7 Simple Decluttering Tasks to Do Every Day (And Actually Stick To)

We’ve all been there—everything starts out neat and tidy, but before you know it, your home is a cluttered mess. The dishes pile up in the sink, your keys and shoes are scattered across the entryway, and the kitchen counter is overflowing with random items. It’s easy for clutter to sneak in when life gets busy, but the good news is, you don’t have to spend hours every day cleaning. With a few small, consistent tasks, you can maintain a tidy, organized home without feeling overwhelmed.

In this post, I’m sharing 7 simple decluttering tasks you can do every day to keep your home looking fresh and organized. These daily habits don’t require much time or effort, but they’ll help you avoid the stress of letting clutter build up. Ready to reclaim your space? Let’s dive in!

1. Make Your Bed Every Morning (Seriously, It’s Worth It)

It might seem like a small task, but making your bed every morning is one of the easiest and most effective ways to start your day with a sense of accomplishment. It’s a simple task that instantly makes your bedroom look neater, even if the rest of the room is a bit messy. Plus, walking into a tidy bedroom at the end of a long day can be incredibly calming.

Here’s why making your bed works:

• Creates a sense of order in your space from the get-go.
• Boosts productivity and sets a positive tone for the day.
• Makes your room feel more restful and inviting.

If you’re someone who struggles to get out of bed, setting the goal to make your bed immediately after waking up can help create a productive morning routine. Over time, this small habit will become second nature—and it’ll make a bigger impact than you might think.

2. Tidy the Kitchen After Every Meal (No One Wants to Face a Sink Full of Dishes)

The kitchen can be one of the most challenging areas to keep organized, especially if you cook regularly. Dirty dishes, food wrappers, and cooking utensils tend to pile up quickly. But taking a few minutes to tidy your kitchen after each meal will save you time and frustration later on. Instead of letting dishes accumulate, try to clean as you go.

Here’s what to do:

• Clear the table or counters immediately after eating. Put away any leftovers and load the dishwasher.
• Wipe down the kitchen counters and stove to remove crumbs, grease, or spills.
• Take out the trash if the garbage can is full.

By cleaning up right after meals, you avoid the mess building up into something bigger. This daily habit helps you maintain a clean kitchen, which makes cooking the next meal much more enjoyable.

Bonus Tip: Consider doing a “mini-clean” while you cook. Wash pots, pans, or utensils as you use them instead of waiting until the end. It’s way less overwhelming!

3. Do a Quick Sweep of Clutter Hot Spots (These Areas Will Always Get Messy)

There are certain areas of your home that always seem to collect clutter. Entryways, kitchen counters, dining tables, and even coffee tables are magnets for things like keys, mail, jackets, shoes, and random objects. If you don’t stay on top of these hot spots, they can quickly turn into a chaotic mess.

To prevent this, make it a habit to quickly clear these areas every day. Spending just 5 minutes on these tasks will keep clutter from piling up. Here’s where to focus your efforts:

• Entryway: Hang up coats, put shoes away, and sort through mail.
• Dining Table: Clear dishes, papers, and anything that doesn’t belong.
• Coffee Table: Straighten magazines, books, and remote controls.
• Counters: Toss out any junk mail, put away appliances, and wipe down the surfaces.

By staying consistent with this daily sweep, you’ll keep your home looking neat and prevent clutter from spreading throughout the rest of the house.

4. Declutter One Drawer or Shelf Each Day (Baby Steps)

Decluttering an entire closet or room can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing! A great way to make steady progress without feeling bogged down is to tackle just one small area each day—a drawer, shelf, or even a single surface.

Here are some ideas for small spaces you can tackle:

• Desk drawer: Empty it out, sort through pens, paperclips, receipts, and old notes, and only keep what you actually need.
• Kitchen shelf: Clear out expired food, organize your spices, and arrange your utensils.
• Bathroom cabinet: Throw away expired products or things you never use, and reorganize the space.

Focusing on one small area each day ensures you don’t feel overwhelmed, and over time, these baby steps will add up. It’s about making progress, not perfection.

5. Sort Through Mail and Paperwork (No More Piles of Junk)

Paper clutter is a major source of stress for many people. Bills, junk mail, receipts, and other documents can quickly pile up if you don’t deal with them right away. To prevent paper from taking over your life, set aside a few minutes each day to sort through your mail and paperwork.

Here’s how to stay on top of it:

• Sort mail as soon as you bring it in: Immediately toss junk mail into the recycling, shred anything that contains personal info, and file important documents.
• Create a filing system: Keep a small basket or folder to hold any papers that need action, like bills or forms that require attention.
• Deal with bills right away—whether it’s paying them online or scheduling reminders for future due dates.

When you don’t let paperwork pile up, you’ll save time and avoid feeling buried under a mountain of documents. Plus, you’ll be able to find important papers quickly when you need them.

6. Put Away Items After Using Them (It’s the Little Things)

One of the simplest and most effective decluttering habits is to put things away immediately after you use them. Instead of leaving items scattered around the house, make it a rule to return them to their proper place right after use. Whether it’s your coat, a book, or your coffee mug, consistently putting things away will keep your home from becoming cluttered.

Here are a few ways to stay consistent:

• Put your coat and shoes away as soon as you come in the door.
• Clear off surfaces like the kitchen counter, bathroom sink, or coffee table right after using them.
• File papers immediately or toss them if they’re no longer needed.

By getting into the habit of putting things back right away, you’ll prevent clutter from building up. This may seem like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference in the overall tidiness of your home.

7. Spend 5 Minutes Tidying the Bathroom (It’s Quick and Makes a Big Difference)

Bathrooms are another area of the house that can get cluttered quickly. Towels pile up, beauty products get left out, and before you know it, your bathroom looks more like a storage closet. But spending just 5 minutes a day tidying up the bathroom will keep things neat and organized.

Here’s what to do in your daily bathroom tidying routine:

• Wipe down counters and sinks to remove toothpaste splatters, soap drips, and watermarks.
• Fold towels neatly and hang them up to dry.
• Declutter the bathroom shelf by throwing away expired beauty products, old toiletries, or any items you no longer use.
• Empty the bathroom trash if it’s getting full.

This small daily ritual ensures your bathroom stays clean and functional. Plus, it helps avoid larger cleaning sessions down the line. Nobody wants to scrub soap scum or clean toothpaste stains all day long!

Final Thoughts

Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. By adopting a few simple daily habits, you can maintain an organized and stress-free home. The key is consistency—spend just a few minutes each day on these tasks, and over time, they’ll become second nature.

With these 7 simple decluttering tasks, you’ll be well on your way to a cleaner, calmer space. And the best part? You won’t have to spend hours every week catching up on cleaning. Whether it’s making your bed in the morning or putting away items after you use them, small actions every day can have a big impact.

So pick one or two tasks to start with, and slowly build them into your daily routine. Before you know it, your home will feel more organized, and you’ll have more time to enjoy the things that matter most.

Happy decluttering!