To clean a badly cluttered house, break the process into manageable, sequential steps: clear all trash, gather dirty dishes, and collect laundry. Then, declutter room-by-room sorting items into Keep, Donate, and Toss piles, finally wiping down surfaces and vacuuming.
When dealing with a messy house, avoid burnout by breaking the task down into a methodical, room-by-room process: declutter by removing trash and items that belong elsewhere, wipe down surfaces from top to bottom, and finish by vacuuming or mopping floors. Tackle one small area or set a timer for 15-20 minutes to maintain momentum.
Most people probably think the hardest thing to declutter is sentimental clutter. While it's true that presents its own challenges, I actually think the hardest thing to declutter is aspirational clutter. This type of clutter is tied to your actual identity!
"Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression or obsessive compulsive disorder," Hurtado says.
The 333 method philosophy revolves around one simple rule: you choose 33 items to wear for 3 months. This includes clothing, accessories, outerwear and shoes, but excludes essentials like underwear, sleepwear or workout gear.
When decluttering, avoid throwing away official documents, irreplaceable sentimental items, or hazardous electronics. Always store, securely digitize, or responsibly recycle these categories instead of trashing them.
Jesus said that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15. Spiritual life can be choked out by clutter, which is part of “the cares and riches of this life.” Luke 8:14. God is pleased when we give things away cheerfully.
Loss: When Clutter Holds Memories
Loss is a universal human experience, but for those with complex trauma, it can feel catastrophic. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a home, or a sense of safety, these experiences can lead to hoarding as a coping mechanism.
Use words that devalue or negatively judge possessions.
People who hoard are often aware that others do not view their possessions and homes as they do. They often react strongly to words that reference their possessions negatively, like “trash,” “garbage,” and “junk.”
Risk factors
Hoarding usually starts around ages 15 to 19. It tends to get worse with age. Hoarding is more common in older adults than in younger adults.
8 common decluttering mistakes, according to professionals
A messy house is not inherently a sign of something negative; it can simply indicate a busy schedule, a laid-back personality, or a creative mind. However, if the clutter is new, persistent, or causing distress, it can be a sign of underlying mental health struggles, executive dysfunction, or feeling overwhelmed.
HOW TO BE RUTHLESS WHEN DECLUTTERING CLOTHES
Here are seven signs that indicate it might be time for some serious cleaning and how to resolve them!
When you are feeling overwhelmed, the best place to start is with trash and dishes. Grab a trash bag and throw away all obvious garbage, then gather any dirty dishes and place them in or next to the sink. This clears the biggest visual clutter without forcing you to make organizing decisions.
Hoarding Disorder is a distinct mental illness officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. While previously considered a subtype of OCD, it is now diagnosed on its own when persistent difficulty discarding items causes severe clutter that renders living spaces unusable.
Hoarding Level Three: One bedroom or bathroom is unusable, excessive dust, heavily soiled food preparation areas, strong odors throughout the home, excessive amount of pets, and visible clutter outdoors.
1: Homer Lusk Collyer and Langley Collyer
The extremely reclusive Collyer brothers, Homer and Langley, are perhaps two of the most famous hoarders of all time, but it took their deaths in 1947 to really shoot them into the spotlight.
The 5 Most Common Clutter Personalities
Hoarding disorder is driven by a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and psychological factors. Key root causes include executive dysfunction (impaired decision-making and categorization), deep emotional attachments to objects, trauma or grief, and co-occurring mental health conditions like ADHD, OCD, or depression.
I find the small stuff the hardest to get rid of. I'm always trying to keep it all to make complete sets of things. For example, I don't want to throw away marker lids in case I come across the marker somewhere else in my house. Or since they're small I find it hard to reduce what I have.
In Christianity, the only sin that God will not forgive is known as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Described in the Gospels, it refers to the persistent rejection of God's grace and a hardened heart toward Him.
Jesus taught that marrying a divorced woman is considered adultery (found in Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18) because he viewed marriage as an unbreakable, lifelong covenant. In his view, a civil divorce does not dissolve the spiritual bond, meaning any subsequent marriage is treated as an adulterous union.
Clutter is often a physical manifestation of an internal state. While it can simply indicate a busy lifestyle or a preference for creative disorganization, it frequently points to deeper psychological, emotional, or behavioral traits.