129: How to Declutter Your Closet

129: How to Declutter Your Closet

Author: Cloud10 March 10, 2026 Duration: 48:05
Decluttering clothes is a unique challenge. So today, I cover: • 7 major reasons decluttering our closet feels complicated • 3 easy-to-remember and wildly helpful mindset shifts • 3 practical steps to decluttering your clothes without the overwhelm PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): Website: ⁠⁠www.shannonleyko.com⁠⁠ Get insider emails about the new book!! Sign up HERE Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannon_leyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown⁠⁠⁠⁠ Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)⁠ ⁠GET ALL PARING DOWN FREEBIES & GUIDES HERE⁠ (checklist, worksheet, decluttering hacks, etc.) MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.shannonleyko.com⁠⁠⁠ Get insider emails about the new book!! ⁠Sign up HERE⁠ My Website Team (Branding, SEO, Design): duocollective.com Ep 109: What to Do With Clothes that Don't Currently Fit Ep 52: Getting Past the "Wasted Money" When Decluttering Ep 121: What to Do With Everything We Declutter Ep 5: Decluttering Sentimental Items Ep 77: What If I End Up Needing What I've Decluttered? Ep 67: 5 Psychological Phenomena that Affect Decluttering & Consumption 6 categories when sorting before you declutter: Love & Wear Often Special occasion  Sentimental Don’t currently fit Donate/Sell Worn Out / Trash ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: 50% off MeUndies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meundies.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - code PARING 10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Only $2.99 per meal from Every Plate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.everyplate.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - CODE: paring299 High-quality, eco-friendly activewear at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fabletics.com/PARING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & use code PARING at checkout- sign up as a VIP and get 80% off everything. Ethical, luxury women's clothing at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Find furniture, decor, and essentials that fit your unique style and budget. https://www.wayfair.com/ $300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://airdoctorpro.com/ -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PARING Storyworth Memoirs to capture your loved one's life— get $10+ off: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.storyworth.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 20% off at Cozy Earth: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - code PARING Use code PARING at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jonesroadbeauty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AquaTru.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code PARING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their possessions but finds the idea of an empty, stark home equally daunting. Host Shannon Leyko approaches these conversations with the warmth and directness of a close friend, focusing on the mental shifts needed to let go of clutter without adopting an all-or-nothing philosophy. Each episode feels like a supportive chat that acknowledges the emotional weight of our things, whether it's a crowded garage, an overstuffed closet, or a schedule packed with obligations. The discussions move beyond simple organizing tricks to explore a more intentional way of living that can create space-both physically and mentally. Leyko brings in a range of voices, from well-known authors to people navigating everyday challenges, all sharing actionable advice and perspective. This podcast digs into the real reasons we hold on to stuff and how to cultivate a home environment that genuinely serves you. It’s a practical guide for making incremental, sustainable changes that reduce stress, not a rigid doctrine to follow. You’ll find a balanced, compassionate take on creating calm in your living space and your daily routines through realistic steps.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 144

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
Podcast Episodes
32: Finding the Time to Declutter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:30
"How do you find the time to declutter?" I hear this question on repeat - and I get it! Between kids and jobs and just...life...it's hard to find time to eat a meal sometimes, much less tackle decluttering the house. So…
31: Taking Messy Action with Sarah Horgan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:32
Well, folks. It happened. My first tears on the podcast. Sarah Horgan of the Simple & Intentional Podcast is one of those people who makes you feel completely seen and heard, and I am so grateful we had such a personal a…
30: Minimalish Lessons Learned from Van Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:27
FIFTY-EIGHT SQUARE FEET, people. It's nuts and we love it! This week I share with you a bit more behind-the-scenes of van life in our camper van that is 58 square feet of "living" space, and how spending time in such clo…
29: Paring Down Flight Anxiety with my dad & pilot, J.D. Oliver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:01
You do NOT want to miss this one, you guys. While this podcast primarily focuses on paring down our belongings to declutter our homes, I like to branch out a bit every now and then to pare down different beliefs, anxieti…
28: Travel Wisdom from a Flight Attendant with Caroline Bright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:11
What if my kid needs to pee when the fasten seatbelt sign is on? What should I bring to entertain my kids on a flight? Also, what exactly is the role of a flight attendant? From their perspective, what are basic dos and…
27: Learning to Travel Light with Miss America 2015, Kira K. Dixon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
Paring Down Travel is a miniseries I’ve wanted to bring you since the moment The Paring Down Podcast was conceptualized. Particularly air travel. And I KNEW I had to bring on Miss America 2015 and sports broadcaster, Kir…
26: What to Do With Gifts That Are Clutter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:17
"What do I do with all the stuff other people give me and the kids?" Whew, this is a BIG one. It's a nuanced topic, but I hope you find nuggets of help-- both practical and mindset-driven-- as we walk through 5 different…
25: Releasing Shame When Decluttering with ADHD with Elena Willitts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:28
Our brains don't all work the same way, so we won't have the same experience decluttering and managing our homes! Elena Willits, host of the Kind Organizing Podcast, shares her own experience with ADHD and how it has sho…
24: Decluttering Photos On Our Phones and In Our Homes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:03
You only get to find out how many photos are on my phone if you listen to the podcast! Haha...but seriously, it's embarrassing. I'm learning right along with you in this episode, offering strategies for how to go through…
23: Making Space for Things and People We Love with Aubrey High [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:34
Can you imagine your family living with your in-laws AND your parents? Certified Organizer Aubrey High knows and chose this experience, and once you hear her speak, you'll know why it works. It's such a PLEASURE to talk…