I’m a huge fan of breaking down large household tasks into smaller ones. And even though I’m in my 40s, I’ll admit it’s even better when there’s some sort of gaming element to it, which lessens the stress and might add a little fun. I think that’ll ring true at every age!
Kitchen decluttering is one of those behemoth tasks that needs a game plan. And now that I’ve discovered the “Take Away 10” decluttering method, “game” is the operative word.
What Is the “Take Away 10” Decluttering Method?
Another writer stole the “Take Away 10” decluttering method from a friend, who explained her trick as such: “Whenever I feel like the house is cluttered, I go around, room by room, and we pick 10 things, together, to get rid of.” This decluttering method is exactly what it sounds like: You identify an area in your home that’s overcrowded with “stuff,” then choose 10 things to declutter.
It’s a good way to get fast results with decluttering. You may have more than 10 — and you probably will — but start with 10, and you’ll see a big difference quickly. Here’s what happened when I tried it in my own kitchen.
How the “Take Away 10” Method Worked in My Kitchen
I started with the utensil drawer, where I focused on two major categories: duplicates and “one-hit wonders,” the nickname I give to single-purpose tools. I pulled out 12 items (score two extra points for me!) in under 10 minutes, including the following:
- An apple corer (which I never use, even when I make apple crumb pie)
- Extra measuring spoons (yes, I did count each one as a single item)
- Duplicate knives (at least three that we have the same and/or better in a knife block)
- Two extra fruit/vegetable peelers (why did we have three to begin with?)
I couldn’t believe how neat and tidy my utensil drawer looked now that those 12 items were gone. I’m hoping I can keep it that way!
Next, I set out to tackle the junk drawer. The thing about this drawer is that it often stores things that you think might be useful down the road — or, in our case, some keys, and small random tools that were in there when we first moved in and were afraid to get rid of “just in case.”
I decided to bite the bullet and quickly got rid of 10 things, even if they seemed useful:
- Allen wrenches and a couple of other small tools
- Birthday candles
- Two egg timers (I had never even used one!)
- Dried-out pens
I was still reluctant to get rid of the random assortment of keys, so I just gathered them up and put them in a small envelope to keep in the drawer. We had an empty flashlight sitting next to the D batteries for some reason, so I loaded two into the flashlight and recycled the packaging. (Psst — you should never store loose batteries in a drawer, or anywhere!).
I’ll have no problem emptying that junk drawer if we move out, but for now the stuff that’s staying behind is pretty useful — and pretty organized, too. I like this decluttering method because it focuses on results rather than time, although it only took me about 15 minutes to do both drawers. Setting a timer can speed things along, but seeing the pile of discarded items grow is also quite motivating.
Of course, if you have more than 10 things to get rid of, continue decluttering in increments of five, 10, or more until the job is done. Your mileage will vary depending on the amount of stuff you have to declutter, but the job will get done. I can’t wait to see how this trick works all over my kitchen and the rest of my home.
Have you tried this decluttering method in your kitchen? Let us know how it went in the comments below!