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How to Declutter Your Home: Tips From a Luxury Realtor

May 29, 2021

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DECLUTTERING COMES WITH MANY BENEFITS

It’s Good for Your Health!

Decluttering your home is not a new concept, but how to declutter your home requires some careful thought and a bit of expertise. And a decluttered home isn’t simply good for avoiding embarrassment when guests arrive; its health benefits have become increasingly recognized. In fact, experts believe the mental health benefits definitely outweigh anything else.

According to a study by researchers at UCLA, clutter can cause or contribute to elevated stress and depression and aggravate illnesses and allergies. The study showed how living in a cluttered environment is much worse than it appears to be – especially at times of major life or lifestyle interruptions, events or changes. Clutter is actually considered a triple threat to your health, causing physical, emotional, and mental harm. It’s also important to those who are considering selling their home.

When I talk about how to declutter your home, I’m not just suggesting getting rid of the stuff that’s cluttering our lives on the outside; I’m also referring to the clutter inside. And for that, you need to practice mindful decluttering. I promise, once you begin mindful decluttering, you’ll find it to be a form of moving meditation.

Mindfulness Can Help with the Task of Decluttering

Mindfulness techniques teach us to be in the present moment—not the past and not the future—so, as you clean, move steadily from one small area to another, giving each your complete attention. You might even choose a mantra, like, “As I de-clutter, I free myself to live in the present.” Sound kind of “airy-fairy”? It’s not. It works.

The following 10 steps for how to declutter your home are tried and true. By staying mindful of how you’re handling each of them, how they’re working for you, and if you need to create a slight variation to suit your style and mindset, you’ll be able to master and simplify each one.

1) Start Small

Before you set yourself up for failure by attempting to tackle the whole house in one session, break the work down into micro-projects. Downsizing and decluttering are stressful and overwhelming even in the best of times. Wherever you start, take baby steps. By doing them daily, these baby steps can soon lead to giant leaps and, hopefully, less stress. At any stressful period of our lives, our sense of time can be distorted. Accomplishing a small project can give you a wonderful boost of confidence for continuing the process over time.

READ: The Junk Drawer: A Montecito Tradition?

2) Get an outside perspective

Once you decide how to declutter your home, invite a friend or professional to visit and offer their opinion. Look for someone who has not been at your house before. If you’re listing your property, your Realtor can help survey the scene and make suggestions on where to begin.

3) Pick a Task and Stick With It

A haphazard, willy-nilly plan is no plan at all. Choose a mission that’s doable and keep your eyes on the prize. Experts suggest starting by identifying an impactful area that is also a significant pain point, like the kitchen or home office. Having organized spaces is especially important during times of illness, and while remote working or schooling.

Break the bigger projects down into manageable chunks and focus on specific action steps and tasks. Stay focused on that one area. Be mindful of the temptation to start jumping around to different spaces. You’ll eventually have to address other areas of the house, but by starting with really impactful areas, you’ll see the progress more quickly and stay motivated. 

4) Clean for a cause

As you get rid of clutter, make sure to have a pile to donate to a non-profit. To make the process even easier, you can hand your donations to someone who regularly takes items to local charities. Just about every community has excellent non-profits. Perhaps some items will even be appropriate for gifting to friends.

5) Untangle Your Cords

If you’re like me, you’ll agree this task definitely requires mindfulness. Cords seem to have minds of their own sometimes. It’s easy to consider them the enemy. Breathe. Even though we live in the wireless age, there sure are a ton of wires uglifying everyone’s houses. Besides being hideous, multiple cords dangling around can make a room feel chaotic. But it is also manageable. Take the advice of experts and clump them together using a simple cord concealer or hide them from view by adding tiny hooks onto the back of furniture to string chords through.

6) Let it go, but . . .

Not everything should be donated. Whenever I get the de-clutter bug, I end up throwing out items I soon wish I’d kept. Be mindful when placing items in one of the 3 piles I mention below.

READ: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo: It’s All About Choosing Joy

7) Put stuff in 3 piles

There are many great tutorials to help you with how to declutter your home, but keep in mind that no matter what advice you heed, tailor it to the realities of your current situation. A great way to start is with 3 piles: one for donations, a second for trash, and the pile of stuff you want to keep.

8) Get rid of health hazards

Experts estimate Americans spend up to 90 percent of their day indoors, with half of that time at home. Any moldy or dusty piles of stuff can lower the air quality in your home, and can ultimately cause or aggravate illnesses and allergies. And since more and more of us seem to be working remotely and homeschooling our kids, getting rid of any health hazard is more important than ever.

9) Digitize Photos

Why not digitize those mountains of old physical photographs and preserve precious pictures for safekeeping? Scanning them one by one is not practical, so consider using a service like ScanMyPhotos.com, which will digitize 4,000 photos for $40, or a penny per photo.

10) Reclaim your home

Like most problems, it is either getting better or getting worse. If you’re feeling like the clutter in your home is growing, avoid getting comfortable with it. It’s easy to become desensitized to clutter. If that’s the case, put mindfulness to work to discover the true reasons for your desensitization or procrastination. Then allow yourself to move forward with the task. Think of it as reclaiming your home.

A Room-by-Room Guide to Reclaiming Your Home

It takes time and effort to declutter one’s home. (It’s worth it!) Mindfulness helps. So does the following room-by-room guide, combined with positivity and focus. Together, they apply to Step 1 above: “Start small” . . .

Woman holding bottle with ketchup, picking food from storage cabinet in kitchen, while considering how to clear the clutter

The Kitchen – Practice honesty

Everyone’s kitchen seems to become a place of clutter. Don’t let that happen! Designate cabinets and drawers for everything you need, then ditch the items that become dust magnets.

The most important place to clean and clear out in the kitchen is your refrigerator. Think about it. Things can get pretty nasty in there, and quickly. Plus, if one of your New Year’s – or any time — resolutions is to eat more healthfully, a fridge detox is just the ticket.

3 easy steps to taming your refrigerator: 

Step 1: Ditch the junk
Grab a garbage bag and get your recycling bin ready. The first step is an oh-so-satisfying purge. Toss out any of these:

  • Fake foods
    Ditch the highly processed “treats” like peppermint non-dairy creamer, an old tub of margarine you bought for a specific cookie recipe, and anything else of dubious nutritional value.
  • Check expiration dates
    Chances are, there are items past their expiration date, or simply growing a moldy rim. Eeuwww!
  • Ditch half-used items
    The random, half-used things you obviously don’t truly use or enjoy (or you would have eaten them already!). Jelly and capers, I’m looking at you.
  • Creepy condiments
    How old is that apple butter we bought on vacation? Wait, when was that vacation? Toss it. Also scrutinize labels. Does that salsa or ketchup hide a bunch of added sugar and salt? Ketchup, for example, may contain up to a teaspoon of sugar per serving, depending on the brand.

Step 2: Purify the space
Now that the junk food, highly processed food, and food old enough to join the AARP has been removed, you’ve made a lot of room for the good stuff. Still, take the items you’re keeping out and onto the counter and get ready to detox the fridge itself.

Experts recommend using a hot vinegar blend to clean appliances like the fridge or microwave. Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of hot water and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Put the mix into a glass spray bottle, spray it inside the empty fridge, then wipe it up with a damp cloth. The hot vinegar helps dissolve any sticky, caked-on goo, and the lemon essential oil is a natural sanitizer.

When you go to place your food back into the fridge, be sure to designate a specific space for meat (if you eat it) that is separate from vegetables and fruits, to avoid any chance of cross-contamination. 

Step 3: Replenish with healthy foods
Stock the fridge with foods that make it easy to get quality nutrients, even if you’re dashing through the kitchen on your way to a meeting or activity. With all our amazing Farmer’s Markets, Farm Stands and Gourmet Shops in the area, there’s no excuse not to. Here’s how to get going:

  • Put Food Where You Can See It
    Put the less healthy food out of the line of vision, toward the back of the fridge, and the superstar foods—i.e., fruit and vegetables—front and center. For example, make it a habit to have a three-day supply of cut-up celery, jicama, snap peas, or baby carrots in a glass dish, staring you in the eye. The glass container trick can also work if you’re someone who struggles with getting enough hydration. Use a carafe of water with some cut-up cucumber, lemon or strawberries floating around to entice you to sip.
  • Power Veggies
    If you’re into making smoothies, keep beets, cilantro, ginger, and lemons on hand in the veggie bin for quick detox blends.
  • Choose Condiments Carefully
    Instead of artificial ingredients and dayglo colors, opt for seasonings and toppings such as tamari soy sauce and nutritional yeast.
  • Grab and Go Foods
    Have basic building blocks — hard-boiled pasture-raised eggs, organic chicken, Greek yogurt, beans, fresh greens, and whole-grain tortillas — so you can mix and match foods for a healthy meal within minutes.

Now that the refrigerator is full of healthy, clean foods, the only growling in the kitchen will be coming from your stomach. 

Practice releasing emotion as you clear the clutter

Living rooms tend to accumulate sentimental clutter. Ask yourself if you really, truly love an object or the person who gave it to you. If you don’t, give it away.

When it comes to de-cluttering the living room, family room, or any room of your home, there are a few questions you can continuously ask yourself as you go along to help determine if the item should stay or go. If you have to think about your answer, chances are likely that you don’t need it. As you are evaluating your items, keep these questions in mind:

Do I use this?

You shouldn’t really have to think long about this.  You either use it or you don’t.  Take note that the question is not “Will I possibly use this one day?”.

Is this item extra?

How many bottles of body lotion do you really need?  Do you really use that sparkling eye shadow?  Evaluate what you need and use on a regular basis.  Remember that almost all beauty products have a life span, so it’s not always wise to “stock up”.  Choose your favorite and toss or donate {if unopened} the extras!

Would I buy this today?

I find that this is a really helpful question when looking at decorative items.  Ask yourself if you still love it and if it is still your style.  Is it adding beauty or function to the space or is it just adding to the clutter?  For beauty products, think about whether or not you really like the colors on you, if it works for your skin type if it’s as effective as you thought it would be, etc. If the answer is “no,” it’s time for it to go!

Does this help make my life easier or better?

There may be some items that you don’t really need, but you do use regularly, and they help to simplify things or give you pleasure in life.  You can definitely splurge on some items – just make sure they are useful to you or provide you with joy.

Can the space that this item takes up be reduced?  

When I think about how to clear the clutter, I always look for ways to reduce the footprint of items I’m keeping.  Can the packaging be removed for more condensed storage?  Do I have multiple bottles of the same product that can be combined?  Can I transfer the item to a smaller container?  Is there more appropriate storage that would make it easier to store and/or access?  It’s amazing what a little creativity can do to minimize space.

A neat and tidy dressing room, illustrating how to declutter your homee in dressing room

The Bedrooms – Practice daily

Bedrooms can easily get overwhelming when considering how to declutter your home because we tend to clean public areas of our abodes more often. Either eliminate the clutter by getting rid of it or invest in more storage. But don’t stop there. Take the time to banish closet clutter. 

When it comes to your closet, practice discipline. Make this your mantra, “One In, Two Out.” Anything that comes into your home needs to be balanced by two objects leaving. According to Eco Watch, every second, a garbage truck’s worth of textiles is either dumped into a landfill or burned. Less than one percent of material is recycled to make new clothes. Experts say consider these 3 things to mindfully de-clutter your closet:

  • Assume the one in one out mantra, meaning, for every piece of clothing you buy, donate something to the charity of your choice.
  • Invest in better quality and stay away from fast fashion. We’re referring to the inexpensive, easy-to-grab, cheap choices out there.
  • Invite your friends of similar size and taste to a clothing swap. Real Simple Magazine recommends inviting no more than 20 attendees, serving snacks, and having fun with it.

The Bathrooms – Practice acceptance

Clean your cabinets and decide what to let go of and what to save. Pay special attention to the following:

  • Towels
    Take a good look at your towels and see if they are all in good shape.  For those that have seen better days, you can either use them for rags or look at donating them to the Santa Barbara Humane Society.  Determine how many towels you actually need to have. (I limit ours to two bath towels per person plus a couple of extras for the rare time that we have house guests stay overnight} and donate any extras.
  • Cosmetics
    Start by going through all of your make-up and tossing those items that are passed their expiry date. Next, go through what’s remaining and determine what you actually wear and what you don’t. Unfortunately, some colors just look better in the packaging than they do when we put them on ourselves. Keep only what you use and makes you feel pretty and powerful.
  • Medication
    Medications should not be stored in the bathroom, due to the temperature fluctuations and steam caused by the bath and showers. So, find a new spot for them. While you’re at it, go through all medications and gather items that have expired, or you no longer need/use. Toss in the garbage if safe to do so or return them to the pharmacy for safe disposal.  

The Office – Practice letting go

Get all that paper you’ve accumulated out of your house. From now on, choose digital instead whenever you can.

“Of all the clutter in our homes, paper pileups are some of the biggest bugaboos,” according to Fast Company writer Jane Porter. “it’s not just stuff, it’s emotional baggage and unfinished business that’s standing in your way.” 

By getting rid of unnecessary paper, you’ll feel lighter, freer, and more creative than ever. Here are some expert tips to follow when taking on that task:

  • Release judgment
  • Shred like Shiva, the Hindu creator, and destroyer
  • Redefine your idea of a job well done
Young couple sitting on floor amid stacks of boxes, reading book about how to declutter your home

10 THINGS TO LEAVE BEHIND WHEN YOU MOVE

Moving presents the perfect opportunity to declutter and reassess your belongings. By that, I mean packing is the perfect time to break free from those items you’ve collected over the years that no longer suit you or the life you’re about to step into.

If you're finding it difficult to navigate the clutter and decide what to pack and what to leave behind, try implementing the 4 P's: 

  • Prioritize what you use most
  • Patch up what requires only minor upkeep
  • Profit off of items that are no longer of value to you, but could be to someone else
  • Purge unnecessary items that are left over

READ: Downsizing Your Home: 5 Signs It Might Be Time

With the 4 P’s in mind, here are 10 things to leave behind when you pack up to move:

  • Expired Foods
    Get rid of anything that’s expired and avoid waste by gifting any surplus items to a local food bank.

  • Cookware and Appliances You Don't Use
    Take stock of dinnerware, pots and pans, and other kitchen gadgets. Donate any broken appliances and throw those that are no longer functional. Do the same with mismatched food containers or other kitchen goodies. Remember, one person’s dust-covered teapot is another person’s treasure!

  • Old Cleaning Products and Personal Care
    Get honest about what’s actually serving you from day to day. Over time, one’s cleaning and personal care products have a tendency to pile up. Take this opportunity to weed out any products that have surpassed their expiration dates. Keep in mind, many cleaning and personal care products can be breeding grounds for germs like old toothbrushes, loofahs and other sponges.

  • Worn Bath Towels and Mats
    Keeping a few spare towels around comes in handy, especially for dog lovers like me, but once they get to the point of being tattered, torn, or no longer absorbent, it’s time to part ways. The same goes with dirty and distressed bathmats that can’t be resuscitated with a good cleaning or won’t fit in your new bathroom.

  • Old Mattress and Pillows
    If your mattress is beyond its lifespan (the average is seven to 10 years) or no longer provides the support you need, consider an upgrade for your new home. Same goes with comforters and pillows, which can collect dirt, dust mites, and mold. In fact, allergy experts suggest replacing them anywhere from six months to two years, especially if they can’t be properly washed. 

  • Clothing and Accessories You Never Wear
    Take command of your closets! Evaluate your clothing and accessories based on their condition, fit, practicality, and wear-ability. This includes how well a particular item goes with your current lifestyle and aesthetic. As a general rule, you may want to consider donating or consigning items you haven’t worn in the past year and filling in any gaps with staples that will stand the test of time. The same goes for dressers and closet bins too.

  • Furniture and Decor That Won't Fit in the New Place
    Why not take this opportunity to replace worn, uncomfortable, and old furnishings? Moving bigger pieces can require additional resources, so you’ll want to decide what you want to keep before the movers come. While you’re at it, look for anything that could cause a potential safety risk, like broken or recalled fixtures, and call the city of Santa Barbara’s large item pick-up service. Keep the investments you’ve made over the years that will not only look good, but also last.

  • Office Supplies and Paperwork
    Moving provides the ultimate opportunity to reduce the nagging paper trail once and for all. Decide whether to toss, recycle, or shred those unneeded pieces of paper. Streamline clips and memento’s by sorting them into labeled folders or binders and breathe new life into old books and extra supplies by selling or donating them to local secondhand stores

  • Outdated Electronics
    Cull through your electronics and tools drawers. Look at your pile of stuff to toss and check each electronics company’s website to see if they offer recycling options. Other useful tools may be welcomed at the Santa Barbara branch of Habitat for Humanity

  • Old Sports Gear
    Let’s be honest here, okay? Look at your sports and recreational gear and determine what to keep and what to give away. Will you really use that jet ski or kayak when you move? If you don’t have imminent plans to put old hobbies back into practice, look into donating that equipment.

READ: Preparing Your Santa Barbara Home For Sale


Just about everything on this list of items to declutter before you move can be recycled. That list includes the home you are leaving. Well, technologically, it can’t be recycled but your existing home can be loved by a new owner. Ready to sell? Schedule a consultation with me at your convenience and I will be happy offer more tips on how to declutter your home, and add your current property in Santa Barbara or any of the surrounding communities to my portfolio. At the same time, I can help you find a new home sweet home in the area. Just call me at (805) 886-9378 or send me an at Cristal@Montecito-Estate.com





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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch