How to purge your space (11 decluttering hacks for lazy people)

Let’s face it- decluttering isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, especially if you’re not ultra-motivated.

To me, it sometimes feels like trying to roll a boulder over a hill. I mean, it’s hard enough to convince yourself to even begin in the first place; and when you do it feels like the more you clean, the more work you have to do!

It’s honestly really frustrating!

At the end of the day, though, it’s something that still needs to get done. 

Decluttering will always be a struggle, but with these 11 hacks, I guarantee it won’t be as big of a nightmare as it previously was.

Here are 11 decluttering hacks to help you organize your space

The Five-Minute Rule

Let’s start with something so simple you won’t even realize you’re doing it. Set aside just five minutes a day for decluttering. Set a timer, tackle one spot, and boom! You’re done before you can even say “procrastination.” 

You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in such a short time with just this hack alone.

Box it up, ship it out

Place a box in each room of your house labeled “Donate,” “Trash,” and “Keep.” As you come across items you no longer need, toss them into the appropriate box. This hack helps you get rid of decision fatigue and makes decluttering a breeze.

One in, One out

You know that feeling when you buy something new and realize your closet’s about to explode? Yeah, let’s avoid that. Every time you bring in something new, toss or donate something old. It’s like a clutter-balancing act, and trust me, it moves the needle quite a bit.

Declutter by Category

Don’t overwhelm yourself—take it one category at a time. Instead of trying to conquer your entire place at once, you should focus on only one type of junk. Start with clothes, then move on to books, kitchen gadgets… you get the idea. It’s like decluttering on autopilot and is pretty effective not gonna lie.

The Reverse Clothes Hanger Trick

This one is arguably my favorite hack on this list. You start by flipping all your clothes hangers the wrong way. After you wear something, hang it back up the right way. In a few months, you’ll know exactly what you never wear and can kiss ’em goodbye without a second thought.

Shelf dividers

I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly enjoy late-night avalanches from stuff falling everywhere. Installing shelf dividers in your closets and cabinets is a surefire way of preventing your stuff from toppling over, and creating an even bigger mess that you really don’t need.

Seriously, stop playing Jenga with your stuff. You gotta be smart at being lazy…

Baskets and bins for the win

As a hoarder, I can honestly say investing in a few baskets to store my ‘treasure’ in, is one of the best decisions I’ve made all year! Not only do they keep things tidy, but they also make it easier to move clutter out of sight when guests pop by (you’re welcome;).

Vertical Storage solutions

Make the most of your wall space with shelves or hooks- It’s easier to hang up towels, bags, or hats, or any similar item. This particular hack genuinely helps to free up floor and counter space without making any big lifestyle shifts. It also requires minimal effort so that’s a plus lol…

The ‘Maybe’ box

I’m pretty indecisive, so when I saw this hack on TikTok, I jumped at it almost immediately. It basically involves getting a box to put the things you ‘maybe’ want to get rid of. If you don’t consistently find yourself reaching for anything in that box after a few months, then that’s your cue to get rid of it. It’s pretty effective at getting the job done, I’d say.

Use clear containers

Storing items in clear containers is a pretty on-the-nose hack that everybody should be using at this point. Clear containers equals not having to dig through your stuff to find whatever it is you’re looking for- meaning you ultimately spend less time cleaning up after yourself.

Set deadlines (and stick to them)

Give yourself a deadline for each decluttering task. Whether it’s one room a week or a full weekend every month, having a timeline keeps you on track (even when you’d rather be doing anything else).

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a nightmare, even for us lazy folks. With these 11 hacks, you can tackle clutter like a pro and reclaim your space without losing your chill. Happy cleaning!