Why You Should Use “Outboxes” Every Time You Declutter (They’re Brilliant!)
Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure is a free two-week decluttering program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 14 assignments delivered to your inbox.
When it comes to decluttering, there are a few steps you have to take before you can actually physically get rid of anything in your home. The first one is extremely important and requires you to set up three boxes — that’s it! It sounds simple, but it’ll lay the groundwork for a truly productive decluttering session. Here’s why you should set up three outboxes before decluttering anything in your home.
Day 1: Set up your three outboxes for decluttering.
This is the first task of Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure, a completely free 14-day program that’ll help you declutter your home, one task at a time. It starts today and runs until October 5. (Want to get your home so organized in just two weeks? Sign up now!)
Decluttering Cure 2025
Sign up for our free two-week program to create a space you love. It all starts on September 22.
Now, here’s the assignment: Set up three outboxes to serve as the catchalls for all the items you’ll be getting rid of, reconsidering, or giving away. These outboxes don’t have to be traditional cardboard boxes; you can (and should!) use what you have at home to store items, whether it’s an unused storage cube, an Amazon box, or even a garbage bag. They don’t have to match, either — as long as you have three things to use.
Once you have three outboxes to use, you’ll want to label them accordingly (you can simply write on the boxes, attach a Post-it, or use a label maker).
- “Donate”: For things that are in good shape and you want to donate or give away to friends and family.
- “Maybes”: For things that are undecided, whether you’re not sure if you want to get rid of them or find a new place for them. You can also set aside items to fix here too.
- “Sell”: For things that are in good condition and sellable. You can skip this one if you don’t intend to sell anything.
Once your outboxes are picked out and labeled, select a spot for them to stay during the decluttering process. They should be easily accessible, but out of the way, such as in the back of your closet or a corner of your room. And that’s it! Your outboxes are ready to be used throughout the Decluttering Cure.
PRO TIP: Along with these three outboxes, consider having garbage cans or bags nearby as your “outboxes” for trash and recycling.
What did you use as your outboxes? Tell us in our community forum!
More ways to participate in the Decluttering Cure:
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the 2025 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
- Join the conversation by checking out the Decluttering Cure board in our community forum.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
- See all the winners from our 2025 Organization Awards to get your home organized.
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.