5 things to ruthlessly declutter at 60 to free your soul – 'I no longer needed to carry 'proof' of my life because I had lived the story'

For many, turning 60 ushers in a period of reflection and transition. It brings a unique opportunity to reassess our surroundings, considering not just what we own but how it impacts our emotional well-being.

For retired museum curator Lorilee, a lifetime of collecting had become less about joy and more a quiet burden, prompting a gentle yet profound journey of decluttering to free her home, and her soul.

She worked with a professional organizer and some of the best decluttering methods to ruthlessly declutter five key categories at 60.

Why your 60s is the perfect time to go from 'keeper' to 'chooser'

Retired museum curator Lorilee's Illinois home was warm and welcoming, but burdened by clutter. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), she found herself easily overwhelmed by external stimuli, including the sheer volume of possessions she had accumulated over several decades.

Looking to create a more purposeful space to enjoy with her granddaughter, Lorilee sought the help of professional organizer and KonMari success coach Rebecca Jo-Rushdy.

Rebecca says, 'It was immediately clear how much care and intention Lorilee brought to her space, especially in how she preserved items connected to her professional identity and personal history. After 35 years as a museum curator, Lorilee saw herself as a steward, responsible for caring for objects with both historical and emotional value.

'But through the KonMari Method and our work together, Lorilee came to a powerful realization that she didn’t have to be the keeper of everything. She could choose what to carry forward. Reframing her role from 'keeper' to 'chooser' made the process more empowering, intentional, and gentle.'

These are the five categories the pair cleared out together:

1. Collectible ornaments

First on Lorilee's decluttering checklist was a vibrant collection of animal sculptures – brightly-colored birds, sleek cats, and other whimsical creatures she'd amassed from various sales and travels.

Lorilee says, 'Though I'd loved them once, I realised that these lively, hand-painted creatures no longer suited the calm environment I sought – they felt more like museum pieces than companions.

'With a soft cloth and a quiet thank you, I passed most to the museum. It felt good to give them to a space of learning, where their stories would continue.'

2. Jewelry

Lorilee's jewelry collection was a poignant mix of her cherished pieces and numerous items gifted over the years – some worn, some never. Each piece held a story, memory, or emotional tie, making decluttering them particularly difficult.

There were elegant necklaces, delicate earrings, and antique brooches, many tucked away in boxes, unseen for years. With the help of the one-emotion decluttering method, Rebecca guided her to try on each piece and consider how it felt.

Rebecca shares, 'Gifted items often carry invisible expectations. We explored the idea that gratitude doesn’t require keeping. If something no longer sparks joy, it may have already served its purpose. Letting go doesn’t erase the memory – it simply clears space for what’s most aligned now.'

Lorilee chose a special selection of jewelry to keep, packing them carefully for future family generations, with notes on their unique history. The rest were donated, with similar notes, to a charity close to her heart.

Rebecca also taught Lorilee value-based decluttering – that it was acceptable to be grateful for something while still choosing to release it. She showed her that it was time to purposefully select what brought joy and to display those cherished items more visibly, so they can be truly appreciated, rather than gather dust in a box.

Rebecca adds, 'As our declutter progressed, I saw a transformation in Lorilee, and letting go began to feel less like loss and more like liberation.'

3. Old user manuals

One area where Lorilee's curatorial instinct for preservation truly showed was in her collection of user manuals. Rebecca pointed out that almost all current manuals are available online, and historical ones held little practical value.

Lorilee says, 'My filing was certainly thorough – I even found a manual for a 1979 vacuum! But ultimately I realized it was nothing more than dusty clutter.'

Looking through her manuals and personal documents, Lorilee made sure to keep hold of important paperwork, but then set about getting rid of paper clutter. She scanned any important documents for digital keeping, then recycled the rest.

Lorilee adds, 'Getting rid of all that paper freed my soul. I realised I no longer needed to carry 'proof' of my life – I had lived the story.'

4. Expired cleaning sprays

Under Lorilee's kitchen sink had become affectionately know as her 'hidden komono' – a space that looked fine from the outside but was chaotic within.

It housed an astonishing array of cleaning sprays – many expired – plus plenty of miscellaneous items (or komono) that had mysteriously arrived there over time. The sheer volume was overwhelming, but Rebecca knew that helping Lorilee sort through it properly would significantly reduce the mental load.

Rebecca helped her realize that a smaller, curated collection of multi-purpose, effective cleaners was all she needed. They emptied, properly disposed of (following local guidelines for hazardous waste), and then organized the space for just a few essential products.

You can also ditch multiple tools for a compact and easy-to-store but versatile set, such as the Joseph Joseph cleaning system, available on Amazon. Our news writer Ottilie Blackhall tested and loved this system.

5. Inherited keepsakes

Decluttering sentimental clutter at any point in your life is difficult, but by 60, Lorilee had inherited many fascinating family heirlooms, some approaching their very own milestone birthday of 100. They included a 1930s cosmetics box, a vintage clear glass leech bowl from Rexall Drugs, and delicate 1930s Nippon ceramic hair receivers.

While Lorilee appreciated their history, holding onto every single piece felt less like an honor and more like an obligation, making her feel overwhelmed to declutter them. Rebecca guided her through a process of deep appreciation followed by mindful selection.

Lorilee says, 'First, I asked my daughter what items she wanted. Knowing the many she did and didn't gave me the clarity and freedom to start my declutter.

'I kept certain items, and even displayed some, transforming my basement family room walls into an eclectic art gallery. I figured that if I'm going to keep them, I may as well enjoy them. For those items that were sellable, I researched their market value and history, then placed a note with each for a rescue dog charity shop to sell.'

Though they may feel almost illegal to declutter, releasing long-held keepsakes, known as discharge decluttering, can lift a weight from the shoulders.

Professional organizer Rebecca adds, 'This was perhaps the most emotionally-layered category. Instead of keeping everything, we focused on preserving select, meaningful pieces. Lorilee found peace in keeping mementos that told her story and releasing the rest through thoughtful donations, in line with her values.'

Meet the expert

Rebecca Jo-Rushdy

With a background from Parsons School of Design, NYC, Rebecca is a KonMari success coach who helps clients around the world to declutter their homes, hearts, minds, and workplaces so they can instead become sanctuaries that spark joy and flow. She worked with Lorilee to help declutter her home.

Lorilee's journey from 'keeper' to 'chooser' was a profound one. It wasn't about discarding indiscriminately, but about making conscious, joyful choices about what truly enriched her life and deserved a place in her home and legacy.

By ruthlessly decluttering these five categories at 60, you too can go from loss to liberation.

Clutter contributes to overwhelm and anxiety – that’s why Homes & Gardens’ head of Solved Punteha van Terheyden recently ruthlessly decluttered things at 40 for a fresh start to a new decade. You can also discover why 'emotion magnets' are among the 4 things to declutter at 50.