Have you heard of the “Clutter Pipeline?“
A symbolic pipeline is a step by step process through which something flows from point A to point B.
In the case of the clutter pipeline, point A is usually a store (but it could also be a yard sale), and point B is your place.
It’s Too Easy to Buy Stuff!
We live in a society where there are built-in methods for acquiring things — it’s almost effortless to buy more stuff.
For example, every week, when you visit the grocery store, you often return home with more than just food and cleaning supplies. At the end of the aisles, enticing products catch your eye—items you never knew existed, but suddenly feel essential.
Then there are those impulse purchases at the checkout counter. With the rise of self-checkouts, you encounter rows of tempting trinkets lining your path while you wait, not limited to just the items near the register. The end result is that you arrive home with a number of unexpected items.
This is just one way that belongings find their way into your home. There are plenty of others. As you scroll through social media, engaging ads pop up, showcasing what seem to be fantastic deals. Who could resist?
And then, you have a habit of going to shopping sites, such as amazon, looking for stuff to buy, then getting distracted by other products that are showcased there, and which often end up in your cart.
There are multiple ways in which things find their way to your home, but there are no equivalent ways for objects to find their way out of your home, once they have outlived their usefulness. The natural result of this, is that you end up with lots of clutter. This is the clutter pipeline.
What Can You Do?
So what can you do?
What you need to do is create pipelines for things to leave your home.
Establish a Routine for Evaluating Belongings
Start by establishing a routine for regularly evaluating your belongings. Set aside time each month to go through different areas of your home and identify items that are no longer needed, used or loved. This practice helps prevent clutter from accumulating and encourages mindful consumption. One way to start is to learn how to Declutter Small Spaces. Many times, the clutter that is the hardest to let go of is kept in drawers or cabinets, that are very easy to organize once you learn this skill.
Implement an “X In, X Out” Rule
Many home organizers advise implementing a “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, commit to removing an existing one. However, if your home has a lot of clutter, consider taking out more than one time for each new object you bring in. For example, if your closets are overflowing with clothes, when you buy a new dress, take out and donate 4 dresses. Why 4? Because the number 4 is associated to clothes clutter and wealth. You can learn all about it in the course Decluttering Journeys.
This approach encourages you to thoughtfully assess new purchases and helps maintain balance in your living space.
Develop a Donation Strategy
Develop a donation strategy. Identify local charities, shelters, or community organizations that accept gently used items. Host a swap party with friends or family. Invite people over to exchange items they no longer need. This fun, social activity allows everyone to refresh their spaces without adding to the clutter. Consider joining local “freecycling” or “buy nothing” online groups where you can offer items you are done with and find things you need or love at no cost. These groups are also good ways to build community.
Join an Online Community
To keep your home decluttered, tidy and organized over time, there’s nothing better than joining a community of people who share your passion for homes and Feng Shui. I have just started such a community, called The Good Luck Club. During the Spring we are going to be focusing on on decluttering together. Certain things are just done better as part of a group, because you can use the group energy! Explore this community here.
Sell Items Online (with One Caveat)
Use online platforms to sell items. Websites and apps dedicated to buying and selling used goods provide a convenient way to pass on items you no longer require while potentially earning some extra cash. However, keep in mind that many people use the excuse of “one day selling things” as a way to hold on to their clutter. Sometimes it’s just better to give things away.
Be Mindful of Shopping Habits
Finally, be mindful of your shopping habits. Before purchasing new items, ask yourself if they truly add value to your life or if they might become future clutter. By fostering a more conscious approach to acquiring and letting go of possessions, you can create a home environment that feels open, organized, and serene. Overshopping can be a compensation for feeling lonely. People often find that when they are part of a community that understands them and helps them feel seen, they don’t need to fall into the compulsion of buying to get “retail therapy.” Join my new group here and hang out with folks who share your passion for improving spaces!
Establishing a Decluttering Pipeline
Let’s summarize how to establish a decluttering pipeline. I had said above that in the clutter pipeline point A is the store and point B is your home.
In the decluttering pipeline, the starting point is your home — B.
But where will things end? What are points C, D and E…?
You need to create pipelines to locations other than your home for the things you no longer need or love to end up at.
Here are some ideas:
🏠 First, see if friends and family could use any of the objects you no longer need or love.
🏠 Next, evaluate the possibility of selling them. (But don’t use this as an excuse to just keep things.)
🏠 Donate items to thrifts stores, charities, or give them away to strangers in “freecycle” or “buy nothing” online groups.
🏠 Finally, accept that some of the things in your home are going to end up in a landfill. If they don’t and you keep them, your home becomes the landfill!
Want to start learning Feng Shui? Take the class Feng Shui Explained.
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