Keep or LETS-GO - how to sort
Keep or LETS-GO: A Simple Decluttering System
Keeps and Lives Elsewhere: These items just need to be put "where they live". Set your timer and go!
Trash is an “easy” one. If it is broken or unusable = trash can. If it is clothing that is ripped, stained, etc, = trash can. Get it out of the house! Use a black garbage bag so you are not tempted to doubt yourself and pull things back out. You’ve made your decision. Trust yourself. Let it go.
Recycle is for paper, cardboard, glass, specific plastics. What is recycled in your area? If not recyclable, it becomes trash.
Donate: local thrift shops, Goodwill, St Vincent de Paul, Value Village, Savers, Deseret Industries, schools, assisted living facilities, libraries, churches, women’s shelters, etc.
Give away: Buy Nothing groups on Facebook, offer on NextDoor, Freecycle, friends or family. ‘Free’ box at the curb.
Sell: Facebook Marketplace, eBay, NextDoor, Offer Up. I give it one week to be claimed then it goes in the donate box.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Use the Keep or LETS-GO method to sort your items quickly and effectively. LETS-GO stands for Lives Elsewhere, Trash, Sentimental, Goes Out—helping you decide what stays and what leaves.
How It Works
As you declutter, have four labeled bags or boxes: LE (Lives Elsewhere), T (Trash), S (Sentimental), GO (Goes Out). Let’s break it down:
Keep Items
These are things you love, use, and need. They deserve a designated home in your space. Ask yourself:
Where’s the first place I’d look for this?
Is there space for it there? If not, where’s the next best spot?
Do I truly need, love, or use this?
Lives Elsewhere (LE)
Items that belong in your home—but in a different spot.
Do old towels belong in the garage instead of the bathroom?
Should board games go in a cupboard instead of under the coffee table?
Does that screwdriver really belong in the kitchen drawer?
Trash (T)
Broken, stained, chipped, or unusable? It’s time to let it go.
Recyclables go in the recycling bin.
Unusable items go straight to the trash (use a black garbage bag to prevent second-guessing!).
Sentimental Items (S)
These are meaningful items that may not have an immediate function but hold emotional value.
Keep only what truly brings you joy or tells a story.
Consider taking a photo instead of keeping the physical item.
Store special keepsakes in a dedicated memory box.
Goes Out (GO)
These items are leaving your home—whether donated, given away, or sold.
Donate: Local thrift stores, shelters, libraries, schools, or churches.
Give Away: Facebook Buy Nothing groups, NextDoor, Freecycle, friends/family.
Sell: Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp. (Set a time limit—if it doesn’t sell in a week, donate it!)
Return: Borrowed items? Get them back to their owners ASAP!
Enjoy the Freedom
Letting go of clutter brings a surprising sense of relief. Fear of regret? It rarely happens! Instead, you’ll feel lighter and more in control of your space.
Give it a try! You CAN do this!
We’re creating a beautiful, calm, decluttered environment — one small step at a time. 💋 Julie
Here's your homework <wink, wink!>
Starting a decluttering task can be overwhelming, daunting, scary, seemingly hopeless.
Fear not! Many have come before you and can tell the tales of success!
I have found that one of the best ways to start is in “Small Do-able Doses”. I’m sure that you have read, or heard people talk, about setting a timer. If you are truly paralyzed in place by your possessions, this is a way to help un-paralyze yourself.
a) Pick one drawer. Potholder drawer? Kitchen utensils? Whatever is close.
b) Now: four boxes - labelled “Keep”, “Lives Elsewhere” (items that don’t belong here, but are keepers), “Trash”, “Goes Out”
You can also use paper bags if that is what you have on hand.
c) Timer: Set it for 5 minutes (you can do anything for 5 minutes!)
d) Do not overthink! Start your timer and just empty that drawer into those 4 boxes!
Do you love it? Do you need it? Do you use it?
e) When your drawer is empty, clean it! Wipe it out, sanitize it, whatever floats your boat!
f) Now: Replace your ‘keep’ items in an orderly way. Will dividers help?
You just decluttered (and cleaned and organized)!! Look at you go!
Take the trash out now, remove your donation box, take your “lives elsewhere” and put them where they belong.
Are you still feeling it? Do another drawer. Pick a shelf you can do. How about the end table next to your chair? The timer is your friend. Consider it an encouraging friend.
Doing a ‘Decluttering Dozen’ is our 12-minute dose. This includes putting things away, finding the right home for items, taking donations to the car, trash to the can. This may be a more realistic timeframe for you, since your task is truly complete. {No other little piles around, etc.}
Congratulations! You are now in charge. You are a DEclutterer!!
-Julie
p.s.) I have personally found that, once it is gone, I have a sense of freedom and relief. This surprised me. I was afraid that I would regret letting things go …
I have not experienced any regret whatsoever. None.
I encourage you to give it a go! You can do this!
We are creating A Beautiful, Calm, Decluttered Environment … and it’s working! 💋 Julie
