Day 22: Mugs {31 Days of Easy Decluttering}

Hilda Rodgers
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Welcome back to 31 Days of Easy Decluttering! If you’ve missed any of the previous posts, there are links to them all here.

Today’s Easy Decluttering Project

Today we’re talking about decluttering mugs.  Do you have significantly more mugs than people in your family who use them?

I don’t have stats on this or anything, but from experience, most people have say 20-30 mugs and often only 2-3 people in the family who use them.  Most people run their dishwasher daily, but even if they only wash dishes every 2 or 3 days, that’s a lot of extra mugs! Even if you use more when you have guests over, chances are you’re not using all of them.

And I’ve never seen an empty or even nearly empty mug shelf or cupboard.  That means there are mugs that are not needed or used.  I’d venture to say even some that are not loved.  Using the definition of clutter we’ve been using this month, that’s mug clutter.

The worst thing about mugs is that, unlike plastic cups, they usually don’t stack, so they take up a LOT of shelf space. 

Think about what else you could use all that space for instead of mugs!  So let’s cut the mug clutter today!

Easy Decluttering Steps

Throughout the series, you’ll follow these steps to complete each daily task.  {Don’t forget to take before and after pictures to share too!}

Note: The main purpose of this series is to declutter so don’t get overwhelmed doing too much cleaning.  Once your house is less cluttered it will be easier to clean so you can always come back and do it later!

Also, if you have the time, you can organize the space while you’re doing this step, but don’t get overwhelmed with too much organizing this month.  We’re focused on decluttering!

Purging Tips for Mugs

Follow the steps listed above, and use these tips as you purge (step #5) your mugs:

  • Toss any mugs that are chipped, cracked, or stained
  • Give away or donate any mugs you have not used in the last 3 months
  • Get rid of mugs with logos that don’t hold any attachment to anyone in your family
  • Keep mugs that are favourites and that are used regularly (ask each family member to choose a few)
  • Determine how many mugs you need for the number of people in your family, based on how often you drink hot drinks daily
  • Keep in mind how often you clean dishes when you calculate how many you need
  • Think about whether you reuse mugs or not (for example, I use the same mug for my tea in the morning and the afternoon with just a rinse between uses – I know most people drink tea from a tea cup, but I like my supersized mug for my pick-me-up!)
  • Consider how many mugs you need when you entertain guests too (if you have limited kitchen space and only entertain occasionally, store the mugs for guests somewhere else in your home so your daily mug shelf/cabinet isn’t cluttered)
  • Based on your answers to these points, donate or give away mugs until you are left with a number that fits your requirement
  • If you have some mugs that are special but that you don’t use, consider repurposing them somewhere else in your house (hint: “World’s Best Mom” mugs make great planters or pencil holders when you have too many of them to use!)

To keep your mugs from multiplying beyond the limits you just set, follow the one-in-one-out rule when you are given or bring home any new mugs. 

Pictures and Links to Inspire You

There are lots of mug storage ideas online or products you can buy to store your mugs. A few options are mug trees/racks, stacking shelves (to double the height in your cabinet), or hooks on walls or under cabinets. Choose what will work best in your space.

The Inspired Room
Woodworker Express

*Please share from the original source if you choose to share these pictures. If you want to share this post please use the image at the top.

If You’re On A Roll…

You can declutter other dishes too.  Or you can spend some time organizing your mugs. Or finding things to put in all the empty space you’ve got now!

Good luck with today’s decluttering project!  I’d love to hear how you did, so please leave a comment and use the hashtag #31DaysEasyDecluttering when you share your pictures.

How many mugs did you declutter today?  How do you organize your mugs to help keep them from multiplying?  What creative ways did you repurpose a mug you weren’t using?

If you need help decluttering, contact me for in-person organizing services in the Mississauga area, or virtual organizing services anywhere else.

Happy organizing decluttering!


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