How to declutter your home in three simple steps – plus products to help

Many of us accumulate a surprising amount of clutter in our homes over the years. If left unchecked, it can take over our living space.

Decluttering expert Marie Kondo’s philosophy of keeping only what sparks joy can be inspiring to some people and intimidating to others, but even small changes can help you free up space.

And with a Which? Best Buy vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner at your disposal, you can keep those decluttered corners of your home looking fresh and clean.

On this page, we've outlined a three-step plan to guide you as you declutter your home. You'll also find links to our expert product reviews that are guaranteed to help upgrade your cleaning arsenal.

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Our expert says:

Victoria Purcell, Which? Home content editor

'Decluttering is something I've started to do little and often, as tackling a whole room in a day can be quite overwhelming. Once you've managed to banish some clutter, impose some rules to stop it from building up again – I try to subscribe to the "buy less, buy better" school of thought. For example, do I need four different hair styling products? Or can I spend a little more on one tool with multiple functions?

'Which? has a wealth of product reviews and advice to help you choose and look after a reliable product, which can help you keep useless stuff out of your home in the first place.'

Step 1: Prioritise

Start with a clear plan and be willing to be ruthless in your decluttering mission as you move from room to room.

Cleaning expert Delia Cannings, who is the chair of the British Cleaning Council, says: 'Make a list of what you want to keep and what you’re going to throw away, and check everyone in the household is happy with the things you’re getting rid of.

'You can’t declutter every room, so maybe start with one of the bedrooms or the bathroom. Once you start going through things, one by one, you’ll be amazed at all the toiletries you find that are out of date or that you never use.

'A cluttered home can make you feel very stressed. Once you’ve restored space, order and peace, you can feel quite rejuvenated.'

If you fancy decluttering and earning some money at the same time, consider listing products on an online marketplace such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Vinted. But take care when using these platforms – our piece on how to sell second hand online will help you sell safely and protect yourself from scammers.

When getting rid of an item in poor condition (or one that isn't suitable to be passed on), look at your local authority’s recycling depot to see if it's suitable for recycling.

No matter how well you look after your gadgets and appliances, everything has a shelf life. See our guide to do you need to replace these everyday items?

Step 2: Organise

Once you've managed to clear your home of items you no longer need, it's time to turn your attention to organising what's left.

When thinking of ways to move non-essentials out of the way, consider the following:

• Use vertical space One of the best ways to make the most of space is to use your walls. Try investing in some vertical storage options, such as shelves, wall-mounted organisers or tall bookcases.
• Experiment with cube storage Putting up a cube storage unit or two will save you from having to drill into your walls. Plus, you can customise these versatile units with baskets or fabric drawers for a tidier look, or a hit of colour.
• Managing children's items If you've got kids, adding some door hooks can help you keep dressing gowns or fancy-dress outfits off the floor. Wall-mounted boxes, baskets and hammocks could also be an option if you'd rather not trip over soft toys on the floor.
• Don't forget the benefits of multipurpose furniture If your budget allows, you can think about working multipurpose furniture into a smaller living space. For example, a sofa bed with built-in storage or a lift-up coffee table can be game-changers.
• Try self-storage If your home really is bursting at the seams, this may be an option to consider. See our guideto  how to get the most out of self-storage.
• Manage (or dispose of) your cables Tangled wires trailing from your devices will make any space look unorganised, so try using cable clips or sleeves to keep them bundled together and out of sight. You can store rarely used cables in a labelled box to avoid stuffing them in random drawers.
• Turn piles of photos into beautiful books Save space at home by taking your treasured snaps and reworking them into personalised photo books. Depending on the service you use, you can add image filters, captions, borders and more (see our guide to the best photo books)
• Convert DVDs into digital files Wave goodbye to stacks of discs by creating digital copies of your DVDs. Digitising home videos also makes them easier to share with friends and family. We've explained the full process in our guide to how to convert a DVD to an MP4 for free.

For more storage tips, seeour guide to clever storage ideas for your growing family. We also have advice on kids' bedroom ideas and organisation tips

Step 3: Repeat

Move from room to room, repeating the formula of ditching non-essential items and organising the bits you're keeping.

When you’re satisfied your home is relatively clutter-free, you'll need to do your best to keep it that way. Trying to set aside some dedicated time in your daily routine can help you stay on top of any mess before it becomes overwhelming. You can also try the following:

• Enforcing a 'one in, one out' rule When you make a new purchase, try getting rid of something similar. Keeping this in mind will stop clutter from reappearing after all your hard work.
• Donating unwanted electricals or clothes to charity Charity shops will accept toys, clothes and books in good condition. Many also accept smaller electrical items (also see our guide on how to recycle electrical items)
• Involve the family (if you can) Save yourself some time and encourage everybody in your household to tackle rooms with you.
• Choose new purchases wisely Our expert product reviews can help – get started with our vacuum cleaner reviews and steam cleaner reviews.
• Make tidying a little more enjoyable Try playing some music through a smart speaker to boost your mood. You might also appreciate a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the hum of the vacuum cleaner.

If you're planning on replacing your couch, have a read through our advice on how to get rid of a sofa. We also have tips on how to dispose of a mattress

Popular products for tidying your home

Below, we've shared links through to our product reviews so you can snag a Which? Best Buy.

We've also included links to popular products, based on the numbers of visits to our reviews over the past year. Popularity doesn't guarantee quality, though, so you'll have to check our full reviews to see how each model scores.

Remember, we are editorially independent. We're not influenced by third parties, and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. We buy everything we test, where possible, from the shops just like you would, which means you can trust our reviews.

You might not know that Which? is a not-for-profit organisation. The money we make goes directly back into our testing and our efforts to protect consumers and to make their lives simpler, fairer and safer.

Vacuum cleaners

Our top-scoring vacuum cleaner: superb cleaning on all surfaces and great at removing pet hair.

A powerful vacuum cleaner can help you tackle accumulated dust lurking in your home. If you're shopping for a new model, remember that going cordless can be handy for awkward jobs such as vacuuming stairs.

Vacuum cleaners are essential to any decluttering effort, so check yours is in good condition and clean it out regularly by emptying the bag. If it's struggling with suction, take a look at our advice on how to fix a vacuum cleaner.

Popular vacuum cleaners on the Which? website include:

Browse all of our vacuum cleaner reviews.

Steam cleaners

Our top-scoring steam cleaner: Easy to use and excels at removing dirt from crevices.

High temperatures produced by steam cleaners aim to eliminate traces of dust and harmful bacteria without the need for harsh chemicals. Plus, if you suffer from asthma or allergies exacerbated by dust mites, investing in a steam cleaner could be a wise move.

As well as cleaning hard floors and carpets, bathrooms and curtains, you can also experiment with modes designed to clean your oven and hob (as long as you avoid the oven's heating element).

Popular steam cleaners on the Which? website include:

Browse all of our steam cleaner reviews.

All-purpose cleaning sprays

Our top-scoring cleaning spray: Cleans reflective surfaces without leaving streaks or droplets.

A capable cleaning spray can help you tackle bathroom grime and kitchen grease, leaving surfaces spotless. We've tested sprays from well-known brands, including Dettol, Ecover, Flash and Method – as well as supermarket brands.

Consult our guide to the best all-purpose cleaning sprays.

Window vacs

Our top-scoring window vac: Long overall battery life and excellent vacuuming.

The best window vacs are a breeze to use and effortlessly remove condensation on your windows. Our experts have put bestselling window vacuums from the likes of Beldray, Karcher, Titan and Tower to the test to find out which is the best option overall.

Explore our guide to the best window vacs.