I'm so excited you are interested in this challenge! If you struggle with clutter and it's fall, don't think, just start! And then, just do your best and give yourself lots of grace. Good luck!
Contact me if you're doing this challenge and want some one-on-one accountability. I'd be more than happy to check in with you via text/message a few times a week for free, or if you want more support and to make faster progress, sign up for in-person (Walla Walla, WA) or virtual coaching here!
Before we get started:
Speed. This challenge is set at a pretty fast pace. If you can't keep up, Make your own version of this challenge that works for you. Put each challenge day on your calendar and then move things as needed (aka move rest days, give yourself more time for certain areas, or swap out my recommendations for areas you need to declutter). No need to stress yourself out and have a bad month just because you followed a plan created by someone else without your situation in mind. Make this challenge work for you.
Irrelevant? If any day of the challenge is irrelevant for you and your space, you can... do something off the list you write on day one, get ahead (aka just skip that day), or do something related to that task (for example, maybe your car is spotless but your garage where it's parked is a disaster, work on that instead).
Rest days. I recommend you take the rest days rather than pushing through. Rest is important and decluttering is a marathon not a sprint. Also, I have the rest day's set for Saturday's for when I'm launching this challenge (October 2022). If you usually rest on Sunday's or you're doing this in a different time frame, take your rest day's when you need them and move things around. Just plan to take one solid rest day once each week.
Now... dig in! (in depth explanations of each day below the challenge graphic).
30 Day Challenge: Declutter Before the Holiday's
~ Each day, in depth, with additional tips and strategies. ~
Day 1: Make a list of your clutter problem areas.
Take a walk around your home as you, then again pretending you are your OCD neighbor (or maybe your mother-in-law who's coming to visit soon) and write down the areas that are not working for you or are visually out of control.
Day 2: Declutter your car and clean the inside.
Take everything out of your car to start. Sort out the trash, things to put away in the house, and things to completely declutter from your life. Then vacuum if you can. Or you can just do a spot clean (grab those Cheerios from from under the seats). Then only put back the essentials. We often store way too many things in our car just because it's convenient or because we may need it sometime while we're out. But this can start to get messy real fast. Just keep the things you actually used from your car in the last few months (or last winter, aka chains and ice scraper). You'll thank yourself later. (For more tips/ideas for your car, read #6 here).
Day 3: Declutter your entry way & coat closet.
Let your home make a good first impression for you when people walk in the front door. Make sure to store away light summer sweatshirts and sandals as well as any general clutter in your entry way and coat closet. Make sure to think about where people actually enter your home. Your front door area might be tidy because no one really goes that way, but what about the garage entry way, side door, or back door? (For more tips/ideas for your entry way, read #1 here).
Day 4: Declutter your living room. Part 1 - Major Clutter
Make room for holiday hosting, cozy movie nights, and daily family time. Your living room is where the magic happens. Make sure your pictures of Christmas gift opening and table games with the grandparents won't have clutter in the background. Today's part one of tackling "Major Clutter" all about the obvious clutter. Just sort & declutter the biggest piles & boxes. In your living room. We'll get more nitty gritty tomorrow. (For more tips/ideas for your living room, read #1 here).
Day 5: Declutter your living room. Part 2 - Minor Clutter Now that your living room is looking much better, (if it's not, don't worry, just use today to keep plugging away), maybe you can declutter more hidden items in this space. Consider decluttering books, games, knickknacks, or even furniture. You'll feel better all year round, plus you'll have more room for holiday décor!
Day 6: Declutter your dining room. Part 1 - Major Clutter
Especially if you are hosting either Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner this year, decluttering your dining room is a must. But don't just shove things into another part of the house so you can make space for those extra chairs. Really take the time to declutter and organize thoroughly so you can relax and enjoy the festivities. (For more tips/ideas for your dining room, read #1 here).
Day 7: Declutter your dining room. Part 2 - Minor Clutter
If your dining room is still cluttered, keep going. That's what this extra day is for! But if it looks good, consider decluttering your table accessories, window sill décor, china cabinet, or bookshelf. You might as well go all the way.
Day 8: Rest Day / catch up day.
WHEW! You made it through the most important hosting rooms of your house. Congrats! If you didn't finish, don't stress. You can use today to continue working. But if you want the rest day, take it! There are still plenty of spare days to work on what you missed during week 1 (day 9, 22, or 27).
Day 9: Conquer the biggest problem area on your list.
It's time to whip out that list you made on day one. You may have already checked some things off while going through your car, entry way, living room, and dining room (I hope you did!). However, I bet there is an area or category really bugging you that I haven't covered in this challenge yet. So today's the day to conquer it. Pull everything from that area or category out into a clear space (maybe your freshly decluttered living room or dining room) and sort, declutter, and put away. But make sure to not make a sorting mess and leave it. Before the end of the day, make sure to put everything away. Or if you can't finish. Box up the categories that are left (still to sort, not sure, decluttering but need to sell, etc.) and put them in a corner or in the garage.
Day 10: Declutter & put away non-fall décor.
If you didn't get a chance to declutter much/all of your décor and knickknacks yet, today's the day. Although the main thing I want you to do is make space for fall décor. So even if you don't decide to get rid of a lot, at least box it up and store it until January/spring. Make sure to not just check the main living spaces. But also check the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Day 11: Put up fall décor. Then enjoy them & drink tea.
Now that your surfaces are a little more bare, time to fill them up with fall... YES! Don't feel like you have to go crazy, just decorate in a way that feels good to you and works for your space. And no need to buy anything new, pull out the decorations you already have or DIY something with a loved one. And when you're done, make sure to make yourself a yummy hot beverage and find a comfy spot to sit and enjoy it.
Day 12: Declutter & clean your guest room(s).
Before any guests arrive, make sure to declutter your guest room(s). If you have things you are storing long-term in your guest room, try to find a home for these items in another closet or the garage. And if you can while you're here, make sure put on fresh bedding, clean the room, and clean the bathroom they will be using. (For more tips/ideas for guest rooms, read #2 here).
Day 13: Declutter your kitchen. Part 1 - Major Clutter
Today we start on the kitchen. We're going through this in depth as it can be an overwhelming category for some. If however your kitchen is mostly decluttered and organized, you can do this in one or two days and then work through another item on your list. Today's part one is to deal with the visual clutter in your kitchen. Wash the pile of dishes, sort the piles of papers, or declutter the items covering the counters or the floor (For more tips/ideas for your kitchen, read #3 here).
Day 14: Declutter your kitchen. Part 2 - Minor Clutter
Today is to finish up yesterday's decluttering and get a little more detailed. Try to completely clear the counters (except for your absolute favorite pieces/appliances). And perhaps today you can declutter what on your fridge. Can you put some of the pictures on the bulletin board in your office or frame them? Can you declutter a few magnets? Try to only have things hanging on the front OR the sides of your fridge but not both. Anything being stored on top of your fridge? Can these items be decluttered or stored in a cupboard instead?
Day 15: Rest Day. Take it! Go enjoy the outdoors.
Nice! You've now conquered a big problem area of yours, decorated for fall, and made your kitchen look beautiful. Take today off. No more decluttering today. I mean it. You've earned it. Go take a hike, walk in a local park, or sit on your front porch.
Day 16: Declutter your kitchen. Part 3 - Cupboards Now that your kitchen clutter is under control, it's time to look a little deeper. Especially if you'll be having lots of cooks in the kitchen this holiday season, having your dishes and cookware easy to find and put away is a game changer. Go through each cupboard, take things out if you have time, decide if you really need or use each item, and put things back in logical places. Label everything for extra points!
Day 17: Declutter your kitchen. Part 4 - Drawers
Same rules as yesterday, but now deal with the drawers in your kitchen. If you have a junk drawer, here's what I suggest. Start by taking everything out and putting like with like in four general categories: trash, office items (paper clips & glue), kitchen items (twisty ties & birthday candles), and random items (batteries & tools). Now that everything is out of the drawer and sorted, throw away the trash, declutter (aka put in a donate box) anything that needs decluttered, and put away items you know belong somewhere else. Now clean the drawer, put in a drawer organizer system of some kind, and put back items that need to be accessed in the kitchen. If you need to have a few office supplies in the kitchen, that's okay. Just be intentional about it. Make sure the drawer isn't over full. Everything should be easy to see and grab. If you need two drawers for these types of items (one for office like items and one for kitchen like items) that's fine. Just make sure they are well organized and their purpose is clear.
Day 18: Declutter your kitchen. Part 5 - Fridge
To clean and organize the fridge, I recommend going from the top down. Take everything off the top shelf, clean it, and put things back that go there. Then move to the 2nd top shelf. Finish with the doors. Make sure you throw away any expired food (check those condiments). For extra ease (think after holiday meal clean up) label the shelves of your fridge. Your labels could say things like dairy, veggies, meats, leftovers, eat first, or beverages. If you have time, also go through your freezer today. Or you could save this for day 22 or 27.
Day 19: Declutter your kitchen. Part 6 - Pantry
Your kitchen is almost perfection! Last step, pantry. Go through all your food that is not in your fridge or freezer. Throw away expired food (although many foods are good for a wile after their expiration date, so do what feels safe to you), sort your food into logical categories, put things in prettier containers if you wish, and as always, label for extra points.
Day 20: Declutter your closet. Part 1 - Excess
Today, let's get your closet under control. Who wants to be stressed looking for the perfect fall outfit or getting dressed for a holiday meal with the family? Not me! If your closet is a complete disaster, just spend 20 min or so looking for as many pieces as you can do donate. If it's a summer piece you haven't worn it in the past two months, it can probably go. If you don't love it, it can probably go. If your closet is decent, maybe be more through and pull everything out and declutter by picking up each piece and deciding if you still want it before putting it back. If you have any maybe's. I'd suggest keeping fall/winter maybe's in your closet and try to wear them ASAP. Box up spring/summer maybe's and ask yourself if you really need them when it's that time of year again. Don't forget to put your donate items in a declutter box and your sell items in a sell box, or post them today! (For more tips/ideas for clothes, read #4 here).
Day 21: Declutter your closet. Part 2 - Swap Seasonal
Now that your closet is manageable, it's time to optimize it for fall and winter. If you have two wardrobes, box up your summer items and store them away. Then pull out any winter clothes you have stored and put them in your closet.
Day 22: Rest Day / catch up day.
You've made it to another rest day. If you feel you need to finish up something from the last week, feel free, or just relax.
Day 23: Declutter summer fun items & store them away.
Today's the day to put summer away so you have room for winter. Think swim suites, beach towels, lawn care items, & kids outdoor toys. Declutter any summer items you did not use this season and store the ones you did. Have a jet ski, boat, or pool. Winterize with these items today so you don't have to stress when the snow arrives. (For more tips/ideas, read #5 here).
Day 24: Declutter paper. Part 1 - Collect & Sort
End of the year paperwork is coming up soon and after that, tax season. If you want to get ahead of the game, declutter and organize your papers now. For more detailed help on paper clutter, you can check out my 10 Step Paper Declutter.
Day 25: Declutter paper. Part 2 - System & File
Now that your paper is decluttered, how to organize it?
Day 26: Declutter kid's toys before Christmas.
Before the gifts arrive is a great time to declutter kids' items. Read my 10 Ways to Get your Kids Decluttering and make sure to read tip #5 specifically about pre-Christmas decluttering.
Day 27: Tackle an area on your list / finish a space.
We're almost done. You can do this! Use today to finish something you started earlier this week (or month) or tackle an area on your problem areas list that hasn't been done yet.
Day 28: Take things to the dump / donation center.
You've done so much decluttering. Now it's time to get that stuff out of the house if you haven't already. Put those donation boxes in the car and take them to the thrift store/donation center or take a run to the dump if your trash can is overflowing.
Day 29: Rest Day. Take it! Relish in all you've done.
You've done so good! Now take today off and enjoy your decluttered home. Maybe you can finally host that game night or dinner you've been putting off.
Day 30: Deep clean your house as much as you can today.
Now that you've decluttered, you can finally get to that dust and grime. Take today to scrub, dust, wipe, wash, sweep, vacuum, and mop your home.
Day After: If you did this in October, today is Halloween. Enjoy!
It's day 31! And you're done! How do you feel? I hope the first thing that comes to mind is fantastic. But, if you're feeling more discouraged than ever, maybe this challenge was too fast paced for you. If you want to keep making progress but need some accountability and a slower pace, I would love to help. Schedule a free first meeting with me and we can chat all about it.
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If you did this challenge (or are about start this challenge), please comment below where you are from & your #1 problem area in your home (just conquered or to be conquered soon). I'd love to see where in the world and where in people's homes this challenge is making a difference!
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