How to be more ruthless when decluttering – 10 honest tricks to tackle 'doom piles' from expert organizers

Decluttering your home can be challenging, requiring multiple tough decisions all one after the other. Unsurprisingly, it can quickly become overwhelming, especially when we ponder over every item we pull out of storage.

Sometimes, however, a massive amount of clutter requires more rapid, ruthless decisions to help conquer 'doom piles' before they start to take over our home. But how do you be more ruthless when decluttering?

We spoke to professional home organizers who have shared their brutally honest advice to declutter ruthlessly to help you think and declutter like a minimalist.

How to be more ruthless when decluttering

Ruthless decluttering tips are not for the faint-hearted. Cutting back clutter en masse can require making very tough decisions very quickly which can be a trick for people who are new to decluttering and home organizing, or those of us who are decluttering sentimental items.

When wanting to make lots of big decisions quickly, use these tips for everyday areas such as decluttering clothes fast, or decluttering a kitchen, rather than your family heirlooms or art collection to help avoid decluttering regret.

1. Ensure all items in the category are together

You can’t declutter properly without a good idea of everything you own. With that in mind, Cori McDougald, professional home organizer and founder of Meat and Potatoes Organizing, suggests starting the process by gathering everything from one category together from around the house to help you make more informed decisions:

‘Once you’ve decided your priorities for your decluttering session, the next step would be to gather all of the items in that group. For example, if we were decluttering your closet, we’d want to first make sure we went through the entire house and gathered all clothing items, and laundry, and brought them all to a central location.

‘After that, we would want to sort all items by category. Being able to visualize each category (and the quantities associated with those categories) allows us to more easily say, 'I've got plenty of these (leggings or undershirts, for example) and I’d like to donate or sell the other 20 that I’m not using or wearing.’

2. Stop considering the price

One of the biggest obstacles to decluttering is always thinking about the price you paid for an item, and wondering if getting rid of it would be a waste of money. Avoiding thinking of the price is an essential mindset shift to prevent clutter, urges Jennifer Bell, lead organizer and owner at Bell Home Organizing:

‘When decluttering, stop considering the price you paid for an item. It is easy to get hung up on how expensive an item was when you initially purchased it. However, the truth is, it is not worth today, what you paid for it yesterday. If you hold onto an item thinking you will get top dollar one day, the item typically becomes damaged over time or obsolete. It is far better to either sell an item at a loss or donate it to someone who can cherish and use the item right now.

‘The key to being ruthless when decluttering is to remember that your items are not serving anyone by sitting in a storage room, or a musty basement or attic,’ she adds. ‘If the item is no longer serving you, let it go so that it can benefit someone else.'

3. Use the 20-20 rule

Sometimes, setting yourself some decluttering golden rules before you start can help you to be more ruthless, Cori McDougald, professional home organizer, suggests. She recommends trying the 20/20 rule for decluttering to help set yourself up for a successful decluttering session:

‘One more rule that we often use is the 20-20 rule. If the item is less than $20 and we can quite easily purchase it again if needed in less than 20 minutes, it’s often a good idea to get rid of the item.’

4. Think practically

‘When decluttering, I advise clients to prioritize functionality over sentimentality,’ says Sarah Schier, expert organizer and owner of Beautiful Life Creative Organizing. ‘If an item doesn't serve a practical purpose or make them happy, it's time to let it go.

‘For example, when you declutter your kitchen, focus on keeping only the essential tools and appliances you regularly use. This will give you the space to make prepping meals so much easier and less stressful. It cuts down on the time it takes to clean up, and it frees up space for the things you actually use.’

A great method for this is the Danshari decluttering technique. It helps you assess exactly what it is you really need in life to live more minimalistically, rather than reacting to clutter when it accumulates.

5. Does it spark joy?

‘Even though it’s become cliche to say, I always ask if the item brings you joy or if you actually need it,’ suggests Cori McDougald, professional home organizer. ‘If the answer is no, it’s time to let it go!’

But how do you know if an item sparks joy? You will be looking for items that, when you pick them up, you couldn’t imagine life without them, you know they always make your life easier, or they bring back a happy memory.

6. Think short term

We usually recommend thinking about the long term and investing in pieces and styles you know you will love. However, when it comes to decluttering, it is important to switch up your thinking and consider the short term instead, recommends Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing.

‘Base decisions on what is serving you in your life today!’ Andrea urges. ‘Don't base decisions on keeping items that served you in your life previously. Don't let your stuff prevent you from looking ahead to the future.’

7. Seek accountability

If you want to declutter ruthlessly but need to make letting go of stuff easier, consider working in tandem with a friend or family member, suggests Meaghan Kessman, expert home organizer:

‘Having someone to support and motivate you can make a big difference,’ she explains. ‘Accountability partners can provide a fresh perspective and help you stay committed to your goals.’

8. Start small

If you are stuck on where to start when decluttering ruthlessly, Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer, suggests working from smaller areas up to more daunting tasks to help get into the swing of being harsh on your belongings.

‘Start small and choose a space to set you up for success- a junk drawer, a small closet, or the corner of a congested room. The momentum of every completed task will keep you moving in the right direction.

9. One in, one out

If you want to be ruthless with the amount of stuff you own, but don’t want to declutter lots of things in one go, you could try something like the one-in, one-out rule to maintain your home and avoid increasing clutter. ‘For every new item brought into the home, an old or less frequently used item should be donated or discarded,’ says Sarah Schier, expert organizer. ‘This strategy has helped many of my clients maintain an organized and clutter-free closet. Shoe storage is often something we have limited space for, so this strategy can be helpful in that case.

‘I also teach this to my client's kids. It comes in handy to keep their stuffed animal collections to a reasonable size.’

10. Do it regularly

You don’t have to wait until you see the signs you are losing control of clutter and the pressure is mounting to start decluttering ruthlessly. Working little and often will help maintain a tidy, organized home without the added stress, reminds Meaghan Kessman, expert home organizer:

‘Decluttering isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process. Regular sessions help you stay on top of clutter and prevent it from accumulating. I recommend setting aside time each month for a decluttering session. Put it on your calendar as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.’

What’s more, the more often you declutter and be ruthless with yourself, the easier the process will become.

FAQs

How do I stop being overwhelmed by decluttering?

One of the best ways to stop feeling overwhelmed when decluttering is to work with a friend or professional to help make the task less isolating, help to hold you accountable, and share the burden of decision-making. This will instantly take some of the stress out of the process and make it more manageable. Starting small will also make a significant difference.

Decluttering ruthlessly can be an extreme way to tidy up your home, but ‘embracing minimalism encourages you to keep only what truly adds value to your life,’ Meaghan Kessman, expert home organizer, believes. ‘This mindset shift makes it easier to be ruthless when decluttering.’