When I wrapped up last year’s 52-Week Decluttering Challenge, I mentioned I was in no way finished with decluttering. Today’s post is my first monthly decluttering update for this year. Plus, I’ve got some exciting news to share about an awesome roundup of tips from top decluttering experts that I was a part of.

First, the exciting news!

Boomer Eco Crusader was featured on Redfin

Boomer Eco Crusader was selected by Redfin as a top decluttering expert. See the Redfin article we were featured in: Make Room for the New: Make Room for the New: How to Start a Post-Holiday Decluttering Routine | Redfin

I was thrilled when Redfin asked me to share my best bedroom or closet decluttering tip for their post-holiday decluttering roundup. If you’re looking for inspiration for your decluttering journey, check out the article. It is a fabulous selection of tips for all areas of your home from a group of top decluttering experts. I picked up a few new tricks from the article that I’ll be putting to use this year.

With that in mind, let’s get to my January decluttering update.

January decluttering update

With the start of a new year, I decided to go back to the beginning and start the 52-Week Decluttering Challenge over from week one. Like last year, I started in the kitchen—one of the most visible and highest traffic areas in our home.

Now that I have a full year of decluttering experience under my belt, it was interesting to go back and revisit areas that I had first looked at last year.

Some decluttering experts insist purging unwanted items is a once-and-done event that, if done properly, you never have to revisit. A focused decluttering blitz makes sense in some situations, like when you’re faced with a pressing deadline like an impending move. I’ve always believed getting rid of a lifetime of clutter needs to be a mindset change and an ongoing habit. For most people, a slower and more thoughtful approach will get them where they need to be.

So, if there’s something you’re not ready to say good-bye to, don’t feel bad about hanging on to it. There’s always next time!

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Here’s a summary of this month’s efforts, along with a few observations and learnings.

Week 1 – Under the Kitchen Sink

Last year’s post: 52-Week Decluttering Challenge – Under the kitchen sink 

This week, I found I’d done such a good job of decluttering under the kitchen sink last year that there was nothing else for me to get rid of. It’s still well-organized and, more importantly, I haven’t bought anything new to stash under the sink.

Weekly decluttering tally: 0 items

Week 2 – Kitchen drawers

Last year’s post: 52-Week Decluttering Challenge – Kitchen drawers

In week two, I went through the kitchen drawers. This week, I decided to get rid of several items I had kept in a box marked “kitchen duplicates” just in case I needed them. It has been a year, and I haven’t needed them, so it was time for them to go.

Weekly decluttering tally: 13 items

Week 3 – Kitchen cupboards

Last year’s post: 52-Week Decluttering Challenge – Kitchen cupboards

Week three was time to take on the kitchen cupboards again. This week, I decided to part with several items I was unsure about last year.

Let’s talk for a minute about clutter that tugs at our heartstrings. You might not see the kitchen cupboards as a place where sentimental clutter is lurking, but it can actually be anywhere.

When I got married, my mum—who I now realize was doing her own decluttering—gave me several mismatched serving dishes. They had been on the top shelf of one of my kitchen cupboards for years, and I’m pretty sure I have never used them. Last year, I couldn’t part with them because my mum gave them to me. With a whole year of decluttering experience behind me, I realize they are just dishes and I have lots of other things given to me by my mum that are more meaningful. That made it much easier to let them go.  

Weekly decluttering tally: 13 items

Week 4 – Kitchen counters

Last year’s post: 52-Week Decluttering Challenge – Kitchen counters

I wrapped up the month of January with another look at the kitchen counters. I’ve done an okay job of keeping them reasonably clutter-free so there wasn’t much to get rid of other than a couple of stray items that had been set down in a corner and forgotten.

Weekly decluttering tally: 4 items

Overall, January wasn’t a bad month with a grand total of 30 items on their way to the thrift store. In February, I’ll move on to closet decluttering.

Don’t forget to drop by the Redfin website to take a look at those tips from decluttering experts. I’d love to hear what you think of the article and the tips.

What’s your favourite decluttering tip? Tell me your ideas below.