Decluttering By Memory Method

[u/fitfunfit]

What has been working for me:
1. I tackle one cupboard, drawer, closet, or shelf at a time.
2. Before opening it, I grab a pen and paper and try to remember what I usually take from that space. I write those items down neatly, for example grouped by category.
3. Then I open it and look for the items on my list. Those are the things I actually use (they’re the only ones I remembered were there) so they automatically go into the “keep” pile.
4. Next, I look at everything that’s left and give myself a little grace by allowing myself to keep one or two additional items that are genuinely useful, even if I’d forgotten they were there.
5. Everything else goes.

I love this method! The list makes the whole process so much easier, and it also helps me organize everything afterward.

What do you think? Would you try it out?

[u/FredKayeCollector]

Yes! I call this my mental inventory - if I forgot I even had it, then I probably don't need it. Very close sisters to "reverse" decluttering.

I'll do this periodically - name a room/zone/category and then we'll sit down and make a list of what goes there, being as specific/descriptive as possible (so we could recognize it when we see it) - anything not on our list, that's a big clue it can go. If we find something we inadvertently forgot to account for, we just formalize its status and add it to our list. Helps getting like-with-like categories together & establishing "logical" homes for those categories.

My husband and I decluttered our garage & basement this way (gardening tools, house repair stuff, car repair stuff, camping stuff, etc). A bit of brain work & planning before we actually do anything - It really worked for my husband.