Join the Reader’s Digest 5-Day Declutter Challenge!

Ready to show your home a little love in 2023? We’ll show you how to declutter your home in just five days. Join Reader’s Digest’s pro-led 5-Day Declutter Challenge, starting Jan. 2. Tackle small but persistent trouble spots throughout your home, Monday through Friday, in just 30 minutes each day.

If you’re anything like us, “new year, same old clutter” might as well be your mantra. And you’re craving a reset. That’s why we teamed up with professional organizers Jamie Novak, author of Keep This, Toss That, and Michele Vig of @neatlittlenest to show you how to declutter your home and help you clear it out in less time per evening than it takes to stream the latest episode of your current binge-worthy watch.

Each day’s quick-and-easy challenge helps you tackle one of your home’s problem areas. The goal? Declutter and empower. Small changes can build the momentum that leads to bigger ones! At the least, you’ll help your family’s day-to-day run a little more smoothly.

Bonus: It’s a great way to connect with friends, keep each other accountable and celebrate daily wins.

Ready to control the chaos of home clutter? Read these challenge FAQs to find out more.

What exactly is the Reader’s Digest 5-Day Declutter Challenge?

The RD 5-Day Declutter Challenge is a series of five choose-your-own tasks, targeted to your home’s most clutter-prone areas. It makes learning how to declutter your home fast and easy. Mark your calendar and set a phone alert! We start on Monday, Jan. 2, and reveal one challenge on our website each day.

Each challenge requires just 30 minutes and includes a 10-minute quick toss. At the end of the week, you’ll find yourself with an undeniably tidier house.

But I have a lot of/just a little clutter. Is this challenge for me?

Yes! It’s designed to help homeowners, apartment dwellers and families of all types living with any level of clutter.

This challenge gives you the direction, motivation and connection to make change that will make a difference. Whether that’s getting the ball rolling on a bigger project or finally getting that last annoying junk drawer in order is up to you.

What if I miss a day, or start after Jan. 2?

No problem! There’s no pressure to catch up. Simply jump in anytime. Your personal first day is Day One.

Is there any prep work involved?

Just a little. Have these things ready to ensure you’ll make the most of each day’s 30 minutes.

• A timer to keep track of your 30 minutes (the one on your phone or the stove works)
• Basic cleaning essentials, such as:
  • Microfiber cleaning towels
  • Multipurpose cleaner
  • Vacuum cleaner and/or broom
• Boxes or bags to gather donations
• An empty vehicle trunk or other designated spot to store donations for pickup
• A preferred donation spot, whether you’ll drop off or schedule a pickup (see donationtown.org for help)

What areas will we be covering?

During the challenge, you’ll spend time on small choose-your-own declutter projects in these five spaces: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, laundry room and entryway.

I’m in! How do I start?

Great! Simply go to this page on our website on Monday, Jan. 2, to start the challenge. Come back each day for the next four days to find a new challenge.

Until then, here are a few things you can do to help you stay motivated:

• Bookmark the challenge location on our website.
• Share this post with a friend and invite them to tackle the challenge with you!
• Set a phone alarm and/or put a reminder in your calendar to start the challenge on Jan. 2.
• Round up everything you’ll need. (See “Is there any prep work involved?” above.)
• Follow and like Reader’s Digest on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Get ready to share your progress photos with #RDDeclutterChallenge!
• Subscribe to our daily and weekly Read Up newsletters here for more cleaning tips and tricks.
• Share the graphic above on your social media of choice.

Start the Challenge

Meet your organizing experts

• Jamie Novak: Pro organizer @JamieNovak is the author of Keep This, Toss That: The Practical Guide to Tidying Up and host of The 10 Minute Podcast and her YouTube Channel Countdown to Clutter Free. She’s here to guide you through the assignments, sharing her insider tips to combat chaos and reset your home for a clutter-free new year.
• Michele Vig: Vig founded Neat Little Nest with the goal of helping unlock people from their clutter and build the lives they envision. She is certified in KonMari decluttering and a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. She published The Holistic Guide to Decluttering in 2020.