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10 Quick and Easy Areas You Can Declutter in 10 Minutes Tops

November 6 // 1 Comment // 5 Minute Read

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Here’s how to declutter your home fast: tackle one of these ten clutter “hot spots” for a simpler, clutter-free home in minutes.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
 
So I've been watching Marie Kondo's new Netflix show and feeling completely overwhelmed! Like where do I even start!? I'm so glad I found this article because, hello, I need manageable steps--and there's even this handy checklist! Finally something I can actually accomplish without feeling like a failure for not finishing my WHOLE house in a weekend. Decluttering for the win! #decluttering #declutteryourhouse #mariekondo

Every time I see a decluttering calendar or hear a friend mention Marie Kondo’s Netflix show, I’m excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.

My perfectionistic self craves the completeness of such a project—where you work your way from top to bottom, clearing out the corner of every cabinet, closet, and drawer.

But while most of us would agree a methodical sweep through our entire home might be ideal, we can’t give the spark-joy test to every item we own in a single day (or week), unless we clear our calendars of everything else.

And let’s be honest—99% of us just don’t have that luxury!

Just to put it in perspective, I spent three months immersed in decluttering mode before moving almost everything we owned into a tiny RV.

By the end of it all, I was so over it!

How to Declutter Your Home Fast

So perhaps instead of tackling a whole-house decluttering plan all at once, here’s how to declutter your home fast: set your timer and tackle one of these ten clutter “hot spots” in the next ten minutes.

Related: The Root Cause of Clutter and How to Stop It!

They will freshen up your home in less time than it takes to make a phone call to your insurance company—promise!

Don’t you already feel relieved?!

MAKE YOUR DECLUTTERING DREAMS COME TRUE

Ready to declutter your home fast? All you need is ten minutes and this handy, printable checklist!

1. The front of your fridge

For a significant clutter-free impact on your kitchen, simplify the front of your fridge. Toss old invites, take down Christmas photo cards, and pack away kids’ artwork using these creative ideas.

Minimalist magnets will keep future items looking cohesive, or you can let your fridge go “naked” and move paperwork to a command center or inside a cabinet door.

2. The pencil cup

Kids can help with this one! Do a pen/pencil audit and make sure that:

  1. You throw away any writing utensils that no longer work and
  2. You keep only 1-2 similar items in the pencil cup (for instance, you can use only 1-2 black pens, highlighters, Sharpies, and pencils at a time, right?) and store the rest for when you need them.
Pencil cup on desk

3. The medicine cabinet

Go through and check expiration dates, tossing what you no longer need (here’s how to safely dispose of expired meds). Generally, medicine is good one year past the expiration date, but when in doubt, throw it away!

Then collect all the loose bandages and band-aids and corral them in a single container, organized by size.

4. Your makeup bag

Since you’re already in the bathroom and just finished decluttering your medicine cabinet, move over to your makeup bag and use the same process! Dump out everything (yes, everything!) and sort it into three piles: Toss, Keep, and Evaluate.

  • If an item is empty or you know you don’t like/want it (or it’s expired!), toss it!
  • If an item is a favorite, keep it!
  • If you pick up an item and hesitate, put it in the Evaluate pile.

This is important: do not put anything in the Evaluate pile back into your makeup bag. Keep them out on the counter and give yourself one week to try out those items and make sure that’s a shade of blush/lipstick/eyeshadow you actually like … if you do, great! Keep it. If not (or if you don’t get around to trying it within one week), toss it.

Remember to label your mascara while you’re at it!

Related: 3 Steps to Declutter Your Makeup Stash

5. Your purse

I know you don’t want to, but this is one “hot spot” we absolutely have to tackle! Take that purse, flip it over, and dump it out. Again, sort everything into three piles: Toss, Keep, and Re-home.

Toss the gum wrappers. Keep the wallet and lipstick. Re-home the receipts to a receipt jar. Rinse and repeat. Then use smaller bags or an insert to organize what goes back inside your purse for easy access.

6. Phone Apps

Comb through your various phone apps (try not to get distracted by social media!) and delete the ones you don’t use anymore or no longer need. Bonus perk: you’ll free up space on your phone which will help it run a lot faster!

Have extra time? Organize the remaining apps into folders.

7. Your fridge and freezer

Any food that sports extra growth, freezer burn, or just looks (and smells!) a little funky, send it straight into the trash.

Don’t forget to check expiration dates on all the sauces and dressings that hang out inside your refrigerator door, then add any condiments you need to restock to your grocery list.

Related: The Master List of Foods You Can and Cannot Freeze

8. Your car

Grab a couple of plastic grocery bags and go through the entire interior of your car. Toss any trash you find into one bag and use the other to collect items that belong back inside the house.

Whenever I’m missing cups from my ever-growing Tervis collection, I can usually find four or five of them hidden in our truck!

Here's how to declutter your home fast: try your hand at these ten clutter "hot spots." They take just ten minutes to tackle!

Pro tip: Create a “go box” in your car with items you might need when you’re out and about. Learn more car cleaning and organizing hacks HERE.

9. Kitchen Countertops

The most visible way to declutter your home fast? Clear off counter clutter by washing dishes, throwing away junk mail, filing paperwork you need in the right location, and just doing a general tidy-up session.

When you see all that countertop space peeking up at you, everything will suddenly feel right in the world…at least for a little while! (You may even be inspired to try a new recipe!)

10. The Junk Drawer

Last, but not least, it’s time to tackle the junk drawer. You know the one—the catch-all for items you have no idea where to store.

Dump everything out and say goodbye to anything you haven’t reached for in months (or years). Then re-home any items you now have a spot for but forgot about because they were shoved in the very back. Oops!

Here's how to declutter your home fast: try your hand at these ten clutter "hot spots." They take just ten minutes to tackle!

When you choose one bite-sized task per day for the next ten days, you’ll never be overwhelmed by a long-term purging spree again. Don’t forget to download the printable checklist HERE to keep track (and use it again and again when you need a decluttering refresh!)

In fact, the next time you find yourself waiting for your computer to update (Apple hijacks mine at the most inconvenient times!) or dinner isn’t quite done cooking yet, scan through your list to see what you can accomplish in the next 10 minutes.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be ready for a whole house decluttering plan in the future. But for now? Let’s keep it manageable, shall we?

What 10-minute area are you excited to tackle first?

 

 
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Norma | We Bananas says

    February 5 at 1:55 pm

    Love this idea! I think it’s much easier to hit the problem areas for a few minutes every day than it is to spend hours cleaning up a disaster zone. Same with laundry and dishes.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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When you want to “make over your finances”, wh When you want to “make over your finances”, what first comes to mind? 🤔💭

Cutting back on a few expenses? Overhauling your budget? Establishing an Emergency Fund...or increasing its size? 💰

These are ALL worthy endeavors. 👏

But none of those things matter if you don’t check in on your finances on a regular basis. 😳

It only takes a couple of days (or weeks) for that motivational wave of “I’m gonna become a financial rockstar” to wane... then fizzle out completely. 🤯

That’s why the most important financial habit you’ll ever create is a weekly finance routine. 📆

In this newly-released blog post, I’m sharing why a weekly finance routine will influence your bottom line more than anything else, as well as dish ALL the details of what I do, every Friday, to get in tune with my bank accounts and budgeting app. 📱

Want the link? Leave a money bag emoji in the comments below! 💰

If you have a similar routine (or want to adopt one for the first time!), I’d love to hear about it! 👇🏻
Over the past six months, I’ve changed. ⁣ ⁣ Over the past six months, I’ve changed. ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Joseph and I adopted a plant-based diet.⁣
2️⃣ I got the tattoo I’ve been wanting for years.⁣
3️⃣ And last November, we bought a motorcycle.⁣
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Needless to say, people have commented about my recent changes too.⁣
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Most are positive. 🥰⁣
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Others are not. 😳⁣
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But know the difference between wise counsel and someone who wants to subconsciously direct your life.⁣
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Because the critic doesn't get to live your life.⁣
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You do. 🥳
I’ve seen a lot of new faces follow me this mont I’ve seen a lot of new faces follow me this month—welcome! 👋

My name is Kalyn (swipe right to see my husband, Joseph, and I shivering at the beach). We travel full time in an RV, but are Floridians at heart. 60 degrees is NOT warm enough for a beach day! 🏝️

I started blogging in 2012 to share my love for saving money. Today, I help thousands of women live a more minimalist lifestyle, establish planning systems and routines, and pursue positive personal growth. 💪

It is a huge privilege to connect with you here. 🥰

Other random facts: I love to read (lately I’m a fan of psychological thrillers), crocheting relieves my anxiety, and I’m five months into eating a plant-based lifestyle. 🌱

I used to hate meal planning and being in the kitchen but going vegan helped me fall in love with cooking nutritious meals. 🍽️

New or not, thank you for adding me to your feed. I’m so grateful we connected on social media. 

Now it’s your turn! Share a random fact about yourself in the comments. I want to get to know you better! 💞
Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣ ⁣ Sadly, I find m Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
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This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖
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I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣ I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
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“I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣
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Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
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Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣
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➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃
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