Decluttering 101: What to Keep, Donate, and Toss

Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter but unsure where to start? Welcome to Decluttering 101—your practical guide to simplifying your home and deciding what stays, what finds a new home, and what needs to go.

Step 1: Set the Stage

Before diving in, choose a small space to start—like a single drawer, a closet, or one room. Have three bins or bags labeled: KEEP, DONATE, and TOSS.

Step 2: The Keep Pile

Keep items that:

  • You use regularly

  • You truly love or that spark joy

  • Serve a specific purpose or are hard to replace

  • Are in good condition and work properly

Pro tip: If it’s seasonal or sentimental, make sure it has a designated space.

Step 3: The Donate Pile

Donate items that:

  • You no longer use but are in good, clean condition

  • Don’t fit your current lifestyle

  • Are duplicates (how many coffee mugs do you really need?)

  • Could be genuinely useful to someone else

Places to donate: Local shelters, community centers, thrift stores, or nonprofit organizations.

Step 4: The Toss Pile

Toss items that:

  • Are broken, expired, or stained

  • Can’t be repaired or cleaned

  • Have missing parts or are no longer safe to use

Eco-friendly tip: Recycle when possible—old electronics, batteries, paper, and certain plastics.

Step 5: Follow Through

  • Immediately bag and drop off donation items

  • Take out the trash and recycling the same day

  • Put your KEEP items back in an organized way

Final Thoughts

Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, be honest, and remember—it’s not about having less, it’s about making room for what matters most.

Ready to tidy up your home? Let The Tidy Home Nashville help you make it happen!

Carli from The Tidy Homeplayroom, kids, kid spacesComment