Decluttering Small Apartments

Clutter makes cleaning harder and spaces feel smaller. But you don't need to become a minimalist or throw away things you love. The goal is simple: keep what you use and value, remove what you don't.

Why Declutter?

From a cleaning perspective, less stuff means:

• Fewer items to dust around
• Easier to vacuum and mop
• Faster to tidy up
• Less "stuff shifting" when cleaning
• More visible surfaces (which feel cleaner)

The Practical Approach

Forget the "does it spark joy?" question if it doesn't work for you. Ask instead:

• When did I last use this? (If over a year, probably unnecessary)
• Do I have duplicates? (Keep the best one)
• Would I buy this again today? (Reveals true value to you)
• Does it have a home? (Homeless items become clutter)

Room-by-Room Guide

Kitchen

Kitchens accumulate gadgets and duplicate items:

• Duplicates: Multiple spatulas, can openers, measuring cups
• Gadgets: Single-purpose tools used once a year
• Expired food: Check pantry and fridge
• Containers: Mismatched lids, excess takeout containers
• Dishes: More than you use, chipped or stained pieces

Bathroom

• Expired products: Makeup, sunscreen, medication
• Hotel toiletries: You're never going to use them
• Products you don't use: Wrong color, didn't like it
• Old towels: Keep only what you regularly use
• Multiples: How many hair products do you actually use?

Bedroom

• Clothes: Anything unworn in a year, doesn't fit, needs repair you'll never do
• Pillows: Flat, lumpy, more than you need
• Books: Read and won't re-read, didn't like
• Memorabilia: Keep meaningful items, photograph the rest

Living Room

• Media: DVDs, CDs, games you'll never use again
• Magazines: Old issues you won't re-read
• Decor: Items you've stopped seeing
• Cables: Mystery chargers, outdated tech

Closets and Storage

• Just in case items: If you haven't needed it in 2 years...
• Aspirational items: Exercise equipment, craft supplies you don't use
• Broken things: You're not going to fix them
• Boxes: You probably don't need the original packaging

The One-In-One-Out Rule

After decluttering, maintain with a simple rule: when something new comes in, something old goes out. This prevents re-accumulation without constant purging.

What to Do with Stuff

• Sell: Valuable items in good condition
• Donate: Usable items you don't need
• Recycle: Paper, electronics, textiles where available
• Trash: Broken, worn out, or undonatable items

Don't let "finding the right place to donate" become an excuse to keep things. If it's been sitting in a "donate" pile for months, just remove it however you can.

Maintenance Decluttering

Rather than one big purge, build decluttering into regular routines:

• Daily: Return things to their homes before bed
• Weekly: Spend 10 minutes clearing flat surfaces
• Monthly: Go through one drawer or cabinet
• Seasonally: Swap and assess seasonal items