Does the thought of decluttering your entire home leave you wondering where to begin?
I know that feeling!
There was a time when my home was so full of clutter that I had pathways from room to room. I spent more than five years as what I call a “pajama junkie,” struggling to take care of my home and myself.
In March 2011, I decided something needed to change. I began getting dressed every day and sharing my progress on Facebook. That one habit opened the door to many more changes in my life.
As I continued decluttering my home, I learned something important.
Decluttering is not something you do once and never have to do again. It is an ongoing process that becomes easier when you have simple habits in place.
That is why I created the Marilyn’s Way Monthly Decluttering Events.
Instead of trying to declutter everything at once, we focus on specific areas throughout the year.
Small Steps. Simple Habits. Intentional Living.
That is what Marilyn’s Way is all about!
How the Monthly Decluttering Events Work
Each month, we focus on a different area of our home or a specific part of our lives.
Some months are about clearing physical clutter. Other months are about creating routines, simplifying our surroundings, or making room for the things that matter most.
You do not have to spend hours decluttering.
You can start with five minutes.
If you have more time and energy, set your timer for 15 minutes.
If you have a busy week, do what you can and pick up where you left off.
The goal is progress, not perfection.
I also want you to understand that these monthly events are not meant to replace your daily homekeeping habits.
The Marilyn’s Way Method works together:
- 9 Daily Habits help you take care of your everyday homekeeping.
- Weekly Habits give each day a purpose and help keep you on track.
- Zone Work allows you to focus on specific areas of your home.
- Monthly Decluttering Events help you make ongoing progress with clutter.
The more you practice these simple habits, the easier it becomes to maintain the progress you have made.
If you are new to Marilyn’s Way, I encourage you to begin with my 9 Daily Habits to Keep Your Home Clean.
You do not have to master everything before you begin decluttering. Just remember to keep your everyday homekeeping manageable while working on the monthly event.
Marilyn’s Way Monthly Decluttering Calendar
Here is our year-round plan for creating a home that is easier to maintain and a life that feels more intentional.
January – 31 Days to a Decluttered Home
The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time to take a fresh look at your home.
This month, we focus on removing the obvious clutter that has accumulated throughout the year.
Start with a garbage bag!
Look for things that are broken, expired, no longer useful, or simply taking up valuable space.
You might begin with a kitchen drawer, bathroom cabinet, nightstand, or the top of your dresser.
The purpose of this event is to help you build momentum and develop the habit of making decluttering decisions.
Your January challenge: Spend a few minutes each day removing something from your home that no longer serves you.
Need ideas? My 100 Things to Get Rid Of in Your Home workbook is a helpful companion for this month. It gives you a starting point when you find yourself wondering what to declutter next.
February – Bedroom Decluttering and Refresh
February is the month we focus on our bedrooms.
Your bedroom should be a place where you can relax, rest, and prepare for the next day.
When I began decluttering my own home, my bedroom was one of the first spaces where I noticed how much difference removing clutter could make.
I treated myself to a new comforter after decluttering my bedroom. That simple change helped me enjoy making my bed each morning and turning it down each evening.
This month, work on your nightstand, dresser, under the bed, and anything else that has accumulated in your bedroom.
Remember to declutter first and clean second.
Your February challenge: Make your bedroom a place you look forward to being in at the end of the day.
March – Closet Clarity
Have you ever stood in front of a closet full of clothes and felt like you had nothing to wear?
I certainly have!
Getting dressed first is the foundation of Marilyn’s Way, and having too many clothes can make that habit more difficult than it needs to be.
During March, we look at our wardrobes and make decisions about the clothes we actually wear and enjoy.
Start with one category at a time.
You might begin with shirts, pants, socks, or shoes.
There is no reason to empty your entire closet onto your bed and create an overwhelming project.
Your March challenge: Create a wardrobe that makes getting dressed easier.
For additional help, I wrote Too Many Clothes Nothing to Wear: Getting Out of a Hot Mess. It walks you through the process of understanding clothing clutter, decluttering your wardrobe, and creating outfits that work for your life.
April – Paper Clutter Made Simple
Paper clutter has a way of sneaking into our homes.
The mail arrives. Bills need attention. Receipts collect. Important paperwork gets mixed in with things we no longer need.
Before we know it, we have piles!
April is the month we begin taking control of our paper clutter.
Start with one small pile.
Sort the paperwork into categories such as action needed, filing, recycling, and shredding.
Do not try to organize every piece of paper in your home in one afternoon.
Once you begin clearing the piles, work toward creating a simple system for handling incoming paperwork.
Your April challenge: Create a manageable paper routine so those piles stop growing.
My paper-clutter ebook Paper Clutter Smackdown! Papers You Can Get Rid Of Today offers additional guidance for sorting paperwork, deciding what to keep, and creating a filing system that works for your home.
Want a Step-by-Step Plan?
If you’re ready to actually work through your paper piles, my Paper Clutter Made Simple Workbook gives you a simple plan to follow one small step at a time.
It includes a 31-day paper clutter reset calendar, sorting worksheets, a paperwork reference guide, paper hot spot help, digital decluttering pages, and a weekly paper reset.
You don’t have to organize every paper today. Start with one pile, one folder, or one small step.
Get the Paper Clutter Workbook
May – Kitchen Clutter Cleanup
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in our homes.
It is where we prepare meals, wash dishes, store food, and often collect things that belong somewhere else.
May is our opportunity to make the kitchen easier to use.
Begin with one drawer or cabinet.
Look for duplicate utensils, dishes you no longer use, expired food, and small appliances that take up space without serving a purpose.
As you declutter, think about how you actually use your kitchen.
Keep the things you use most often within easy reach.
Your May challenge: Create a kitchen that makes preparing meals and cleaning up easier.
For a more structured approach, use my 30 Days to a Decluttered Kitchen workbook to guide you through the process one step at a time.
June – Summer Simplify
Summer brings a different rhythm to our lives.
There may be gardening, outdoor activities, family gatherings, vacations, and all the other things we enjoy about the season.
The last thing we want is to spend the entire summer cleaning and decluttering!
June is about simplifying.
Look at the things you use during the summer months.
Declutter outdoor supplies, gardening items, seasonal decorations, picnic supplies, and other belongings that tend to accumulate.
This is also a wonderful time to revisit an area you have already decluttered.
Your June challenge: Make room for summer living without adding unnecessary work to your schedule.
July – Clear the Hot Spots
We all have them!
The kitchen counter, dining table, desk, entryway, or that chair where everything seems to land.
In Marilyn’s Way, I call these areas Hot Spots.
They are places where clutter collects because we have not established a place for the items or a habit of putting them away.
July is the month we focus on clearing these areas and creating simple routines that prevent them from becoming cluttered again.
Start with one Hot Spot.
Remove anything that does not belong, put away what you can, and decide what needs a permanent home.
Then spend five minutes each day maintaining the area.
Your July challenge: Turn one cluttered Hot Spot into a space that works for you.
August – Clothes, Laundry, and Getting Dressed First
August brings us back to clothing, but this time we are focusing on more than our closets.
We are looking at the routines that make getting dressed and managing laundry easier.
Do you have clothes sitting in the dryer waiting to be folded?
Does clean laundry end up in baskets instead of being put away?
Are there clothes in your closet that you never seem to reach for?
This is a wonderful opportunity to simplify your wardrobe and strengthen your laundry habits.
One of the most important things I have learned is that laundry is not finished when the dryer stops.
It is finished when everything is folded, hung, and put away!
Your August challenge: Make getting dressed and doing laundry easier by creating simple habits you can maintain.
My ebook Too Many Clothes Nothing to Wear: Getting Out of a Hot Mess is a helpful resource for anyone who wants to take a closer look at their wardrobe.
September – Bathroom and Self-Care Reset
September is about more than decluttering the bathroom.
It is also about taking care of ourselves.
Begin by looking through your bathroom cabinets, drawers, shower products, and personal care supplies.
Remove expired products, empty containers, and things you no longer use. Set aside expired medications for appropriate disposal.
Then think about the routines that happen in your bathroom.
Getting dressed first and doing your Swish & Swipe are two important habits in Marilyn’s Way.
When your bathroom is organized, these habits become easier.
This month, we also make intentional time for self-care.
Self-care does not have to be complicated or expensive. It might mean getting enough rest, enjoying a relaxing shower, or taking a few minutes to do something just for yourself.
Your September challenge: Simplify your bathroom and make taking care of yourself part of your everyday routine.
October – Household Paperwork and Digital Declutter
October brings us back to paper clutter with a slightly different focus.
This time, we are looking at the paperwork and digital clutter that make managing our homes more complicated.
Review your filing system, household records, important documents, and paperwork that needs attention.
You can also begin organizing digital files, deleting unnecessary downloads, and unsubscribing from emails you no longer want to receive.
Remember, you do not have to do everything!
Choose one small project and finish it before moving on to the next.
Your October challenge: Create simpler systems for managing household paperwork and digital clutter.
My paper-clutter ebook Paper Clutter Smackdown! Papers You Can Get Rid Of Today offers additional guidance for sorting paperwork, deciding what to keep, and creating a filing system that works for your home.
Want a Step-by-Step Plan?
If you’re ready to actually work through your paper piles, my Paper Clutter Made Simple Workbook gives you a simple plan to follow one small step at a time.
It includes a 31-day paper clutter reset calendar, sorting worksheets, a paperwork reference guide, paper hot spot help, digital decluttering pages, and a weekly paper reset.
You don’t have to organize every paper today. Start with one pile, one folder, or one small step.
Get the Paper Clutter Workbook
November – Kitchen Ready for the Holidays
November is a wonderful time to give the kitchen another look before the holiday season.
Whether you are hosting family gatherings or simply preparing meals for yourself, having a kitchen that functions well makes a difference.
This month, focus on kitchen maintenance.
Check your pantry, refrigerator, freezer, baking supplies, serving dishes, and food storage containers.
Look at what you already have before purchasing more.
Make room for the food and supplies you will actually need.
Your November challenge: Prepare your kitchen for the holiday season without creating unnecessary work.
My 30 Days to a Decluttered Kitchen workbook can help you revisit areas that need attention and maintain the progress you made earlier in the year.
December – Intentional Living in a Busy Season
December is different.
I do not want you spending the entire month feeling as though you need to catch up on everything you did not finish during the year.
This month is about slowing down and choosing what matters most.
Continue your 9 Daily Habits. Maintain the spaces you have already decluttered.
Take care of the things that need your attention, but make room for rest, family, traditions, and the activities that bring meaning to your life.
Look back at what you accomplished throughout the year.
Maybe you cleared a closet, organized your paperwork, or finally established a laundry routine.
Celebrate those accomplishments!
Your December challenge: Let go of unnecessary clutter, commitments, and expectations so you can enjoy the season with intention.
You Do Not Have to Start in January
One of the things I love most about the Marilyn’s Way Monthly Decluttering Events is that you can join at any time.
If you discover this article in September, begin with September.
If your bedroom needs attention in June, you can work on your bedroom.
The monthly calendar is a guide, not a set of rules.
It gives us direction while allowing us to adjust our homekeeping to our lives.
There will be busy weeks. There will be days when we do not feel our best. There will be times when other responsibilities need our attention.
That is why we have the 9 Daily Habits.
They are the foundation we return to when life gets busy.
Decluttering Happens in Layers
This is one of the most important lessons I want to share with you.
You do not have to declutter your home perfectly the first time.
When I began, I could make decisions about obvious trash and things I knew I no longer wanted.
Other belongings were more difficult.
As I continued decluttering, I found that I could return to an area and make decisions I had not been ready to make before.
That is what I mean when I say:
Decluttering happens in layers.
Every time you revisit a room, drawer, cabinet, or closet, you have another opportunity to simplify your home.
The Monthly Decluttering Events give you a reason to keep making progress throughout the year.
Join the Marilyn’s Way Monthly Decluttering Events
You do not have to do this alone!
I invite you to join my Marilyn’s Way Facebook Group, where we work on our monthly decluttering events together.
I share simple challenges, homekeeping reminders, encouragement, and ideas to help you keep moving forward.
You can participate at your own pace.
If all you can do today is clear one drawer, that is progress.
If you have five minutes to work on your Hot Spot, that counts too!
The important thing is to keep taking those small steps.
A Final Thought from Marilyn
I created Marilyn’s Way because I wanted more than an organized home.
I wanted a way to take care of my home that would leave me time and energy for living.
Decluttering helped me create space. My daily and weekly habits helped me maintain it.
Intentional living helped me understand what I wanted that space for.
The goal is not to spend your life taking care of your home. The goal is to create a home that supports the life you want to live.
Remember…
You do not have to declutter your whole home today.
Just take the next small step.
Small Steps. Simple Habits. Intentional Living.
— Marilyn 💜
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