Our Decluttering Guide For Your Home: Prevent Clutter In Your Home With A Dumpster Rental
Clutter can have an unrelenting impact on your physical surroundings and mental health. You can scour the Internet for days and days and not even read 1% of the articles and blogs dedicated on how to declutter your home and creating additional storage space.
However, this guide is different! We’ll provide you more than just decluttering tips and tricks — because many tips are simply Band-Aid solutions. We aim to get to the root of your clutter, so when you do declutter your home, the items don’t pile back up, right away.
How Does Clutter Happen?
Clutter happens because we simply have more household items than we need — just look at the self storage industry! Did you know Americans spend around $39 BILLION a year on renting storage containers because they have too many things to keep in their house? Many self-storage renters should have the space to accommodate all of their items because:
- 67% self-storage renters have a garage
- 33% self-storage renters have a garage AND a basement
So, what really causes clutter? Well, we buy way too much stuff! Only 41% of our purchases are actually made for logical reasons. How many times have you bought something on impulse and regretted it? You need to work to avoid impulse buying or buying just because something is discounted. Buy it only because you need it — or because it will make you genuinely happy.
What happens with all of our household clutter?
Why are we still hanging onto these household items even though we know we shouldn’t? Well, because cleaning is a pain!
According to a study done in 2013 at the Yale School of Medicine, researchers studied both hoarders and non-hoarders, and hoarders showed an increase in activity in two areas of the brain when they were forced to get rid of their own household items. According to the study, the subjects said they felt “something wrong” about tossing something out. The two areas of the brain that lit up are known to be associated with conflict and pain. When we have fondness for any object, for any reason, even the thought of getting rid of it causes discomfort.
Therefore, to help improve your chances of decluttering and keeping your home clutter-free in the long term, you need to take the steps to avoid clutter in the first place or understand that there doesn’t need to be a connection between you and your clutter.
How Clutter Affects You
While people might find some comfort in their clutter, there is evidence that a messy space impedes performance. According to a study done in 2011 at Princeton University, “physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress.” This is often part of the emotional journey of decluttering, where letting go of items can feel difficult even when the benefits are clear.
Clutter affects us in other ways too! Sometimes clutter can make a house so messy that people don’t want to go home. Clutter can directly affect your stress levels too, it is observed that female homeowners with a high density of household items experience high cortisol (stress) levels, thus proving the health benefits of decluttering.
Beyond stress, clutter can interfere with daily routines and household functionality. One study found that 25% of Americans are unable to park their cars in a two-car garage because the space is filled with stored items. This lack of usable space can disrupt household harmony, which is why many homeowners explore ways decluttering can create a happier home.
Another study shows that 25% of Americans cannot park their cars in their two-car garage because it is filled with clutter. This is just one statistic of clutter, here’s more:
- Most Americans spend 2.5 days every year, just looking for misplaced items
- 60% of Americans are late to school or work as a result of clutter
- 49% of Americans miss appointments or meetings as a result of clutter
- 22% of Americans miss bus rides, trains, or flights as a result of clutter
Reducing clutter isn’t just about creating a cleaner home—it’s about improving focus, lowering stress, and reclaiming time. Many homeowners find that when they declutter their home and de-stress their life, the benefits extend far beyond tidy surfaces and into overall quality of life.
Are you ready to start decluttering your home? Consider renting a dumpster to make it easier!
5 Steps To Declutter Your Home: Creating a Clutter-Free Zone
Clutter can easily pile up anywhere in your home, from your garage to your coffee table to your attic. Let’s examine a number of strategies that will help in decluttering your home. If you’re feeling unsure where to begin, resources like where do I start decluttering for busy households can help you break the process down into manageable steps.
1. Divide your stuff into three categories — and a “maybe” pile
A helpful step to declutter your home is separating your belongings as early in the process as possible. This helps establish what you want to:
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Keep
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Donate
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Throw away
Anything that you keep should be something you’ve used within the past six months. Be strict with this rule. If an item holds strong sentimental value and you’re not ready to part with it, place it in a “maybe” pile. If it still hasn’t been used after another six months, it’s time to let it go.
For spaces that tend to accumulate clutter quickly—like kitchens and closets—room-specific strategies can make these decisions easier. You may find it helpful to reference simple ways to organize and declutter your kitchen space or tricks to reorganize and declutter your closet as you work through high-traffic areas.
Anything that’s still in usable condition should be donated. If you wouldn’t mind using the item yourself, someone else likely could too.
Lastly, anything that can’t be used anymore should be thrown away. Don’t reminisce about the “good old times.” Those memories don’t disappear when the item does. If your first instinct is to toss it, trust it.
Most people who are decluttering feel psychologically overwhelmed and tight on space. One helpful question to ask yourself is: What do I want more of right now — more space or this item?
“It is wise to remind yourself while you are editing your household items that you are engaging in this task because you are longing for more ease, clear surfaces, and easy-to-find items.”
— Lindsey Whisen, Ease Up: The Organization Expert
2. Donate your clutter
Next, take that donation pile and donate it. Items should be clean and in reasonable condition — please don’t donate unusable items. Common donation locations include:
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Goodwill
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Salvation Army
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Habitat for Humanity ReStores
You can also check local reuse stores or thrift shops that may benefit from your household items. If you’re decluttering as part of a life transition—such as downsizing or relocating—planning ahead can make donation drop-offs easier. Guides like decluttering before moving day can help you time donations more effectively.
3. Have a garage sale
There may be items in your “keep” pile that you’re holding onto simply because you feel guilty about spending money on them. Selling these items can help you recoup some of that cost.
You likely won’t get full retail value, but lightly used items can still bring in extra cash. Garage sales are one option, but online marketplaces can be just as effective. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay allow you to sell items quickly without hosting an in-person sale.
If your goal is speed rather than profit, consider strategies outlined in ways to declutter your home fast to keep momentum going.
4. Hire professionals to dump your trash — safely
This step is often the most emotional: saying goodbye to what’s left. At this point, you’ll need a plan to remove everything in your “throw away” pile, along with anything unsold from your garage sale.
There are two common disposal options:
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Dumpster rental
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Junk removal
If you don’t mind moving items yourself and want a cost-effective solution, a dumpster rental is often the better choice — especially for larger cleanouts or whole-home decluttering projects.
5. Adjust your purchasing habits
This final step is ongoing, but it’s the most important for preventing future clutter. Developing better purchasing habits helps keep your newly decluttered space functional and stress-free.
That means:
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Avoid impulse purchases
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Don’t buy items you don’t have space for
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Skip “sale” items unless you truly need them
This mindset shift is especially helpful for homeowners entering new stages of life. If you’re transitioning into a quieter household, focusing on decluttering spaces while embracing an empty-nest lifestyle can help maintain balance and organization long-term.
Decluttering With a Financial Purpose
Decluttering your home doesn’t just create more space—it can also put money back in your pocket. Items you no longer need may still have value through resale, donation, or tax benefits. From furniture and clothing to electronics and household goods, being intentional about what you remove from your home can turn clutter into financial relief. Learning how to declutter your home and make money at the same time can help you offset cleanup costs while staying motivated throughout the process.
For items that don’t sell but are still in good condition, donating them can be just as impactful. Many homeowners overlook the financial upside of charitable giving, but turning donations into tax deductions is a smart way to reduce clutter while potentially lowering your tax burden. Keeping donation receipts and organizing drop-offs as part of your decluttering plan can make a meaningful difference when tax season arrives.
When Decluttering Feels Overwhelming
Sometimes clutter goes beyond everyday mess and becomes emotionally or physically overwhelming. If your home feels unmanageable, recognizing the warning signs is the first step forward. There are clear indicators that clutter may be crossing a line, and understanding the signs you need to declutter can help homeowners take action before the situation worsens.
In more extreme cases, hoarding behaviors can make decluttering especially challenging. Whether you’re helping a loved one or addressing a long-standing issue in your own home, compassionate and structured approaches matter. Following proven strategies—like those found in tips for helping a hoarder declutter—can make the process safer, more respectful, and far more effective. For larger cleanouts, having a clear plan and the right disposal solution can help restore livable space without added stress.
The Best Ways To Prevent Household Clutter
There are two main rules if you want to prevent clutter, and they are quite simple. These rules are so simple in fact that if you follow it, you’re 100% sure to reduce the amount of clutter you have and prevent it:
1. Don’t buy unnecessarily!
If you can’t find something, or you’re not sure you need it, don’t buy something new! Did you know, around 68% of Americans make redundant or wasteful purchases?
Once you’ve finished your initial decluttering session, you should be able to find everything you need. This will save you so much time looking for things but it will also help prevent household clutter. If you’ve lost something after your decluttering session and you don’t know where this item is, don’t give up until you do.
2. Purge your home regularly.
You’ll have to purge your home of unwanted stuff regularly — and the key word is regularly! Every time you notice something that you have no use for, get rid of it. This helps prevent clutter by clearing space for future items that you may need more.
Hot Tip: Invest in items that will help you stay organized, like drawer dividers, or underbed storage.
Why Renting A Dumpster Is The Best Choice For Decluttering
Recognizing the need to declutter is a big step, so congratulations on that, but what are you going to do with all that stuff you no longer need? If you can’t donate it and you want to do the work yourself, renting a dumpster is your best option — even if you own a pickup truck!
When you choose a dumpster you can load a lot more trash and debris. For example, in our largest 20-yard bin, you can fit the equivalent of 8 pickup truck loads of stuff — that’s a lot of waste!
We’ve included some helpful tips on knowing the right size of dumpster to rent:
Clearing Out a Two Car Garage
If you’re convinced renting a dumpster is right for you, but you’re not sure what size to go with, don’t worry we can help with that. Consider a two car garage loaded with junk you no longer need. For that type of project we’d definitely recommend a 15 or even a 20-yard dumpster.
For Single Car Garages
You wouldn’t need the largest bin available if you’re just clearing out a single car garage though. In this scenario we’d suggest a 10-yard container — maybe a 15 at the most if you really have things piled high in there!
Smaller Decluttering Jobs
When you’re just cleaning up a couple of rooms in your house you should be fine with a smaller dumpster. A 10 yard should give you tons of space — that’s still the equivalent of about 4 Dump runs in a pickup!
No matter what type of decluttering project you’re working on we wouldn’t suggest going with anything smaller than the 10-yard. It can be surprising how much junk you can actually fit in a small space!
If you do end up with a bit of room left in your 10-yard rental after decluttering, have a look around your home. Chances are you’ll find a few more items to fill it with!
Our Favorite Decluttering Tips For You To Use Today
- Good Housekeeping: This wonderful article has tips to help declutter your entire home from expanding kitchen cabinet storage spaces to tossing expired products in your bathroom and by maximizing the space underneath your bed in the bedroom.
- House Logic: This great resource from House Logic provides advice on how to get your home organized with only devoting one hour a day for a month.
- The Tiny Life: Follow the Tiny Life’s guide to go from room to room to declutter your entire home with tips on when to throw away some of those old papers lingering around the house and how to keep your bathroom countertop clutter-free.
- MyDomaine: 28 professional organizers collaborate to provide great decluttering tips like how to recognize when you need to start, how to formulate a plan and how to create ‘landing stations’ throughout the home.
- The Life On Purpose Movement: Erica delves into the one simple idea for homeowners to install in their homes to keep clutter at bay.
- Becoming Minimalist: America’s favorite minimalist, Joshua Becker gets creative with these ideas, like donating one household item every day, to keep your home organized and clutter-free.
Now you know where clutter issues may emanate from, how clutter impacts your psyche, and with tips from professional organizers in the field, how to create a clutter-free home.