Declutter challenge: 25 ideas for 30 days, 7 days or a whole year

30 day declutter challenge: pick your count

Each version below is a number you can check each evening, which is what sets it apart from a vague plan to tidy up, like the other 30 day challenge ideas.

• Let go of 1 item a day for 30 days: 30 items in all.
• Count up: 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2, and so on to 30 on day 30. That is 465 items.
• Fill 1 bag a day for 30 days with things to give, sell or recycle: 30 bags.
• Let go of 100 items this month, about 3 or 4 a day.
• Declutter for 15 minutes a day for 30 days, with a timer, and log each day you did it.

Where to start: a declutter challenge list, room by room

A whole home is too big to start on, so break it into small parts: one room, then one shelf or drawer at a time.

• Clear one kitchen drawer or cupboard a day for 10 days.
• Take out 20 clothes you have not worn in a year, and count each one.
• Clear the bathroom of every empty or out-of-date bottle and tube in one week.
• Sort 1 box or pile of paper a day until the pile is gone, and count the boxes.
• Clear one flat surface a day, like a table or a shelf, for 14 days.

7 day, 52 week and year long declutter challenges

A short challenge tests the habit in one week, and a long one works like a 365 day challenge: small days that add up.

• Clear one drawer a day for 7 days.
• Pick one spot of your home each week for 52 weeks, and tick it off when it is clear.
• Let go of 365 items in a year: one a day, or 7 each week.
• Fill one bag a week for 12 weeks.
• Clear one room each month for a year, one room at a time.

Declutter challenge ideas for a family or a friend

A shared count is a good fit for family challenge ideas, as long as each person decides about their own things.

• Each person picks 10 things of their own to give away this month.
• Clear one shared space a week as a family for 4 weeks: hall, kitchen, living room, car.
• Fill a box of toys and books to give away before a birthday or a holiday.
• Race a friend to 100 items this month, and compare counts each Sunday.
• Take 20 minutes on Saturday morning to clear one spot together, for 8 weeks.

After the challenge: keep it clear

Fewer things come in when you buy less, and a no spend challenge is a good next step after a month of clearing out.

• For every new thing that comes home, let one go, for 3 months.
• Wait 7 days before you buy anything that is not food or a bill, for a month.
• Clear the one spot that always fills up, like a table or a chair, every Sunday for 8 weeks.
• Keep one box by the door for things to give away, and take it out each time it is full.
• Run the challenge again in 6 months and compare the totals.

How many items should you declutter?

There is no right number, but there is a right way to pick one: choose a count you can check. The three common shapes give very different totals. One item a day for 30 days is 30 items. Counting up, 1 on day 1 and 30 on day 30, is 465 items. One full bag a day is 30 bags.

A small home or a busy month suits 30 items or 100 items. A full home with closets that will not shut suits the count-up or the bags. A review of 35 years of goal research found that specific, hard goals lead to higher performance than being told to do your best. "Clear out the house" has no finish line. "465 items by 30 November" does.

Decide what counts before day 1. A pair of socks can be one item or two. A pile of old papers can be one item or each sheet. Write your rule down, so a tired evening does not have to decide it.

How to track a declutter challenge

Write down how many things went out each day, and add them up. A review of 138 studies found that people who monitored their progress reached their goals more often, and the effect was larger when the progress was recorded.

A missed day is not a reason to stop. In a study of how long habits take to form, missing one day did not change the outcome. On a count-up challenge, a missed day can be made up later, since what matters is the total.

A list on the fridge works. A dot grid that fills one dot for every item you let go shows the total adding up, and many people find that seeing it grow can help them keep going.

Frequently asked questions

How many items should I declutter in 30 days?

Pick one of three shapes. One item a day is 30 items. Counting up from 1 on day 1 to 30 on day 30 is 465 items. One bag a day is 30 bags. Choose the one that fits the size of your home and your month.

Where should I start a declutter challenge?

Start with the smallest, easiest space, like one kitchen drawer or the bathroom shelf. A quick win on day 1 shows you how the challenge feels. Leave photos, letters and gifts for later, when you have had some practice.

What do I do with the things I declutter?

Sort them into three boxes as you go: give, sell and recycle or throw away. Take the give box out each week, so things do not pile up by the door. Check your local rules for what can be recycled.

What if I miss a day of the declutter challenge?

Keep going. A missed day is one empty day, not a reason to start again. If you are counting up to 465, you can catch up on a weekend, since the total is what you are filling.

How long does it take to declutter a whole home?

It depends on the home. Many people do one room at a time over a few months, or one spot a week for a year. A 30 day challenge is a good first push, not the whole job.