14 Quick Decluttering Tasks You Can Do in Under 10 Minutes

We all know the feeling of a home cluttered with bits and bobs we don’t need, but who has the time for a full-on declutter session?

The good news is, you don’t need hours on end to make a noticeable difference.

In this post, we’ll explore 14 quick decluttering tasks that you can tackle in under 10 minutes. These short bursts of tidying up can not only improve the look and feel of your home but also boost your mood and productivity. So, let’s dive in and start reclaiming your space, one quick task at a time!

Clear Off Kitchen Counters

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and its counters are prime real estate. A cluttered counter can make the whole room feel chaotic.

Here’s how to streamline your kitchen surfaces quickly:

1. Remove Non-Essentials: Start by taking everything off the counters. Only put back items that you use daily, like the coffee maker or toaster.
2. Designate a Spot for Papers: Kitchen counters often become a dumping ground for mail, flyers, and school papers. Designate a basket or folder elsewhere to keep these papers off the counters.
3. Use Vertical Space: Install hooks or a magnetic knife strip to free up counter space. Hanging utensils or knives can make them easily accessible while giving you more room to work.
4. Immediate Clean-Up: After using appliances or preparing food, clean up immediately. This habit prevents clutter from accumulating and makes the task less daunting.

Organize Your Desk

A cluttered desk can hinder your productivity and make it difficult to focus.

Take 10 minutes to create a workspace that inspires efficiency:

1. Prioritize Your Items: Quickly sort through everything on your desk. Keep only the most essential items out, like your computer, a notebook, and a pen. Everything else can be stored away.
2. Use Desk Organizers: Invest in a desk organizer or use small containers to keep your supplies tidy. Assign a place for everything, and make sure everything returns to its place after use.
3. Manage Your Cables: Use cable organizers or clips to keep cords from tangling. This not only looks neater but also makes it easier to unplug and move electronics when needed.
4. Implement a ‘One In, One Out’ Rule: Whenever you bring a new item to your desk, make sure to remove one. This will keep the clutter at bay and force you to consider what you really need within arm’s reach.

Purge Your Purse or Wallet

Your purse or wallet is something you carry with you every day, and it can become a portable junk drawer if you’re not careful.

Streamline your essentials with these tips:

1. Empty Everything Out: Start by taking everything out of your purse or wallet. This will give you a clear view of what you’re carrying around.
2. Sort Through Receipts and Papers: Discard any receipts or papers you no longer need. Consider using an app to digitize important receipts you want to keep.
3. Limit Cards: Go through all your cards and keep only the ones you use regularly. Store or shred the rest.
4. Organize by Frequency of Use: Put the items you use most often in easily accessible spots. Less frequently used items can go in deeper compartments or pockets.

Sort Through Your Mail

An overflowing mail pile can be a constant source of stress.

Keep it under control with these quick actions:

1. Create a Mail Station: Designate a spot in your home for mail. Use a letter tray or wall organizer to separate incoming and outgoing mail.
2. Immediate Action: As you sort through your mail, immediately recycle junk mail. For bills or important letters, use a ‘take action’ folder where you can store them until you’re ready to address them.
3. Regularly Review: Make it a habit to check your mail station daily or every other day. This prevents the pile from growing and keeps you on top of your correspondence.
4. Go Paperless: Where possible, opt for paperless billing or digital subscriptions to reduce the amount of mail coming into your home.

Declutter a Junk Drawer

Almost every home has a junk drawer filled with miscellaneous items. Here’s how to tackle it quickly:

1. Empty and Sort: Take everything out and sort it into categories. You’ll likely find pens, batteries, takeout menus, and other random items.
2. Purge Unnecessary Items: Be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in the last six months and it doesn’t have a clear future use, it’s time to let it go.
3. Use Drawer Organizers: Small bins or dividers can keep categories of items neatly separated and easy to find.
4. Maintain Order: Once you’ve organized the drawer, make a habit of reviewing its contents monthly to prevent clutter from building up again.

Edit Your Bookshelf

Bookshelves can become cluttered with more than just books. Use this quick task to refresh your collection:

1. Remove Everything: Start with a blank canvas. Take all items off the shelf for a clear view of what you have.
2. Sort Books: Decide which books you want to keep, donate, or sell. If you haven’t touched it in years and don’t plan to, it’s time to pass it on.
3. Organize Thoughtfully: When placing books back on the shelf, consider organizing them by genre, color, or size for a visually pleasing arrangement.
4. Limit Knick-Knacks: Decorative items should enhance, not overwhelm your bookshelf. Keep these to a minimum for a cleaner look.

Refresh Your Medicine Cabinet

Expired or unused items can quickly take over your medicine cabinet. Here’s how to declutter it swiftly:

1. Check Expiry Dates: Safely dispose of any medication that is past its expiration date.
2. Consolidate Products: If you have multiple half-used bottles of the same product, combine them to save space.
3. Prioritize Accessibility: Keep the items you use most at eye level and within easy reach.
4. Restock Essentials: Take note of any essentials you’re running low on and make a plan to restock them.

Manage Your Makeup Collection

An overflowing makeup bag can slow down your morning routine and make it hard to find the products you actually use. Streamline your beauty regimen with these steps:

1. Lay It All Out: Empty your makeup bag or drawer and lay out all your products so you can see everything you have.
2. Check Expiration Dates: Makeup has a shelf life. Mascara, for example, should be replaced every 3 months to prevent eye infections. Toss anything that’s past its prime.
3. Keep Favorites, Toss Duplicates: If you have multiple similar shades or products you never use, keep your favorite and let go of the rest.
4. Clean Your Tools: Quickly wipe down your makeup brushes and sponges with a daily cleanser to prevent the buildup of bacteria.

Tidy a Coat Closet

Coats, scarves, and boots can make your entryway closet a mess. Keep it functional with a quick tidy-up:

1. Sort Through Outerwear: Pull out all the coats and jackets. If the season is changing, store away out-of-season items and donate any that you no longer wear.
2. Organize Accessories: Use bins or baskets to store scarves, gloves, and hats. Consider a shoe rack for an orderly arrangement of shoes and boots.
3. Install Hooks for Bags: To keep purses and backpacks off the floor, install hooks inside the closet door where you can hang them neatly.
4. One-In-One-Out Rule: If you purchase a new item, make sure to remove an older, less-used item to prevent overcrowding.

Declutter Your Digital Space

Digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter. Keep your digital life running smoothly with these quick fixes:

1. Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails: Take 10 minutes to unsubscribe from newsletters or promotions you no longer read. This will reduce inbox clutter and save you time in the future.
2. Clear Your Desktop: File away documents into clearly labeled folders and delete any files you no longer need.
3. Organize Your Browser: Delete bookmarks you no longer use and organize the rest into folders. Consider using a tool to manage your tabs if you tend to keep many open at once.
4. Update Your Apps: Remove any apps you don’t use from your phone or computer. This will free up storage space and make it easier to find the apps you do use.

Organize a Pantry Shelf

A cluttered pantry can make meal prep frustrating. Tidy up quickly with these tips:

1. Choose One Shelf: Focus on decluttering just one shelf at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2. Check Dates: Remove items from the shelf and check expiration dates. Dispose of anything that’s expired.
3. Group Like Items: As you return items to the shelf, group similar items together, such as baking ingredients, canned goods, or snacks. This makes it easier to find what you need.
4. Use Baskets or Bins: Contain loose items like packets of sauce or bags of pasta in baskets or bins for a neater appearance.

Refresh Your Refrigerator

A clean refrigerator helps you see what you have and reduces food waste. Here’s how to declutter it quickly:

1. Work Shelf by Shelf: Like with the pantry, tackle one shelf at a time to make the task more manageable.
2. Discard Old Leftovers: Get rid of any leftovers that have been sitting for too long and any produce that has gone bad.
3. Wipe Down Surfaces: As you clear each shelf, give it a quick wipe down to keep your refrigerator clean and hygienic.
4. Reorganize Thoughtfully: Put items back in a way that makes sense for your cooking habits, with the most frequently used items at the front.

Declutter Your Nightstand

A clutter-free nightstand can promote a more restful sleep. Make it a sanctuary with these steps:

1. Remove Unnecessary Items: Start by removing anything that doesn’t belong or isn’t used regularly before bedtime.
2. Prioritize Essentials: Keep only what you need, such as a book you’re currently reading, a lamp, and your alarm clock or phone.
3. Minimize Visual Clutter: Store away items like chargers, glasses, or earplugs in the drawers or in a small container on top.
4. Daily Tidy Up: Make it a habit to clear off your nightstand each morning to maintain a serene bedroom environment.

Assess Your Wardrobe

An overstuffed closet can make getting dressed a chore. Streamline your clothing with these quick steps:

1. Focus on a Segment: Whether it’s shirts, pants, or another category, focus on one type of clothing at a time.
2. Make Quick Decisions: Hold up each item and decide if you love it and wear it regularly. If not, it’s time to donate or sell.
3. Organize by Category: Once you’ve pared down, organize your clothes by category and color. This will make finding what you want to wear much easier.
4. Use Matching Hangers: Switching to one type of hanger can make your closet look neater and save space.

Conclusion

Regular, quick decluttering sessions can make a significant difference in the cleanliness and organization of your home. By setting aside just 10 minutes a day to tackle these simple tasks, you can maintain a space that feels orderly and stress-free. The key is consistency and making decluttering a habit. Start with one task today, and you’ll be on your way to a clutter-free home in no time!