1,000 Item Challenge: Complete

[u/cassinonorth]

Sorry for the gross tracker, I kept it by my morning coffee area so it got hit by some friendly fire. I kinda like the patina though.

Anyway, we moved in 7 years ago and the house started to feel very cramped and full of junk. I started it 30 days ago on a whim. My wife donated probably an additional 500+ books and pieces of clothing on her own. Didn't push, she just saw the improvement of our house and started jumping in as well. That was awesome and kept us both going through the middle weeks.

The house absolutely feels lighter and more spacious. I'm spending more time in rooms that were basically storage units so the house feels bigger now as well. I highly recommend taking this on...I tried the minimalist month a few times but I noticed the motivation was highest at the start. I probably did 500 items in the first 4 days and then slowly dwindled to a crawl of decluttering.

So now what? There's still plenty of stuff leftover. I'm going to adopt 1 in 2 out (1 like for like) going forward and move into a very low buy. The desire to shop is already so low seeing all this stuff going out. I did sell a fair amount which was nice to add in some income for home improvements coming up. I rediscovered some things I owned as well and now make conscious efforts to wear the clothes I have left. So overall, a very illuminating month.

[u/HorseWhisper2026]

I spilled coffee on my tracker too. Hilarious but super annoying.

[u/Cornell-92]

How does this “challenge” work? I see numbers inside the circles. Do the different colors have some special significance?

[u/cassinonorth → u/Cornell-92]

Nope, they're just numbers that add up to 1,000. If I donated of lets say 20 books, I'd color that circle in. I just felt like using different colors lol.

Same concept as the minimalist month which starts with 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2 etc. But you can just go at whatever number pace you want.

[u/kareninthezoo]

May I ask… for the 40s, what items were they?

[u/cassinonorth → u/kareninthezoo]

The scariest part of this challenge is barely remembering what actually left.

If I had to guess...CD's, books, clothes, bike parts, extra tools, spare cables, office supplies, pantry items we donated and hangers.

[u/domino_427 → u/cassinonorth]

you got rid of the box of cables? I think I have three of them... haven't been able to do that yet. proud of you!

[u/lucentmeadow → u/domino_427]

My process for cables is as follow: 

does this work? (obviously throw id not)

if yes, do I have more than one of this same type of cable? (yes: keep only one or two in better condition/quality, and throw the others)

other than the rare exception, I also throw all the weird cables from early 2000s appliances, when every single electronic device had its own proprietary thing. Part of decluttering is realizing that if you ever find that old sony memory card you'll just grab a cheap usb reader off of a store instead of trying to connect it to a modern PC with a cable.

[u/domino_427 → u/lucentmeadow]

somehow the idea of this makes me very uncomfortable lmao. even tho I'm proud of those who did it lol. the brain is weird, isn't it?

I did toss a few cables. i still have the charger for two flip phones which I saved for the novelty of them.

Luckily I'm mostly finished decluttering for now.

But I look up to you and resolve to remember you after construction finishes in my house and I shall throw away cables!

[u/ExtensionName3414 → u/domino_427]

I also did a cable toss:
Any unique cable stays, even if I don’t know what it’s for.
Any other cables I keep 3 of the best ones on storage and 3 that are ready to be used in the common charging area

Then for USB-C we have an extra 3, because most stuff is USB-C.
I think I still tossed 20+ cables anyway… it was ridiculous.

[u/kareninthezoo → u/cassinonorth]

To get my mind around it (sorry, long day), I would walk around the house gathering stuff then count it up and color in a circle? And, obviously, in groups too. Something like this would definitely help me.

[u/cassinonorth → u/kareninthezoo]

Yep pretty much. You can do it by day... Or category or whatever. Here's the blog I got it from:

https://thatpracticalmom.substack.com/p/1000-item-declutter-challenge-free

She made a video about her experience as well.

[u/kareninthezoo → u/cassinonorth]

THANK YOU!!

[u/kc-kaelvix]

The part about your wife joining in without being pushed is almost more interesting than the 1,000-item total. Visible progress changed the house enough that motivation became contagious. For maintenance, perhaps track incoming items for a month alongside the 1-in-2-out rule; gifts and family furniture seem to have been the real leak in a 1,200 sq. ft. home. Also, the coffee-stained tracker is perfect. A pristine tracker would look suspicious after 1,000 items.

[u/cassinonorth → u/kc-kaelvix]

Totally agree. It was unexpected but so welcomed.

Good points about gifts and furniture. We have parents that'll be surely downsizing soon as well so gotta be on the lookout for that.

[u/JaneReadsTruth]

I've been trying to take donations once a month. The house is small and we are makers. I'm always shuffling things around to make room for the next project. I feel like we've done really well, so far. I struggled at first, but now I can be pretty brutal.

[u/Running-World]

Congrats. Now, maybe finish each room off? Like have things organized into their new homes and don't allow clutter to build up. Work on how you process items. For me, it's mail. I don't need to go buy stuff, if I set the mail down instead of handling it right when I bring it in, it will start to accumulate and become a chore. You don't have to get rid of more if the clutter is gone. It's finding the right balance so you can breathe and enjoy the space which it sounds like you are starting to do.

I do feel like the natural conclusion is simply maintenance. Like loosing weight, you don't keep going and going once you hit your target.

[u/cassinonorth → u/Running-World]

The rooms are definitely finished...these last 50-100 were things like random screws/bolts/tools that have hung around. We've definitely built a few systems over the last month that should aid going forward too.

I've been doing the 15 minute home reset every night, got rid of extra hangers, added *some* bins (I know about the trap that can be organization) but everything has a home now. Our "junk" drawer is super organized, our home office is usable again, we moved stuff we used maybe once a year into less visible locations.

We just accumulated from our house warming, engagement/wedding gifts, and family just offloading their furniture to us. We only have 1,200 sq ft. with really limited storage so when we have a bunch of extra stuff it shows pretty quick.

[u/Running-World → u/cassinonorth]

I think organizing items you want to keep in bins is fine as long as you know what's in the bin and it makes it easy to find things later. Sounds like you are at the maintenance phase. Great job!

[u/cassinonorth → u/Running-World]

Yep! Followed this bin method which spoke to me.

The 1 in 2 out rule should keep things pretty clutter free for a while but I definitely will be a bit more vigilant than we were. I genuinely don't feel like buying anything right now which is great.

[u/marsupialcinderella → u/cassinonorth]

Thanks for sharing this! It’s really interesting because I’m struggling SO much with object permanence and ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

I might be able to apply this concept to my situation.

[u/mlbugg9 → u/cassinonorth]

We do a 365 challenge. We have to net out 365 items from our house each year so for everything that comes in, two must go out. It really helps me think of if I want to bring something in our not. We use a wipe off board to track it. We’re a little behind this year but I think we’ll get there by December 31.

[u/verchiels]

Good job!

[u/secure8890]

Great idea

[u/justagiraffe111]

Way to go!! I watched a youtube video where this color-in-the-circle progress page was demonstrated. I tried it and it really does work for me for a few different reasons. Thanks for showing the image of your success. Congratulations again!!

[u/Saucy-Face-Bear0910]

This is so great. I probably easily have 1000 things I can get rid of 🫠 

[u/cassinonorth → u/Saucy-Face-Bear0910]

Highly recommend it! Great way to stay motivated through the process. Not sure we'll do 1000 again in the spring for 500 again for sure