Decluttering Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why Decluttering Fails (And How to Fix It)

Most decluttering attempts fail because people try to do everything at once. You pull everything out, get overwhelmed, and shove it all back. Sound familiar?

The secret is to declutter systematically, one area at a time, while keeping a visual inventory of what you're keeping. That's where Storagely comes in.

Step 1: Start With One Small Area

Don't start with the entire garage. Pick one small zone:

• A single drawer
• One shelf
• A closet section
• Under the bathroom sink

Something you can complete in 30-60 minutes. Small wins build momentum.

Step 2: The Three-Box Method

Get three boxes or bags labeled:

• Keep: Things you use regularly or truly love
• Donate/Sell: Good condition but you don't need them
• Trash: Broken, expired, or unusable items

Pull everything out of your chosen area. Pick up each item and immediately put it in one of the three boxes. Don't overthink—if you haven't used it in a year, it goes in donate or trash.

Step 3: Photograph What You're Keeping

Before putting your "Keep" items back, open Storagely and:

• Create a new box for that storage area (e.g., "Kitchen Drawer 1" or "Hall Closet Top Shelf")
• Take a photo of the items you're keeping
• Use voice input to quickly list each item
• Add a location tag like "Kitchen" or "Bedroom"

This creates a permanent record of what you decided to keep and where it lives.

Step 4: Store Items Intentionally

Now put things back with purpose:

• Group similar items together
• Put frequently used items in easy-to-reach spots
• Use containers or dividers to keep things separated
• Leave some empty space (don't fill every inch)

Take a final photo in Storagely showing how you organized everything. This helps you maintain the system later.

Step 5: Deal With Donate and Trash Immediately

This is crucial: don't let those boxes sit around. Right after you finish organizing:

• Take the trash box straight to the garbage
• Put donation items in your car to drop off this week
• Post items for sale online if they're valuable

If you let them sit, you'll start second-guessing your decisions and pulling things back out.

Step 6: Move to the Next Area

Repeat this process for the next small area. Over time, you'll have decluttered your entire home while building a complete photo inventory in Storagely.

Typical decluttering schedule:

• Week 1: Kitchen drawers and cabinets
• Week 2: Bathroom and linen closet
• Week 3: Bedroom closets
• Week 4: Living areas and entertainment center
• Week 5: Home office or craft room
• Week 6: Garage or storage areas

The One-In-One-Out Rule

After decluttering, maintain your space with this simple rule: when you buy something new, something old has to go.

New shirt? Donate an old one. New kitchen gadget? Get rid of one you don't use. This prevents clutter from building up again.

Using Storagely to Stay Decluttered

With everything photographed and organized in Storagely, you can:

• Quickly see what you already own before buying duplicates
• Remember where things belong when putting them away
• Periodically review photos to identify items you no longer use
• Show family members exactly where things go

Decluttering is a Journey

You didn't accumulate all this stuff overnight, and you won't declutter it overnight either. But by tackling one small area at a time and using Storagely to stay organized, you'll make steady progress.

In a few weeks, you'll have a cleaner, more organized home—and a complete digital inventory of everything you decided to keep. That's a win-win.