Find out 20 simple things you can start decluttering in your kitchen today! Tips for how to start decluttering your kitchen when feeling overwhelmed from start to finish without leaving your kitchen in a mess.
This easy, no regret decluttering method will help you declutter with confidence! Get the best kitchen decluttering checklist and tips to get started on your road to a more peaceful, minimal home.
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How to start decluttering – No Mess 15 Min Power Decluttering
The best advice is to gather all the supplies you’ll need then set the timer for just 15 minutes of power decluttering. Once the timer is done, you’re done, with no mess!
Here’s how no mess decluttering works…
- Grab a black trash bag for trash,
- a donation box/black trash bag and
- a box that will serve as the Time Will Tell Box.
When the timer goes all you have to do is take the trash bag to the garbage bin. Black is key so no kiddo get’s all sentimental on you when they see all their “treasures” that they haven’t cared about for weeks!
Next, place the donation box/bag in the back of the car.
Lastly, put a date on the Time Will Tell box for a few month from now. Keep it where you’ll remember to donate it, but somewhere it won’t be disturbed by curious little helpers.
How to start decluttering when overwhelmed?
Decluttering and having a low inventory makes a huge difference of having and keeping a clean home. Having a minimalistic home lowers stress and gives you more band with and time to enjoy the things that matter to you!
But sometimes we’re just too overwhelmed by all the stuff everywhere we look to even know where to start!
If this is you I’d encourage you to use the checklist I’ve provided for you to get started. Then simply do the 15 minute power decluttering method I outlined above. It works with the 3 supplies I shared above, without needing to pull all your stuff out only making a bigger mess!
Schedule 15 minutes a day or a week until you feel like you’re making progress and able to declutter for longer! It’s like working out, as you practice your decluttering muscles will get stronger!
The Time Will Tell Box is so key when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Because you don’t have to worry about throwing away something you may need later. You have the security of letting time tell you if your decision was correct or not. More than likely, you were right!
Regret Free Decluttering Hack!
What if I think I might need this item still?
Enter the “Time Will Tell” box! This is a brilliant system that totally works, I got this idea from Dawn, a minimalist mom. You don’t have to worry about donating something you’re not quite sure if you’ll need or not.
It makes it so you can go deeper with decluttering, knowing if it’s not working you can simply pull the item(s) back out from the Time Will Tell box.
How does the Time Will Tell box work?
Have a box that you put all the items you think you may be able to declutter, but are not quite sure still. It’s like a safety net, or in this case box for the things you’re having a hard time deciding to declutter. Time will help you tell if you can actually live without the stuff or not.
The Time Will Tell box makes making decision much easier! Plus you’ll never have to go through it again if you didn’t miss any of the items.
Close the Time Will Tell box and place a date on it a few months down the road when you plan to take the box – without opening it – to your donation centre. If it’s a seasonal thing then give yourself more time.
This decluttering system works beautifully!
Decluttering Tips: What to declutter first?
Let’s start with the easiest things to declutter first. Stay away from sentimental items and paper clutter for now. Also start with your own stuff (unless you have little kids) your family will care! So I suggest you start in the kitchen. It’s the area you know what you use on a regular basis, and other than a personalized mug, most members of your family won’t feel attached to these items either.
When decluttering kitchen items I like to think, could we get away with only having one or one per person.
If this feels a bit too intense for you to start, choose your own number. However, I’d encourage you to choose no more than 2 per person. Sound impossible, try it, especially with dishes!
For example: 1 mug, 1 water bottles, 1 plate, 1 bowls per person, 2-3 forks/knives/spoons. You get the idea?. This will make doing dishes so quick, no more big piles as people will always pull from the clean stack before washing a dish.
20 Item Kitchen Decluttering Checklist
These items are so easy to start decluttering in your kitchen as they aren’t personal and you know what you are always reaching for. Having less inventory will help you keep it tidy and clean faster.
So as a mom, let’s start in the kitchen because it’s your domain. And unless your family really cares about their personalized cups or mugs, you have free rein!
Remember, if you’re not totally sure about anything, then place it in your Time Will Tell box.
- Extra mugs (1-2 per person is plenty)
- Extra water bottles, travel mugs
- Extra cups (including extra kids cups)
- Extra bowls (1-2 per person
- Extra plates (1-2 per person)
- Extra silverware (2-3 per person)
- Plastic containers that don’t have lids
- Duplicate kitchen items like whisks, flipper, rolling pins, etc.
- Excessive bread ties and rubber bands
- Pots and pans past their prime that you don’t use
- Small appliances you have duplicates of
- Appliances you NEVER USE!
- Recipe books you never open
- Old tea towels that are ripped and torn
- Serving dishes you no longer use
- Extra kitchen scissors (especially ones that no longer cut)
- Expired or empty cleaning products
- Expired food in the fridge
- Clutter on the outside of your fridge
- Extra pot holders (keep what will fit on your table/counter when serving)
Is it possible to have a minimalist kitchen and still host?
Yes! Truly, it’s actually easier because your kitchen has less clutter it’s quicker to clean up!
Keep a company bin of extra dishes plastic, glass or paper in your basement or a cabinet you don’t use often. Along with a tray of silverware or plastic. Whatever is easiest for you.
How many dishes and silverware do you keep in the company bin?
The answer is based on how many people is the max number you have or would host. Whatever this number is simply keep one set per person, plus 2-3 sets of silverware per person.
Simply pull out this bin when you’re having company over and when they leave put it away. Simple!
What do to with decluttered kitchen items?
CONGRATULATIONS, you’ve lowered your inventory, it’s a big deal! Do you feel just a bit lighter and a bit stronger at making tough decisions?
So now that you’re decluttering what to do with all the old stuff? Well there are a few options, some are easier than others. Consider your season of life and what you need right now in deciding.
- Sell items that are in good condition. This could be on FB market place or some other platform.
- Take items that are in good condition to a local second hand store.
- Put the broken, non-reusable items into black garbage bags and toss it.
- Alternatively, put everything into a trash bag an toss it if you don’t have the bandwidth to do the other suggestions.
Don’t let guilt stop you from getting started!
I know, throwing items is not sustainable, and trust me I do care about our planet. But I also care about you mental health. This stuff is causing you stress and is always in the back of your mind like a silent to do list. So take the load off and if you in your current season you can’t sort or sell, then bag it all up and toss it. It’s ok.
As you flex your decluttering muscles over time you will get better at it, promise! The decision making will get easier with practice. Then you will have more bandwidth to sort and possibly even decluttered items. Just don’t let this guilt you’re carrying stop you from getting started.
Go ahead and pin this to your Cleaning & Organization board for later!
Did you decluttered your kitchen using this no mess 15 minute power decluttering system before? I’d love to know how it went, let me know in the comments below!
Freebie – Meal Planning Template
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Snag this FREE Printable: Meal Planning Template
I completely agree! De-cluttering and living a minimalist lifestyle makes home life run much more efficiently!
I love the idea of a time will tell box! I will be using that next time I declutter!
I love how practical this blog post is! Something that I was just thinking about is how I’ve collected so many mugs and cups. You’ve inspired me to go through them and get rid of some of them. 🙂
That’s wonderful! Yes, the mugs among other things do add up quickly. Wishing you all the best as you declutter your kitchen!
This is so inspiring! A few years ago I decluttered our kitchen down to one item per person, and it changed everything. We didn’t have a dishwasher at the time and cleaning the kitchen got so much easier after going minimalist. Haha. Of course, over time more items creeped back in. Time to declutter again! Thank you so much for the reminder!
That’s so awesome that you’ve had the experience of how amazing having a decluttered kitchen is. Clean up is so fast! Cheers to you as you work to declutter your kitchen again!
Great post! Decluttering can be intimidating, but you did a great job making it seem doable! I need to go declutter my kitchen now. 🙂
Thanks! I’m so glad to hear this, having a simplified kitchen is so much easier and feels so good. You’ve got this!
Love the Time will tell box idea! Never heard of that! With a large family, I am always decluttering, and I’ve never heard of this idea! Definitely will help my kids in their decisions too.
Oh yes, the time will tell box is a total life saver to decluttering, especially with kids! I’m so glad you found it helpful.
Love it. Will try and use it.
I also declutter many machines that double up. Like many mini blenders and get one only, that’s does it all. Many bowls I never use , Cookers too 🙂 less mess to use , less stuff to deal with.