Organizing October: Declutter Your Home Sustainably [+ Recycling Resources]

October 15, 2026

Does the season change have you itching to declutter? Then come on in and get a few tips from a pro (that’s us 😉) to organize and declutter your home sustainably this fall.

Fall is a natural time to reset your home before the holidays and colder months hit. In other words: Cozy season is upon us, and it’s time to get your home ready!

Clutter can feel overwhelming, even when your home is *technically* clean. And lest you think the goal here is perfection, organizing and decluttering are less about achieving the “perfect” home and more about creating a space you love to live in. A clean, decluttered home means less stress, more peace, and more energy left to enjoy your home.

But wait, don’t just start tossing things in the trash! There’s a better way to organize.

Let’s take a look at how to declutter your home sustainably, with organizing tips, resources, and local places to donate or recycle your unwanted items.

5 Simple Tips for Decluttering Your Home

Tip 1: Take It One Task or Room at a Time

Decluttering and organizing your entire home can feel SUPER overwhelming (especially when you try to tackle the entire house in one weekend!). Plus, letting go of belongings can sometimes be an emotional decision.

So be kind to yourself and start small:

Set aside 15–20 minutes to organize a small area.
Start with one drawer, cabinet, shelf, or countertop.
Focus on a high-impact space you use every day, such as the kitchen counter or entryway.

From there, choose your next area to organize, taking it one task or room at a time. In between, celebrate your small wins (we suggest a little happy dance) to help build motivation and momentum.

Tip 2: Start With Your Biggest Frustration

Starting with the area that causes you the most daily frustration will give you maximum satisfaction and fuel your motivation to keep up the good work.

For example:

Entryway: Shoes, coats, mail, bags.
Kitchen: Expired pantry items, duplicate utensils, mismatched containers.
Bathroom: Expired products, empty bottles, unused toiletries.
Bedroom: Unworn/outgrown clothing, overflowing drawers, extra linens you no longer need.

Whichever area you choose, take a moment when you’re done to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Tip 3: Decide What To Keep, Donate, Recycle, or Toss

Sort all items into four categories: keep, donate, recycle, and trash. To decide what to keep or toss, ask yourself:

Have I used this in the past year?
Does it serve a purpose or bring me joy? (Sentimental value is valid!)
Do I own duplicates?
Could someone else use this?

Note: Don’t toss things just for the sake of decluttering! If something has value to you, it’s worth finding space for it in your home.

Once you decide which items to let go of, then determine if they’re reusable, repairable, or recyclable.

Reusable items: Donate clean, usable items to local thrift stores, nonprofits, mutual aid organizations, and Buy Nothing groups.
Repairable items: Repair, then donate.
Recyclable items: Place in the recycling bin or drop off at an appropriate recycling facility. (Not all materials are accepted in curbside recycling — see resources below.)

Finally, only throw items that aren’t reusable, repairable, or recyclable into the trash.

Tip 4: Give Everything a Designated Home

Once you’ve donated, recycled, or tossed out unwanted items, it’s time to organize what’s left. A few tips to keep things easy to find and put away:

Keep frequently used items accessible.
Store seasonal or less-used items out of the way (attic/basement/storage shed).
Use drawer dividers, baskets, and containers to create simple systems.
Repurpose boxes or other containers you already have before purchasing new organizers. (Get creative!)

The most sustainable (and budget-friendly) organizing option is to use what you already own rather than buying new products. So avoid buying more organizing supplies until you’ve determined what needs to be stored and which supplies you already have.

That way, you can get exactly what you need — and no more. And you can use the money you saved to buy yourself a little treat for your efforts. 😉

Tip 5: Create Simple Habits To Stay Organized

Decluttering isn’t a one-time project. Keeping your home organized and clutter-free is easier if you build daily habits like these:

Set aside 5–10 minutes each day/week for a quick reset.
Put items back in their designated spots.
Keep a donation box available for things you’re ready to part with.
Sort incoming mail and paperwork regularly.
Consider a one-in, one-out approach for items that tend to accumulate.

Think progress over perfection here — no one’s home (especially those with kids and pets!) is always perfectly organized. The goal isn’t an Instagram-worthy home; it’s one that is easier and more comfortable to live in.

Dig Deeper: More Resources for Organizing Your Home

Looking for more resources to help you build a regular habit of decluttering your home? Here are a few blogs we’ve found that offer inspiration, printable resources, and more detailed organizing guidance.

Organizing Moms

Realistic routines for busy households.
Practical storage and organization strategies.
Manageable everyday systems.
Free printable resources (Great for those who love checklists!)

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Room-by-room organizing guides.
Cleaning and decluttering challenges (Great for those who love a challenge!)
Visual inspiration and structured plans.
Step-by-step projects.

Organize 365

Paperwork and household management systems.
Organizing routines and productivity resources.
Great for those of us who struggle with paperwork, schedules, and household administration.

Twin Cities Donation and Recycling Resources

These local organizations help keep usable goods and recyclable materials out of landfills, and many of them also support important community missions.

Furniture and Household Goods

Bridging MN

Accepts: Gently used furniture, kitchenware, household essentials, and mattresses that meet quality requirements.
Locations: 201 W 87th St, Bloomington; 1730 Terrace Dr, Roseville; 12864 Hwy 55, Plymouth.
Pickup: Fee-based residential pickup available.
Community impact: Helps people experiencing housing instability furnish their homes.

Building Materials, Appliances, and Furniture

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Accepts: Usable furniture, appliances, cabinets, doors, lighting, hardware, and building materials.
Locations: 2700 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis; 510 County Rd D W, New Brighton; 9300 Winnetka Ave N, Brooklyn Park.
Pickup: Free pickup requests available for qualifying donations.
Community impact: Sales support affordable housing.

Better Futures Minnesota ReUse Warehouse

Accepts: Reusable lumber, cabinets, doors, fixtures, architectural salvage, and certain appliances.
Address: 2620 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406.
Community impact: Provides employment and training opportunities for men rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

Electronics and Technology

Repowered

Accepts: Computers, laptops, phones, cords, keyboards, and other electronics.
Address: 860 Vandalia St, St. Paul, MN.
Community impact: Offers fair-chance employment opportunities to people facing barriers to employment, including those with criminal records.
Fees: Some electronics carry recycling fees.

Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities

Accepts: Electronics, batteries, household hazardous waste, appliances, and select bulky items.
Locations: 1400 W 96th St, Bloomington; 8100 Jefferson Hwy, Brooklyn Park.
Phone: 612-348-3777
Email: [email protected]
Note: Residency restrictions and fees may apply. These are recycling and disposal facilities, not general donation centers.

In addition, Best Buy offers electronics recycling at participating stores. Check with your local store for details.

Household Hazardous Waste

Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities (see details above)

Minneapolis South Transfer Station

Accepts: Appliances, electronics, mattresses, scrap metal, and tires for eligible Minneapolis utility customers.
Voucher, billing and quantity rules apply.

Specialty Recycling

Ridwell

Accepts: Select hard-to-recycle items, depending on the local collection program.
Service: Scheduled residential pickups in participating areas.
Contact: Check availability and accepted materials by address on the website.

Plastic bags & film — Never place plastic film in curbside recycling! Check clean, dry film collection bins at participating Target, Walmart, Cub, and Lowe’s locations.

Batteries — Some IKEA locations have battery collection bins.

Before you go: Confirm accepted items, location hours, eligibility, fees, and pickup availability directly with each organization, as details can change.

Two Bettys: Your Key To Maintaining Your Newly Decluttered Home

We hope this list helps you declutter your home sustainably for a calmer, more comfortable, and easier to maintain space!

Decluttering doesn’t require perfection or a massive weekend project. It simply requires tackling one task or room at a time to get the clutter under control. Once you’ve put in the work to declutter and organize your space, regular cleaning can help you maintain it.

The team at Two Bettys is here to help you keep your home clean with regular green cleaning services … so you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your home. Get your instant quote and schedule your service today!