“Everything You Don’t Use in a Year Should Be Thrown Away” and 4 Other Decluttering Myths

Unfortunately, in most cases, hacks don’t work. Today we’ll find out what decluttering is, what it’s often confused with, and what myths about getting rid of unnecessary things you shouldn’t believe. Are you ready? Then let’s get started!

“Decluttering is a term that’s often used when talking about cleaning or organizing things. Ultimately, the true meaning is lost because decluttering is really about getting rid of things you no longer need,” says Darla DeMorrow, a professional space organizer.

In simple terms, decluttering means removing all unnecessary stuff from your home. Why do we need to set such tight boundaries? According to Darla, it’s very important – if you include cleaning and creating a storage system in decluttering, then the task will become overwhelming and there’s a high risk that you’ll simply never take it on.

“Can you do spring cleaning in one day? Good answer: yes, if you just need to supervise the cleaners. This doesn’t work with decluttering: you have to do everything yourself. Plus, you have to make a lot of decisions about the value of things – ask any psychologist and they’ll tell you it’s very exhausting,” says home decluttering expert Gabriella Dyson.

How long does it take to declutter? As much as you need. You don’t need to tackle one closet at a time – if you now only have enough strength for one shelf or even to assess the need and usefulness of a separate item, don’t try to do more. “Take your time: you need to make an informed decision and not do something you will regret,” says Gabriella.

For example, don’t forget to throw away your son’s children’s drawings, who has long since grown up, or your grandmother’s old moth-eaten shawl, which you are afraid to touch, in case it falls apart! This is a very common myth: it is believed that when decluttering, you should get rid of everything you don’t use (for example, within a year).

“The goal of decluttering is to throw away, sell, or donate things you don’t need. If you value that teddy bear you slept with when you were five, then keep it—the things that make us happy are worth a lot. Instead, focus on identifying what no longer serves you, whether practically or emotionally,” advises Millie Naor, a professional space organizer.

Okay, but what if you are attached not only to a bear, a shawl and drawings, but also to several dozen other things whose only meaning is memory? Space organizer Amanda Wyss believes that it is enough to give yourself time.

“Ask yourself: Will you miss this in a year? What about in a month or a week? Take your time. In my experience, it can take up to eight interactions with an item to make a decision. If you’re not ready to throw out that old tablecloth now, maybe next time you can,” Amanda says.

Plus, there are other ways to preserve memories. “You’re not doing your favorite photographs justice if they sit on the back shelf of your closet for years. It might be worth scanning them and creating an online album,” advises Hayley Anderson, a professional space organizer.

By the way, for next time! Can you imagine a cleaning that can be done once and for all? Neither can we. (Too bad!) The same rule applies to decluttering.

“It’s an ongoing process. If you don’t come back to it again and again, things will pile up again. Also, remember reuse: Don’t try to declutter your entire home at once. Do it gradually,” says Kathy Cohun, director of the cleaning company.

Katie recommends starting small, focusing on one room or type of item (for example, going through all the pots and pans in the kitchen).

“This will help you feel good about yourself and become a practical person. Make decluttering a part of your life: For example, keep a container for things you no longer need and, when it’s full, take them all to a place that accepts donations,” advises Cohun.

Minimalism is considered the best way to keep your home tidy and even an interior design trick: the less visual noise, the more beautiful the space. And, in general, it is, but there is one important “but”: minimalism is not equal to asceticism.

“Minimalism gets a bad rap these days that it doesn’t deserve. The bottom line is that you should only keep what you love and use. For example, if you have two graters, one for cheese and one for vegetables, there’s no need to throw one away,” says professional organizer Aimee Hutzell.

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