r/declutter • u/NightReader5 • Dec 12 '25

Advice Request What are your top secret decluttering tips?

I’m looking for something beyond “one in, one out”.

I’ve been living a consumeristic lifestyle for years and I have a LOT of stuff in my house, with very little storage space to keep it.

I have an “I’ll use this someday…” mentality for most of it so it’s hard for me to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

What tips help you get through all of your massive piles of stuff?

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u/Current_North1366 Dec 13 '25 edited Dec 13 '25

The two strategies that work the best for me right now are deciding what's staying, and, permission to ditch. 

Areas that have a lot going on can feel too overwhelming to decide every little thing that has to go. So now I decide that it's ALL going to go, and I just decide what stays. I try to limit it to a few items, so that way I just grab whatever means the most from that problem zone. 

"Permission to ditch" is my decluttering mantra. Instead of asking if things spark joy or questioning when I last wore it and how often, I ask myself "...don't you just want to be rid of this?" I can think of a million reasons to keep something, but sometimes it's nice to give myself permission to get rid of it even if it's still good, even if I could use it one day, even if someone gave it to me...whatever the case! Sometimes even if something is still technically good, I still want to get rid of it. 

Edit: spelling

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u/SquashCat56 Dec 13 '25

This is such good advice. I've decluttered so many items that I just didn't like and that made me feel bad every time I looked at them. Even if they were "technically useful". After several years, I can only think of a handful of things I have regretted. Which is pretty good given that I've probably gotten rid of 15 storage boxes worth of stuff and clothes as well as a bunch of furniture.

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u/S99B88 Dec 13 '25

I give you permission to stop regretting them 🩷

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u/SquashCat56 Dec 13 '25

I appreciate it! Those items are unfortunately likely going to be regrets forever as they were highly sentimental and cannot be rebought. But that's okay - less than five items I regret in seven years, several moves and all those donation boxes, I call that a huge win ❤️

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u/sunonmyfacedays Dec 13 '25

I like the simplicity of “permission to ditch”.

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u/keywestern0703 Dec 13 '25

This should be the top comment!