500 Item Purge: A Complete Guide to Simplifying Your Daily Life and Resetting Your Home
Ready to simplify your home and breathe easier? Our 500 Item Purge guide walks you through practical decluttering steps for a whole-house reset. Get room-by-room strategies, tips to keep the clutter from creeping back, and the motivation to finally clear out the excess!
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THE 500 ITEM PURGE: A REALISTIC GUIDE TO RESETTING YOUR HOME
Letās be honestāstuff accumulates at an alarming rate. One day, your house feels relatively put together, and the next, youāre stepping over plastic dinosaurs, mystery cords, and stacks of mail you swore youād sort last week. If youāre feeling the weight of too much, itās time for a whole-house reset.
Enter: The 500 Item Purge. Itās exactly what it sounds likeāletting go of 500 things weighing down your home and, quite possibly, your sanity. That might sound like a lot, but once you start, youāll be amazed at how easy it is to hit that number.
WHY A WHOLE-HOUSE RESET MATTERS
Decluttering isnāt just about having a Pinterest-perfect home (though thatās a nice bonus). Itās about creating a space that actually works for your familyāone that feels lighter, functions better, and doesnāt leave you drowning in misplaced socks and sippy cup lids.
Hereās what happens when you clear out the excess:
- Less chaos, more calm ā Fewer things = fewer messes. Itās simple math.
- More efficiency ā No more searching for that one water bottle lid that somehow vanished into thin air.
- More time for what actually matters ā Less cleaning, less organizing, more living.
- Mental clarity ā Clutter isnāt just physical; itās mental, too. A reset helps clear the brain fog.
HOW TO PURGE 500 ITEMS WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND
Donāt overthink itā500 items might sound huge, but when you break it down room by room, itās very doable. Hereās your step-by-step plan:
THE KITCHEN
- Toss expired pantry items (yes, even that fancy spice blend you swore youād use).
- Donate gadgets you thought would change your life but never did.
- Ditch the storage containers without lids (because we all know those lids are never coming back).
THE LIVING ROOM
- Clear out old magazines, broken toys, and decor that no longer sparks joy.
- Rehome extra throw blanketsābecause, letās be honest, you only use your favorite one.
THE BEDROOMS
- Purge clothes that donāt fit, donāt get worn, or make you say, āMaybe someday.ā
- Let go of old bedding and mismatched socks (we both know that sockās match isnāt showing up).
THE BATHROOMS
- Toss expired medications and half-used beauty products you didnāt love.
- Organize the chaos under the sink (goodbye, 12 almost-empty bottles of lotion).
THE HOME OFFICE
- Recycle paperwork you donāt need (take a picture if youāre scared to let go).
- Donate or toss outdated tech and tangled cords from devices you donāt even own anymore.
THE PLAYROOM
- Say goodbye to broken toys, puzzles with missing pieces, and the games your kids never play.
- Involve the kids in choosing toys to donate (you might be surprised at what theyāre ready to part with).
KEEPING THE CLUTTER AWAY FOR GOOD
The best decluttering plan is one that stops the mess from creeping back. Try these:
- Adopt a āone in, one outā rule ā Something new comes in? Something old goes out.
- Set up donation bins ā Make it easy to let things go instead of stuffing them in a closet.
- Do mini purges often ā Donāt wait for another big resetāclear things out as you go.
READY TO DITCH 500 ITEMS? LETāS DO THIS.
The 500 Item Purge isnāt about perfectionāitās about creating a home that feels good to live in. Less stress, less mess, more space for what truly matters. Grab a trash bag, turn on some music, and start clearing out the things weighing you down. Your future self will thank you.



Hey, I’m Katelyn, the “Achievably Extra” Mom! Join me for creative family fun and practical tips! Let’s inspire each other!


