When I talk about sorting and decluttering, there’s one question that often comes up. How do you get rid of an object without regretting it? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. However, there are some very specific questions to ask yourself in order to limit regret.

HOW TO SORT AT HOME
You’ve already tried sorting things out at home, but you find it hard to let go of certain items because you’re afraid you’ll regret it. And I totally understand, because I’ve had to deal with this problem myself while decluttering.

So, to avoid regretting parting with an object, I put it through a battery of questions. From my reading and experience, I’ve come up with 8 essential questions that help me make the right decision. They enable me to part with an object without regret. And if I decide to keep an object, they reinforce my decision to keep it.

To draw up this list of questions, I based myself on the emotions I can feel when I’m faced with a big hesitation when it comes to sorting things out and making THE decision. Should I keep it or not? Yes or no?

This decision-making process is very simple and very complicated at the same time. Very simple, because all you have to do is answer yes or no to a number of questions. So it’s easy. But the most complicated part is to be honest with yourself and to balance your heart against your mind…

That’s why I’ve sorted the questions in such a way as to start with objective notions and gradually move on to more subjective and complicated ones. Tastes and colors, emotions… It’s all so personal that only you have the answer.

SORTING WITH THE QUESTION METHOD
Here’s the question method you can use to decide whether or not to keep an object you’re hesitating about.

First, take the object in hand. This gives you a better idea of what the object means to you. This way, you can make a conscious decision.

Now, if it’s a sofa or a wardrobe, I’m not asking you to take it in hand. Instead, I suggest you sit on the sofa or open the doors and drawers of the wardrobe.

Then simply answer YES or NO to the various questions. Without cheating, in all objectivity and without finding excuses to keep an object.

Every time you answer YES to a question, you have the right to move on to the next question. It’s like a game!

And so on until the last question. If you answer YES to the last question, and therefore to all the questions, you get to keep the object.

Conversely, if you answer NO to just one question, you have an obvious reason to part with the object. This reason will be more or less objective, depending on the level in the list of the question you answered NO to.

As you can see, the aim is to get to the last question, which is the most important one.

Obviously, if the answer to any of these questions is a resounding YES, and you’re convinced that the right decision is to keep the item, keep it!

QUESTION 1: Is the item in good condition, and does it still work?
That’s an easy one! If an object no longer works, if it’s broken, if parts are missing, if it’s badly damaged, you can part with it. There’s no point in keeping unusable items. There’s no point in trying to repair them, because you’ll be wasting more time than anything else, and that’s not the point.

On the other hand, if the object still works, if it’s in good condition, and you’re still reluctant to part with it, move on to the next question.

QUESTION 2: Have you used this item in the last 12 months?
If the answer is no, it’s something that’s still in good condition, but which you haven’t used or haven’t used for a long time. At that point, you need to part with it. And since the item is in good condition, you can give it away or sell it.

On the other hand, if you’ve used the item in the last 12 months and still don’t know what to do with it, you can move on to the next question.

QUESTION 3: Is this the only item you own?
Okay, another easy question. As a general rule, try to get rid of duplicates. For example, there’s no point in keeping 2 irons. You’ve got enough with just 1. The same goes for kitchen utensils. If you’re faced with a duplicate in good condition that you’re not using, you can part with it.

On the other hand, if it’s your only copy and you’re still hesitating, it’s worth continuing with the rest of the questions.

QUESTION 4: Does this item respect the environment and your health?
This question is particularly useful for products that expire. For example: foodstuffs, medicines, make-up, skincare products… Or products that could be hazardous to the environment or to your health, such as leftover paint, glue, household products, etc.

For the rest, skip to the next question.

QUESTION 5: Is this item easy to maintain?
Here we’re normally dealing with an object in good condition, which you’ve used over the past year and which you have in one piece, but which you’re reluctant to keep.

For example: the food processor you bought on the cheap and found very complicated to assemble and clean after use. That’s the kind of appliance you don’t use very often. What’s more, you can often replace it with kitchen utensils that are easier to clean and maintain.

On the other hand, if this appliance is easy to maintain, skip to the next question.

QUESTION 6: Does this item have a place to be stored without getting in your way?
If the answer is no, either find a place for it, or part with it. If you’ve decided to make space in your home, you’ll need to declutter and accept that you’ll need to get things out of the house. If you don’t, you’ll be faced with the problem of clutter again and again.

Next question!

QUESTION 7: Do you feel free to keep this object?
This is a tricky one, as we’re usually dealing with objects we keep for the wrong reasons. Often out of guilt. These are gifts, souvenirs, objects that have a certain sentimental value or that have cost a lot of money. In this case, you could try the last question, which should erase any hesitation.

QUESTION 8: Do you really like this object?
This is the ultimate question, and the one that requires the most discernment.

We’re talking here about objects we keep but don’t really like. We don’t have the spark of joy that makes us have no doubts. For example, out-of-fashion objects, expensive items that no longer appeal to you, shopping mistakes, etc.

You don’t want these items to clutter up your life. If you don’t like them anymore, give them away and move on to something else.

The aim of this series of questions is to help you decide objectively. If you have one or more objective reasons for not keeping an item, don’t keep it! Even if it’s a gift from your grandmother! I can understand why you might be shocked by this, as I myself have been slow to advise you to do this. And yet, if you really want to de-clutter, if you really want to lighten your interior, you have to be honest and logical with yourself.

Why keep things that are broken, duplicates, that you don’t use, that you don’t like, etc.? You’re not going to keep those old-fashioned tablecloths, even if you got them from someone you love very much, are you? I mean, the most important thing is in your heart, in your memories, not in the objects.