These 12 Simple Questions Make Decluttering Incredibly Easy

01. Is it something I like or love?

In Joshua Becker’s The More of Less, he tells a story about how he kept many books on his shelf that made him look well-read. The truth was, he didn’t like or plan to read many of those books. It was all for the sake of appearances.

After hearing that story, I let go of the books I knew I’d never read again because I didn’t like them, even though they were classics.

02. If I went shopping today and saw it in the store, would I actually buy it?

This is a great question for paring down your closet. However, I know that this question can bring up feelings of guilt. 

Here’s a post about letting go of items when you feel guilty.

03. Is it something I need and use often?

This is fairly straightforward BUT you could get sucked into the trap of aspiration. (Telling yourself, “What if I need it?”) 

If you begin thinking you might need it, use the next few questions.

04. Have I used it in the last year?

I’ve come across items that I didn’t want to get rid of, so I held onto them for a year. The next year when I found them again, I realized it was stuff taking up precious space. 

If you’re still hesitant to let go of something, pack it up for a year, then see how you feel.

05. Could I borrow it instead?

One year, we drove to Big Bear for the day to go tubing. Since we hardly ever go to the snow, I messaged my friends to see if anyone had a snowsuit we could borrow for my then-toddler. Someone did, and that snowsuit ended up getting passed through the group for a while. 

The point is, it didn’t make sense to buy something we’d use only once when someone who used it more frequently was happy to let us borrow it for the day.

06. Can it be easily replaced?

Sometimes you won’t want to let go of an item because it isn’t exactly easy to find it again. 

This is a great question for paper decluttering because many times you can easily replace a paper by going to a company’s website or by making a phone call.

Decluttering paper? Use this Paper Organizing Cheatsheet.

07. Is it a duplicate or similar to something I already have?

When I use this question, it’s usually when I’m decluttering a kitchen. It makes sense to have several spatulas but you probably don’t need more than one can opener.

08. Would someone else be better able to use it than me?

Feeling guilty about letting something go? That item could be a blessing to someone else.

09. Is it broken? Will I actually fix it?

Again, this is aspirational. We’ve all had broken items that need repair. Be real with yourself: will you make the effort to fix it, or is it easier to replace or borrow it?

10. Can I digitize it?

This applies mainly to paper, but I’ve used it for documenting art my daughter has created. Instead of keeping a big, awkward piece of art, I took a picture and added it to my family yearbook.

I haven’t used it yet, but Artkive is a company that takes professional photos of your children’s art and puts them into a book.

11. Is it sentimental?

One client came across a stuffed toy that her daughter used as a baby during a hospital stay. As she tearfully told me the life-changing story, we realized it was something she needed to hold onto. It represented a part of her life she didn’t want to forget.

12. Can I return it?

It’s possible you have items that belong to someone else in your house that you haven’t returned yet. Decluttering is a great time to send it back.