Decluttering hacks that actually work for a fall home reset

After a summer of friends, activities and art projects, it feels like there’s something on every surface and in every corner. Fall is the perfect time for a home reset. Try these simple tips to clear all the clutter, organize your space and start a daily cleaning routine to stay on top of it.

Start a fall decluttering plan

No matter how good you are at putting things away, sometimes you really do have too much stuff. Sorry, even cute organizing bins won’t solve the problem.

Admittedly, it’s hard to get rid of stuff you spent money on or your mom gave you. But here’s the deal: You’ve already used and appreciated it. So here’s your permission. Let. It. Go. The unflattering green sweater? Sell it. The box of old cables you never open? Toss it.

Easy ways to declutter the house

The idea of decluttering your entire home is inspiring but also overwhelming. To avoid getting discouraged, plan to work systematically. Focusing on one room at a time is much more manageable. And, as a bonus, you’ll get those “Good for you!” endorphins sooner to keep you motivated.

A decluttering four-pile rule

Making decisions can be stressful emotionally, even when you want to get rid of stuff. Maybe you’ll need it again one day. Maybe it was a gift from a loved one.

Cut down on the guilt by giving yourself multiple options. For each room, use four boxes: keep, sell, donate and toss. If you are waffling on whether you should keep an item or not, ask yourself some quick questions:

• Do you use it every day or month? Does it hold significant, special meaning? Keep it.

• Is it still in good condition? Would this be valuable to someone else? Sell it.

• Is it in OK shape, but not worth your time to sell? Donate it.

• Is it damaged with holes, chips or stains? Toss it.

If you still feel uncomfortable about donating or throwing your stuff away, put those boxes in a corner of the room or out in the garage for a predetermined amount of time, maybe a week or a month. It’ll give your mind time to let go.

Use KSL Classifieds to sell your unwanted stuff

Give outgrown clothes a second life by selling or donating them.

What should you declutter?

Every room collects its own type of clutter. Have a plan for what items you’re ready to part with.

Bedrooms

When kids start a new school year, it’s the perfect time to go through everyone’s drawers and closets. Clear out clothes and shoes they’ve outgrown. Then tackle the playroom. Toys, games and even those unused birthday gifts can be sold on KSL Classifieds or donated to free up space.

Bathrooms

It seems like bathroom shelves are always crowded with unnecessary containers — cold medicine long past its expiration date, half-full scented lotions you didn’t really like. Throw them out.

All those unopened hotel shampoos and soaps you’ve collected but will never use? Donate them to a local women’s shelter.

Baby furniture

If your baby is now a third grader, it’s time to clear out all that baby gear. Sell your stroller, crib, toddler bed, high chair and all the other stuff you aren’t using anymore. Another new parent will appreciate it, and you’ll be grateful for more room for big kid stuff.

Garage

The camping gear you’ve only used once, the weights you no longer lift, the equipment from sports you no longer play — if they still have plenty of life in them, make some cash selling them on KSL Classifieds to someone who will use them.

Junk drawers only exist because they aren't organized. Corral like-items in small trays.

Kitchen

The latest small appliances seemed like a good idea at the time: rice cookers, air fryers, crock pots, pressure cookers. Maybe you used them once, but you just don’t anymore. When they’re just taking up space, it’s time to let them go.

Office

If you haven’t touched an item in over a year — aside from shoving it out of the way — you won’t miss it. Sell your used electronics such as cameras, laptops, cell phones and speakers. 

Create a listing on KSL Classifieds

What items can you donate?

Many of your unneeded items would be appreciated by local organizations. Donate books, puzzles and toys to a community program. Office supplies, such as paper reams, could go to your local school.

Non-expired pantry staples would be welcomed by a food pantry or homeless shelter. Extra towels or blankets are appreciated at animal rescue agencies. A local preschool or senior center may welcome craft supplies such as yarn and paint.

Donate your gently used toys to a community program or shelter.

How to stay organized

Now that you’ve gotten rid of the excess, you can neatly organize what you have. This is where those baskets and bins come in.

Give everything a home

Keep similar items together so you’ll know where to find them — and where to put them back. Pro tip: Store stuff where you actually use it. If the kids do homework or crafts at the kitchen table, store paper, pencils and crayons in a kitchen cupboard.

Remember to use your vertical space. For example, hooks on the inside of closet doors make it easy to grab regularly used jackets, hats and bags. Maybe it will encourage your kids to actually hang up their coats and backpacks.

Maximize your drawers

Keep your kitchen drawers orderly with individual trays. For example, instead of having a junk drawer where you can’t find anything, you’ll have an organized help center with pens, scissors, bandages — whatever you keep in there. If there are items that don’t fit, find a new place to store them or throw them away.

When everything has a designated place, your family is more likely to put it away.

Store like items together

Items that work together should be stored together: cleaning rags with the shower scrub and window cleaner, gift wrap with scissors and tape.

Keep seasonal items, such as holiday decor, in dedicated bins to prevent clutter sprawl. You can take decorations out for a holiday, and when it’s over, you put them all right back where they came from. If something gets broken or your decor has changed, don’t pack it up for next year. 

Find storage bins on KSL Classifieds

Keep daily organization habits

Make daily organization part of your home reset to keep the clutter from getting out of control.

• Clean as you go: Wipe counters as you’re cooking, put dishes directly in the dishwasher instead of in the sink, hang up coats when you take them off.

• Deal with clutter immediately: Junk mail can go right in the trash, art projects can be hung on the refrigerator until the next one comes in.

• Do a 10-minute reset: At the end of each day, everyone spends 10 minutes putting things back where they belong.

• Never leave empty-handed: When you’re headed to a new room, return something that belongs where you’re headed.

• One-in, one-out: When you buy something new, remove something old.

• Revisit high-traffic spots often: Kitchen counters, the entryway and living room get cluttered fast. Each week, spend time deep cleaning these trouble areas.

Simple steps can help you stay clutter-free

A cleaner home doesn’t mean you need a complete overhaul or a perfectly organized house. Your goal is to make your home comfortable to live in. If you’re prone to clutter, stay on top of it with these small daily habits and smart organization.

Find more inspiration for home organization and decor on the KSL Classifieds Resource page.