30 Bags in 30 Days Declutter Challenge

30 bags in 30 days is a decluttering challenge that helps you declutter. By filling 30 bags in a month’s time, you’ll be on your way to a decluttered house!

Keep reading for more detailed instructions and a free printable checklist to motivate you as you go!

30 Bags in 30 Days

This is a super simple 30-day declutter challenge that actually gives you such a feeling of accomplishment when you’re done!

The challenge is simple—grab a box of bags and go through your house in a month, attempting to fill 30 bags to get rid of.

30 Days of Decluttering

What would your house look like if you could spend thirty days decluttering? I think it would help my house in so many ways!

I’ve done a version of this decluttering challenge before, using my 31-Day Home Decluttering Challenge. Any time I spend focused effort on getting rid of clutter in our house, it always pays off.

Decluttering is never a waste of time!

Decluttering Motivation

One of the great things about the 30 bags in 30 days decluttering challenge is that it’s extremely motivating.

Once you see those bags of things piling up by the door ready to leave the house, there’s such a feeling of lightness.

Each bag filled is motivation to continue on through the rest of the house.

Need some motivation to declutter and simplify? Read these 50 Quotes About Decluttering to give yourself a reminder of why you’re doing this!

“Decluttering works best when you start with the easier spaces, and build up the skills and confidence to tackle harder spaces later.” —Joshua Becker

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How to Start this Challenge

You can do this decluttering challenge however it makes the most sense to you. Here are a few suggestions for getting started.

1. Pick a Time to Start

If you’d like to start at the beginning of the month, that’s great! If it happens to be the middle of the month (or the end), you can go ahead and start right where you are!

You can also spread this challenge out longer than a month, and just do 30 days of decluttering wherever you can fit them in.

For instance, I like to take the weekends off and just do Monday through Friday. So, that will take longer than a month, but that’s totally fine. Take even longer if you need or want to!

2. Print the 30 Bags in 30 Days Printable

For this challenge, I didn’t assign locations or items to the 30 days. I just made a cute printable to document where you’re at in the process.

As you fill a bag, check off or mark through one of the bags on the printable!

Download the free printable here!

If you’d like some guidance for where to declutter and when, feel free to print this 31-Day Home Decluttering Challenge checklist.

3. Get a Box of Trash Bags

I use heavy duty 13 gallon trash bags for this. It’s best to use bags that are at least .9 mil thick. If you use thinner bags, they’re more likely to tear.

You could also use another container such as a box to put your decluttered items in. It doesn’t really matter, although trash bags fit into the back of a vehicle nicely when you’re ready to donate them.

4. Start Decluttering!

Once you have your checklist, a day to start, and something to put your decluttered items in, you’re ready to start!

Put on some music or a podcast (if that helps you while you work) and pick an area to declutter!

Go through the area looking for things you no longer need or want in your home. Then, either put them in the trash (if they’re trash), or put them in a bag to donate.

Need some encouragement for decluttering when it’s overwhelming? Read this blog post!

Here’s some encouragement from FlyLady, in her book Sink Reflections:

“You can’t organize clutter; you can only get rid of it.”

What to Do With Decluttered Items

What I usually do is make one of the bags a trash bag (meaning that I’m throwing trash into it instead of items to donate).

Use a black permanent marker to label the bag, if needed. Then, when you come across an item that you no longer need or want (and it wouldn’t be useful to someone else), toss it into the trash bag.

Things I put in the bag marked trash are things like papers, old receipts, old catalogs and newspapers (or put these in the recycling bin), broken items, wrappers, etc.

Donate all the bags that have useable items in them. These are things that are still good, useful items that someone else may need or want.

Thrift stores are a great place to donate toys, clothes, and household goods that are still in good condition.

You may also choose to sell some of the decluttered items, but I find that prolongs the process of getting rid of clutter.

I only plan to sell items that have a reasonable chance of selling for a decent price (making it worth my time and the shipping price, if I’m selling online).

Facebook Marketplace is another option for selling items you no longer want to keep in your home. If you sell locally, this will eliminate having to package up and ship the items.

“When you are overwhelmed, tired and stressed, the solution is almost always less. Get rid of something. Lots of somethings.” —Courtney Carver

More Decluttering Inspiration:

• 31-Day Home Decluttering Challenge
• How to Declutter When You’re Overwhelmed
• 50 Quotes About Decluttering
• The KonMari Method for Kids
• The KonMari Method for Organizing Clothing

I hope this decluttering challenge helps you get motivated to declutter! Sometimes having a challenge is just the thing to help you get started.

Living a more minimal, simple life is so worth all the effort!

If you need more decluttering inspiration, be sure to check out these favorite resources on decluttering.

10 Best Books on Decluttering Your Home and Life

Sink Reflections, by FlyLady This book isn’t all about decluttering, but she does mention the subject, and she always makes me  want to declutter and simplify my life!

Decluttering at the Speed of Life, by Dana K. White

The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo