Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary items from your home or workspace. It can be a overwhelming task, but the benefits of decluttering are numerous. Not only does it make your living space more organized and easier to navigate, but it can also have a positive impact on your mental health and productivity. Let’s look at some decluttering statistics that will motive you to declutter your home.

Overwhelmed by Clutter? Welcome to the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series! We will be starting in the laundry room and patio this month. Each day is dedicated to spending only 30 minutes decluttering your specific daily task. We will be working 5 days a week, so you can take 2 days to enjoy time with your loved ones. First, we will look at some interesting decluttering statistics.

Ignore the dates within this post. Each year we do the declutter series, so the dates won’t coincide from year to year. If you wish to subscribe and join us as we Declutter a Room in 30 minutes a Day, leave a comment below. You can also find the video below and subscribe via youtube. Follow me as we explore some decluttering statistics.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a little motivation to get started, here are some decluttering statistics that might inspire you:

1. The average American home has 300,000 items

According to a study by the LA Times, the average American household has about 300,000 items. This can include everything from furniture to clothing to kitchen gadgets. That’s a lot of stuff to keep track of! It’s no wonder that many people feel overwhelmed and stressed out by clutter.

2. We wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time

Have you ever looked at your closet and thought, “I have nothing to wear”? You’re not alone. Research shows that we tend to wear only about 20% of our wardrobe on a regular basis. The rest sits unused, taking up valuable space.

3. The average person spends one year of their life looking for lost items

How much time do you spend looking for your keys, phone, or other misplaced items? According to a survey by Pixie, the average person spends about 2.5 days per year searching for lost items. Over a lifetime, that adds up to a full year of searching! How much time have you lost searching for papers?

4. Clutter can increase stress levels

Studies have shown that clutter can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. When your living space is cluttered, it will increase your cortisol levels and make you feel as though your work is never done.

Decluttering Statistics That will Motive You to Declutter

1. People who live in cluttered environments are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. (Source: Psychology Today)
2. The organizing industry in the United States generates $1.2 billion in annual revenue. (Source: Entrepreneur)
3. The self-storage industry in the United States generates $39.5 billion in annual revenue. (Source: SpareFoot)
4. The average American woman owns 30 outfits, while the average American man owns 19. (Source: The Telegraph)
5. The average American throws away 65 pounds of clothing per year. (Source: Newsweek)
6. The average American household wastes 40% of the food they purchase!

Now that you know how negatively clutter affects you, let me help! You can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.

Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores and Overwhelmed by Clutter? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.

One of my best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to use a House Cleaning Planner. Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price. Better yet… get it FREE when you subscribe to my site. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post designed to help you learn tips and Decluttering Ideas For Your Home when you feel Overwhelmed by Clutter. Now, let’s dive right in and explore more decluttering statistics.

The first decluttering statistic I found interesting:

– The topic of Decluttering is up 130 percent over the last year according to Google trends. That means more and more of us are seeking out ways to remove the clutter.

• Compulsive hoarding and the effect on mental health has also become a hot topic over the last year. According to Google trends, this problem is driving interest at upwards of 110 percent higher than in the previous year.
• The topic of organizing is up 80 percent over the last year.
• Minimalism is now a breakout topic with a 350 percent increase in interest over the past 12 months which indicates we have issues with accumulating too much stuff.
• People are minimizing everything from their wardrobe to their homes. Wardrobe minimalism, as a topic, is up 300 percent over the past year.
• How clutter causes depression is also a highly researched topic with over 50 percent higher queries being made over the last 12 months.
• 60 percent more searches are being made over the last year for topics such as: declutter challenge.(source)
• These statistics show us that clutter affects everything from our mental health to our bank account.

Maybe your house is clean but cluttered. If so, you need to know a few Declutter Tips and decluttering statistics before you start using the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use. Overwhelmed by Clutter? Does a Cluttered House Cause Stress? You Bet! Let’s look at a reputable, mental health site to answer that question and see exactly How Clutter Affects You. Then you can learn Why and How To Start to Purge Your Entire Home.They have given us 8 ways mess leads to stress and exactly How Clutter Affects You. According to Psychology Today:

How Clutter Affects You according to decluttering statistics: Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Can a Messy House Affect Your Mood? You bet! Overwhelmed by Clutter? Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives. (source) But decluttering statistics show unnecessary stress is one aspect of How Clutter Affects You.

How Clutter Affects You Mentally can help provide the motivation you need to know How to Clear Clutter and Get Organized. Why does mess lead to so much stress? (source)Getting rid of all of that stress can be one of the best declutter motivation tips you need for some instant Declutter Inspiration.

More decluttering statistics:

1. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important. (source)
2. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. (source)This can create a major problem in your work environment.
3. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.(source)
4. Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.(source)
5. Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile. (source)
6. Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces. (source)
7. Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.(source)
8. Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter). (source) So, experiencing constant frustration is another aspect to How Clutter Affects You. You will not always be looking for lost items if you get everything organized.

Overwhelmed by Clutter? Decluttering statistics show clutter can really affect you negatively. A cluttered home can affect your mental health. Clutter and organization are directly proportional to better mental and physical health. Studies show that people in cluttered home environments are more likely to reach for junk food. The act of decluttering can help you make better choices for your health. Women’s stress levels are proven to be higher in cluttered environments.

How Do You Deal With a Cluttered Mess? One way is to have a plan, set aside a specific time, and learn the steps to declutter your home. What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? I have a room by room specific Printable House Cleaning Checklist linked above. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post designed to help you create a tidy house.

For a clean, simplistic look, one of the best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to declutter a room before cleaning and then use an Easy House Cleaning Schedule to maintain it. Declutter Checklists can help you learn How to begin to Purge Your Entire Home.

How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? As you can already see, there are at least 8 ways we become negatively affected by clutter according to decluttering statistics. Also, I though it might be thought provoking to look at some decluttering statistics to learn more about How Clutter Affects You.

1. US consumers buy 40% of the world’s toys, but bear only 3% of the world’s children.
2. The average person will wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. (source )That means the average home has 80 percent of clothing they could declutter and not even notice it’s gone.
3. 9.4% of U.S. households rent a storage unit. (source) Many people even have two car garages packed with so much stuff they can’t remember what is in there.
4. People do not look at 80% of the papers and information they keep.(source) If your paper system is disorganized, you may find you occasionally forget important items or mistakenly pay bills late and incur fees. Organization can help you save money.
5. The average American house is double the size it was in the 1950s–and getting bigger. (source.) We think we lack storage space but the real issue is to much stuff. Getting rid of clutter would make an immediate improvement storage space.

• The U.S. Department of Energy reports that one-quarter of people with two-car garages have so much stuff in there that they can’t park a car. (https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/)
• According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home.(https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/) Wouldn’t eliminating a lot of housework provide some declutter inspiration? Read on for more Decluttering Ideas For Your Home.

Overwhelmed by Clutter? Today, we’ll lay out the solutions for the steps to declutter using my tips on Why and How to Declutter a House. Plus, we’ll look at a few ways to answer the concern of How Clutter Affects You according to decluttering statistics and what you can do about it. If you think you have a hoarding disorder, you are going to want to ask a supportive friend or family member to help. The entire declutter will not be complete in a day, as it only makes sense that years of accumulated clutter take a significant amount of time to tackle. I suggest going slowly and using the steps below.

A few guidelines to keep you on task when tackling cluttered spaces: 

1.Only spend time on your specific daily task. 

2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted. 

3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. 

4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. Recruit help if you are stuck in the decision process. 

5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later.

We are working on the Laundry Room, Patio, and Front Porch this month. Your task today for today, September 9th is to: Declutter any broken or unused clothes hangers.

• Declutter any clothes hangers that are the wrong size.
• Declutter any that are bent or misshapen.
• Get rid of anything broken beyond repair.

 HOW TO DECLUTTER:

Supplies Needed:

1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)

2. sturdy trash bags

3. marker/pen to label boxes

Decluttering Tip for when you’re Overwhelmed by Clutter: Avoid using storage bins to declutter. Storage bins tend to tell your brain to “store” the items for later. That is just delaying decisions. If you aren’t getting rid of items when you declutter, you are not truly decluttering. This is why I recommend a trash bag, also. A trash bag tells your brain to “trash” the item.

Emergency Clean: If you have company coming over and you have been given little notice, you are going to want to just do an emergency sweep of your home. This is just a surface clean, and it will make your home “guest ready” in a short time.

To do that quick sweep, grab an empty laundry basket or a large box and go throughout the living area grabbing anything that is out of place and tossing that into you basket. This is just a temporary fix, but it is intended to give you some immediate satisfaction just by clearing the room of clutter. When you have time to deep clean, I have checklists below.

Next, grab some multi-surface spray and wipe every counter top and toilet seat from the kitchen to the bathrooms. Then, make each bed. Don’t have time to make beds? Just close the bedroom doors. If you have time, focus on the floors. If you have guests coming over for a visit, just focus on the main living area floors. Don’t do a “full sweep, vacuum, and mop job” if you are in a time crunch. Instead, just sweep and spot clean. Again, this is just a quick fix. When you have the time, I have some deep cleaning checklists below.

What Should I Get Rid of When Decluttering? How Do You Declutter a Room when you’re Overwhelmed by Clutter? We’re going to do it slowly and thoroughly in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. How Do You Declutter Without Being Wasteful? Obviously, recycle if you have that option. The boxes you use should be ones you are willing to part with, so I recommend sturdy cardboard boxes. As to donations, there are many charities that will come pick up your items for you at your home.

I use one in particular where you can book an appointment for pick-up online. This is so convenient, as it saves you the hassle of hauling stuff away yourself. Scheduling that pick-up also motivates you to declutter by a certain date.

Bonus: Overwhelmed by Clutter? Check out this video that will motivate you to clean, organize, and declutter.

What Should I Get Rid of When Decluttering? Why Can’t I Throw Anything Away when I’m Overwhelmed by Clutter? – Maybe you just need a simple, step- by- step process like this:

 How Professional Organizers Declutter:

What Should I Get Rid of When Decluttering?

1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag

2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have

3.Get rid of duplicate items, broken items, outgrown clothes and shoes, anything you’ll never use again

4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest

5.Select one of your favorite thrift stores to donate your items and schedule the charity pick-up if that is an option

Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.

First, let’s prepare ourselves to clean. If you are in your nice clothes, you probably aren’t going to be every inspired to really get things clean. I suggest you dress in something comfortable that allows you to bend and move freely from room to room. I like wearing my gym clothes and tennis shoes for this task.

My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.

You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Below is a sample page of what you’ll get in my Housekeeping Schedule for Home printables.

Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.

Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below. You’ll receive a daily declutter task. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.

Overwhelmed by Clutter? You can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.

Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.

How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.

Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Subscribe below to receive your daily task. To subscribe, leave a comment below.

Happy Decluttering!

To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.

New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:

Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here. You can see sample pages below.

Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.

Step 3:   How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.

Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered. 

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.

Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com: 

14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered

How to Do A 1 Day Declutter

How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule

How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter

What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?

Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.

For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.

I hope you have found these decluttering statistics, tips, and checklists helpful. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on how clutter has been affecting you. You can also leave me a comment below if you wish to subscribe to my decluttering challenge.