The first step for home organization isn’t buying fancy bins and labels, it’s clearing the clutter. Clutter can accumulate surprisingly quickly, and it can be hard to get rid of. Sometimes because we have an emotional attachment to our stuff, or because we’re concerned we might need an item, other times, we’re just not entirely sure where to start.

But clearing the clutter doesn’t have to mean throwing everything out. When sorting through your belongings, choose which items to keep, which items to donate, and which items to toss. If you’re having a hard time breaking down which is which, ask yourself these questions:

• Is it expired?
• Is it damaged?
• Do you use it?
• Do you have duplicates?
• Do you like it?
• Is it important, or just familiar

Is it expired?

This is an easy one. If it’s reached its expiration date and you haven’t used it, you probably never will. Whether it’s old makeup or food from so far in the deepfreeze you forgot it existed (yes, frozen food does go bad), throw it out.

Is it damaged?

There may be things that you have that still technically work but are not as good as they used to be. Whether it’s that food container with the bright red spaghetti stains or the pair of jeans with the hole in the pocket, they make you uncomfortable, so you’ve stopped using them. But you also feel bad about getting rid of these items. If you aren’t interested in repairing these things (or you’ve been putting off repairing them for months) donate these salvageable items and give them a second life.

Alternatively, you might have used damaged items beyond the point of reason. That threadbare bathrobe or the extremely scratched non-stick pan. These items are often inconvenient, uncomfortable, and may even start affecting your health. Recycle what you can and toss the rest.

Do you use it?

If you have stuff in your home that you never use or haven’t used in years, it’s probably time to get rid of it. It might even be in perfect condition, you’ve just never needed or used it. But still, you keep it “just in case.” That probably means it’s time for the donation bin.

If you’re having a hard time giving up a just-in-case item, ask yourself how hard it will be to replace that thing if you really need it. If you can get another one without too much effort or financial burden, you can feel safe giving it up.

Do you have duplicates?

There are plenty of items you own where you’re going to need more than one, like bath towels or baking sheets. But there’s a very good chance that you don’t need more than one blender. Get rid of duplicate items. If you aren’t sure which one to keep, choose the option with higher quality and less damage and donate the rest.

Do you like it?

It’s amazing how many things we hold onto just because we feel obligated. Maybe you purchased something that you didn’t end up liking, but you feel like you need to hold onto it because you spent the money. Or perhaps it’s a gift someone gave you years ago that you’ve held onto to be polite. Those items can become a burden as they take up space and make your room feel cluttered. If you don’t like it, it doesn’t need to take up space in your home. Get it out free of guilt. Maybe someone else will love it.

Is it important, or just familiar?

There are things in your home that you are going to want to hang onto because they have deep sentimental value, like that piece of jewelry from your grandmother or the thoughtful gift from your significant other. These things may not have a purpose other than the memories, and that is okay.

But there’s other stuff that probably doesn’t have that emotional value, you’ve just had it for a really long time. It might be clothes or shoes you don’t need, novelty items from a party you don’t even remember, or small gifts from acquaintances you haven’t seen in years. If you’re having a hard time deciding if something is really important ask yourself: are you excited to see it, do you need it to hold onto memories, and if it were gone, would you really miss it? If the answer is no, it’s not really sentimental and you’re probably safe to put that item in the donation bin.

Now that you’ve cleared the clutter and you can see what you do and don’t have, it’s time to actually do the organizing part of organization. Just remember, it may get worse before it gets better. Take it one room at a time and follow these steps.

Group Similar Items

It’s easier to stay organized and find your things when similar items are stored together. Sort your items into categories that feel intuitive to you. For instance, in the bathroom, this may mean creating spaces specifically for hair products, hygiene products, medications, skin care, and cleaning products. Take a similar approach when sorting the different areas of your home.

Separate items that you use regularly from those which you use only seasonally. Holiday decorations and seasonal clothing can be stored in large bins and totes, then switched out throughout the year. Those totes can be stowed in areas that aren’t part of regular foot traffic, such as basements, garage shelves, or crawl spaces.

It’s much easier to organize your belongings if everything has a place. However, some spaces are small without much integrated storage, and others have plenty of room for storage, but no way to organize your things.

Add Home Storage Space

Solve your space problem with storage and organization items like bins, drawers, and dividers. If you don’t have shelves, cabinets, or drawers, you can add them. Kitchen islands and freestanding pantries for the kitchen, medicine cabinets, over-the-toilet storage, and linen towers for the bathroom, and dressers or wardrobes for the bedroom.

Shelves and file cabinets are perfect for the home office, while utility shelves for storage bins and hooks that can hold power tools are great for the garage or basement. Craft tables and rolling storage carts can be used for craft and hobby rooms.

Divide and Conquer

Some areas of your home don’t need additional storage furniture, you just need a way to organize the space you’ve already got. That’s where smaller sorting items come in. Find portable drawers that can be added to closets and pantries, baskets that can be placed on shelves, or organizing systems for entire closets. That way, everything you own can have a place. This is a great solution for shared spaces. If multiple people are using a bathroom, they can each have their own basket or drawer to store their personal toiletries.

Use drawer dividers and organizers to keep large drawers and baskets neat. If you are sorting clothing in a dresser, you can use organizers to keep your socks separate from your undergarments and your undershirts, even when they are sharing the same drawer. This makes it easy to easily find what you’re looking for instead of rummaging through a chaotic drawer before emptying it onto the floor in search of your lucky pair of socks.

Some organizers are designed with prearranged compartments, like those meant for silverware drawers, others have bins of various sizes that can be configured in the way that suits you best. Drawer dividers tend to be adjustable so you can create your own compartments. Tabletop vanities or desk organizers also allow you to keep your frequently used items organized while in reach.

Keep Important Documents Safe

In the chaos that is getting organized, it’s not uncommon to put important papers like birth certificates and passports someplace so safe that you forget where they are. Avoid that problem by creating a designated spot for all important documents. This could be a nightstand, in a filing cabinet, or even in a fireproof safe.

Create a System

Once you’ve organized your space, you want to make sure it stays that way. Utilize labels, spreadsheets, and even apps to create a system that allows you to keep track of your items (i.e. what you have and where they are).

Some areas are more naturally prone to chaos, like your pantry or medicine cabinet, or other places where items can get shuffled around and pushed out of sight. Organization apps are a great way to stay aware of what you do and don’t have, even if you’ve lost line of sight. Some apps also let you know when perishables are about to expire so you aren’t pulling mystery containers out of the fridge three weeks later.

Place labels on bins, boxes, and totes so you know what is in each one without having to dig through each one in search of that specific thing you’re looking for. You can list the items directly on the label, or you can number your boxes and create a spreadsheet to keep track of what is inside each storage container. This is ideal for boxes with items that you only use occasionally, like holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, or travel accessories. This also allows you to know exactly where everything should go after you’re done with it.

Now that you’ve learned about getting organized, get some ideas on how to tackle specific spaces with our posts on 9 Clutter-Killing Storage Ideas for Small Bathrooms and Mastering the Art of Closet Organization: A Guide to Decluttering and Maximizing Space.