Decluttering Question #2: Do You Need Multiples?

by Jess Lex

When you start the process of decluttering and downsizing, you will have to make a lot of decisions to help you sort your things. I recommend asking 6 questions in order to help you make decisions about your items. Today’s blog will cover question 2: Are there multiples of the item?

Decluttering Things

This question might be the most straightforward out of all 6 questions. We all know those things we have duplicates of. Maybe you have too many sets of sheets, towels, coffee mugs, dish sets, tools. The list goes on.

Try to think practically about how many of something you need at this current stage in your life. If there are only 1-2 people in your household and you’re not regularly hosting guests, do you need 15 bath towels, or would keeping your 4 favorites be plenty?

Think about those items that you have multiples of because you had to rebuy the item when the prior one stopped working. You might have hung onto the broken item because you figured someone could get it working one day, but that day never came. Or maybe the item needs to be recycled in a special way, and you just never found the time to get it to the right spot. If something doesn’t work, throw it away or recycle it. Today is the day!

Some of the duplicate items might mean more to you than others. For example, we all have too many coffee mugs. Some might be special and sentimental, while others might just be branded swag gifts from your dentist or mechanic that have zero meaning to you and at this point are also not useful because you have too many.

You might need to consider the functionality of a duplicated item. Which of the duplicates works the best for you? We usually tend to gravitate towards 1 tool when performing a task, and the others only get used when it’s absolutely necessary. In my kitchen, I have a favorite whisk. As long as it’s clean, I will choose my favorite whisk every time over the other 2 I have available.

Read on for more tips and questions to help you sort when downsizing and decluttering.

Feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? Jess Lex Homes helps Southern Wisconsin homeowners navigate downsizing through practical decision-making tools, local resources, and step-by-step guidance, making the process feel more manageable.