingredients
11. Spices you never use or that have lost their flavor
12. Duplicate tools and utensils, like measuring cups, spoons, and spatulas.
13. Mismatched food storage containers
14. Chipped mugs, plates, or bowls
15. Extra coffee mugs, water bottles and travel mugs (2–3 per person is usually plenty; store extras for entertaining elsewhere)
16. Stained dish towels
17. Takeout menus, condiment packets, and disposable utensils
18. Forgotten food hiding in the back of the fridge or freezer
19. Extra shopping bags (paper, plastic, or reusable) that are overflowing from a cabinet or pantry hook
20. Pantry items you stocked up on but haven’t used (add them to next week’s meal plan!)
21. Expired or unused vitamins and supplements
22. Extra cookware or baking pans you rarely use
23. Countertop appliances you use fewer than five times per week (store these in a cabinet or closet instead)
24. Old candles or decor that are taking up counter space
25. Stained or duplicate oven mitts or pot holders
26. Plastic bags, twist ties, tabs, or rubber bands, you’re “saving for later.”
27. Extra jars or bottles you saved to reuse but haven’t needed

Want to go deeper? Read my Kitchen Declutter Guide for detailed tips and organization ideas.

Living Room

It’s hard to relax when you’re surrounded by clutter, but a quick sweep can make this space feel calmer in minutes. Here are a few easy things you can declutter from your family room right now:

28. Extra throw pillows and blankets you don’t use
29. Decor that feels dated, unspecial, or no longer fits your style
30. Old magazines or catalogs stacked on shelves or tables
31. Books you’ve already read, never picked up or finished
32. Old DVDs and CDs you no longer use
33. Duplicate cords, chargers, or old remotes
34. Trinkets or knick-knacks that have lost their meaning
35. Burned-down candles
36. Baskets or bins that collect clutter rather than containing something specific
37. Decor you walk past every day
38. Board games and puzzles that are missing pieces or just collecting dust 

Bedrooms

Your bedroom should feel like a retreat, not a storage unit. A few minor edits here can make it easier to rest, recharge, and start the day with less clutter.

39. Decorative pillows or throws you don’t need or that aren’t worth the daily effort
40. Books and magazines you’ve finished, given up on, or will likely never read
41. Trash like empty tissue boxes, empty candle jars, tags, and old receipts
42. Knick-knacks and decorative items that are collecting dust on your dresser or bedside table
43. Decor that feels dated or doesn’t match your current style
44. Nightstand clutter like old lip balm, water glasses, unread books, or random items that don’t belong
45. Piles of clothing you’ve been meaning to donate, wash, or put away
46. Items stored under the bed but never used

Closets & Clothing

Closets need regular resets. Between outdated trends, worn pieces, and those “what if” or “someday” items that linger, these quick edits will help you clear space and make getting dressed feel easier.

47. Clothes that don’t fit or flatter you right now
48. Anything you haven’t worn in the past year or wouldn’t buy again today
49. Clothing from a previous version of yourself—old jobs, lifestyles, or sizes
50. Duplicates of basics like jeans, tees, or sweaters (keep the best, let go of the rest)
51. Stained or damaged clothing (if something has needed repairing for months, let it go)
52. Special occasion wear you never reach for 
53. Shoes that hurt your feet or no longer fit your current style
54. Socks and underwear that are stretched, mismatched, or worn thin
55. Belts, scarves, or accessories you never wear
56. Purses, totes, or bags you rarely (if ever) use
57. Extra, mismatched, or broken hangers cluttering your closet rod
58. Jewelry you never reach for 
59. Workout clothes you skip over every time you exercise
60. Lounge clothes that are faded, stained, or stretched out
61. Out-of-season clothing taking up prime space (store these elsewhere)
62. Clothing you’ve been meaning to sell or consign but haven’t
63. Dry-clean-only items you avoid wearing because they’re a pain to care for
64. Shoeboxes or empty packaging taking up floor or shelf space
65. Clothes with tags still attached after months (or years) of waiting to wear
66. Anything you’re keeping out of guilt, including gifts or expensive fashion mistakes

Next step: Build a wardrobe you love with my popular Capsule Wardrobe Guide and minimalist wardrobe checklist.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms fill up fast with half-used products, expired items, and things you tried but didn’t love. These quick edits will help you clear space and make your mornings and bedtime routines easier:

67. Expired medications, vitamins, or supplements (check expiration dates)
68. Old sunscreen from previous seasons
69. Half-used or dried-up makeup
70. Skincare samples or travel-size toiletries you’ll realistically never use
71. Duplicate toiletries (keep your favorites, let go of the rest)
72. Stretched-out hair ties, broken hair clips, or unused hair accessories
73. Lotions, skincare, bath products, or perfumes you didn’t love or haven’t touched in months
74. Old nail polish, near-duplicate shades, and unused or duplicate nail tools
75. Toothbrushes or electric toothbrush heads that need replacing
76. Trash, like dull razors, empty containers, band-aid wrappers, and old packaging
77. Makeup brushes you never use or that need replacing
78. Worn towels and washcloths 
79. Cleaning products you never reach for
80. Burned candles or diffusers that have lost their scent
81. Decor and non-essential products that make your counter feel crowded
82. Hair tools that don’t work or you never use 
83. Duplicate combs, brushes, and hair accessories (keep the best, ditch the rest)

Linen Closet & Laundry Area

The linen closet and laundry area are easy to overlook, but they also tend to attract clutter and extra stuff. A quick tidy here will free up space and make everyday routines smoother.

84. Old towels and washcloths that need replacing
85. Blankets and comforters you no longer need or use
86. Duplicate sheet sets (keep two per bed, max)
87. Mismatched pillowcases or bedding
88. Table linens and cloth napkins that are stained or you never use
89. Worn bath mats and dingy shower curtains
90. Extra cleaning rags or cloths you don’t reach for
91. Laundry products you don’t use or that didn’t work well (consider donating to a local shelter)
92. Empty detergent bottles or packaging waiting to be recycled
93. Lost socks that haven’t found a match
94. Extra vases and decorative jars you never use

Desk & Home Office

A cluttered workspace makes it hard to focus. Clear out what you don’t use, keep only what supports your day-to-day work, and give every essential a simple home.

95. Old receipts and papers you no longer need
96. Used-up pens and dried-out markers
97. Extra office supplies: paper clips, binder clips, pens, pencils, Sharpies, rubber bands, etc. (Keep a small stash where you use them and store extras elsewhere—just not a lifetime supply.)
98. Outdated planners, notebooks, or sticky notes you no longer reference
99. Extra envelopes or stationery you’ll never use
100. Business cards — Add any worth keeping to your phone contacts and recycle the rest
101. Junk drawer items like batteries, random tools, or other things that don’t belong
102. Old electronics  manuals, cords, warranties, parts, or packaging 
103. Decor or desk accessories cluttering your usable surfaces
104. Old photos or cards that belong in a memory box, not your desk drawer
105. Paper piles — Sort these into three quick categories: to file, take action on, and to recycle/shred.

Kids’ Items

Kids’ stuff collects quickly, especially when they grow, change interests, or bring home new “treasures” almost daily! These quick edits help clear the excess with minimal effort:

106. Toys, games, and puzzles that are broken, missing pieces, or no longer played with (no need for a full toy declutter, just grab 5-10 and create some breathing room)
107. Books your kids have outgrown or lost interest in
108. Art and school supplies that are dried up or nearly empty (markers, glue sticks, paint)
109. Kids’ artwork and school papers that you don’t plan to keep (take a photo of anything that might be special before recycling)
110. Outgrown clothes, shoes, and accessories
111. Dress-up items or costumes that no longer fit or are falling apart
112. Party favors and small trinkets that are instantly forgotten and never get used
113. Stuffed animals that aren’t loved
114. Duplicates of similar toys 
115. Kids’ cups, plates, or utensils they’ve outgrown or that have seen better days
116. Old backpacks, lunch boxes, or sports gear that no longer fit their age or interests

Want more help tackling toys? My Toy Declutter Guide and free 5-day toy declutter challenge will walk you through what to keep, donate, or rotate.

Digital Clutter

You don’t need a complete tech overhaul to feel more organized. Start with a few small wins that instantly make your digital life less noisy:

117. Unneeded files in your downloads folder
118. Random screenshots, photos, or temporary files on your desktop
119. Unread or promotional emails (Delete and unsubscribe from as many as you can in 15 minutes)
120. Duplicate or unwanted photos on your camera roll (Delete 30 each day)  
121. Apps you don’t use anymore
122. Saved tabs or browser bookmarks you no longer need
123. Old text threads or group chats
124. Contacts you don’t recognize or haven’t messaged in years
125. Notifications that constantly interrupt your day

Keep Going

You’ve cleared physical and mental space—let’s keep that momentum going!

If you’re ready to dig deeper, here are a few ways to keep making lasting progress: 

• Need a full reset? Work through my complete guide on How to Declutter Your Home for a deeper, room-by-room plan to simplify every space.
• Clutter keeps coming back? Start with my SOS Declutter Method—a simple, step-by-step system to help you declutter, organize, and implement simple systems to help maintain your spaces.
• Want to organize your newly decluttered spaces? Use my 10 Rules for Organizing Any Room to set up simple systems that are easy to maintain.