What Is The Maybe Box Decluttering Hack?

Perhaps you've heard of this decluttering method before: Begin by removing everything from whatever you're organizing, whether it be a shelf, closet, or room. Then, decide whether each item should be placed in the keep, trash, or donate pile. Once you're done, only put the keep items back and get rid of the rest, per ZenHabits. However, while this may work for some, those who struggle with decision-making may find this method difficult. When trying to decide which of the three piles an item should go in, you may feel very conflicted and overwhelmed. Or, after you've separated out the piles, perhaps you find yourself going back through the trash just to make sure you don't actually want to keep certain items.

These problems may lead you to hang onto more than you should, which could cause your home to be filled with unnecessary clutter. Luckily, there's another system you could try, and it involves a fourth pile: the maybe box. Below, you'll discover what this is and where it may be the most useful.

When using a maybe box, most people separate out their items into three sections: keep, toss, and maybe (though the toss pile could be further separated into donate and trash). Any items that you're not sure you want but you're also not ready to get rid of can go in the maybe pile. Once you're done decluttering, this pile can be placed inside a box and labeled with a specific date; Saturday Gift recommends three to six months in the future. If you find that you need or want an item that you put in the box before the date arrives, you can retrieve it and find a place to store it in your home. Then, as ClutterBGone states, once the time is up, you'll either donate or throw away the remaining items.

There are some differing opinions as to where this box should be stored during the waiting period. SaturdayGift says to keep the items in sight for a while, either on the floor in a busy room or spread out on a counter. This is because having to see your items every day, which may become annoying, may help you decide what you want to keep and what you want to donate or toss. However, others suggest hiding the box away somewhere. The benefit of this is that you'll only retrieve something if you remember that it's there and you truly need it. 

While the maybe box could be beneficial anywhere in the home, it's best used for two things: decluttering a clothes closet and sentimental items. Mnmlist says that this can be beneficial for clothes because if you don't wear something that's inside the box within the allotted time frame, you have to donate it. This is a simple way to discover which things you frequently wear and which things you can get rid of. ClutterBGone says that it's great for sentimental items because it will allow you to see exactly how many times you really look inside the maybe box to reminisce. This could also help you determine if you're holding onto items because you truly love them or because you'd feel guilty if you got rid of them. 

Scattered Squirrel adds that this can be extremely helpful when determining what seasonal decorations to get rid of. However, these maybe boxes should have a longer time frame than six months — they recommend putting the items in at the end of one season and revisiting them after the next.