I’m a professional organizer and I swear by this $20 decluttering hack

A professional organizer has revealed her $20 decluttering rule to help people decide whether or not they should part with unused items that are strewn around their homes.

Emily, who is the founder of Spaces by Emily, has nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok, where she posts organizing advice. She went viral a few days ago after sharing her ‘hot decluttering tip.’

‘If you’re trying to figure out whether or not to get rid of something, use this rule,’ the professional organizer, from Los Angeles, said. 

‘If it costs less than $20 to rebuy, and you currently don’t use it and haven’t in a while, get rid of it.’

Emily, a professional organizer and founder of Spaces by Emily, went viral after sharing her $20 decluttering rule 

'If you're trying to figure out whether or not to get rid of something, use this rule,' she said. 'If it costs less than $20 to rebuy, and you currently don't use it and haven't in a while, get rid of it'

'If you're trying to figure out whether or not to get rid of something, use this rule,' she said. 'If it costs less than $20 to rebuy, and you currently don't use it and haven't in a while, get rid of it'

‘If you’re trying to figure out whether or not to get rid of something, use this rule,’ she said. ‘If it costs less than $20 to rebuy, and you currently don’t use it and haven’t in a while, get rid of it’

She explained in the caption that the rule ‘works like a charm.’ 

‘Detach yourself from things that won’t be life-changing if you do end up having to rebuy them (which you probably won’t),’ she advised. 

The video has been viewed more than 2.2 million times and has inspired viewers to share how they decide when it’s time to let something go. 

‘I recently heard a good rule… if you were to lose it, would you rebuy? If not, get rid of it,’ one person responded. 

‘Mine is if my house burned down, would I replace it?’ someone else explained. 

Another admitted: ‘Every single time I declutter and throw something away I need it in a week!’

However, some were outraged by the tip, saying it was a sign of her ‘privilege.’ 

'Detach yourself from things that won't be life-changing if you do end up having to rebuy them (which you probably won't),' she added in the caption

‘Detach yourself from things that won’t be life-changing if you do end up having to rebuy them (which you probably won’t),’ she added in the caption 

The video has been viewed more than 2.2 million times and has inspired viewers to share how they decide when it's time to let something go, but some thought it was a 'privileged stance'

The video has been viewed more than 2.2 million times and has inspired viewers to share how they decide when it’s time to let something go, but some thought it was a ‘privileged stance’ 

‘No I’m not California rich yet. $20 is a lot,’ one person wrote, while another added, ‘Umm but $20 is a lot these days…’

‘My goodness that’s a privileged stance,’ someone else insisted. 

Some viewers came to Emily’s defense by clarifying what she meant, with one person explaining that you ‘never end up rebuying’ the item in question because you ‘never actually needed it.’ 

Emily also filmed a follow-up video in response to the backlash. 

‘I was not trying to say that you should get rid of everything in your house that’s less than $20. That makes absolutely no sense,’ she said. 

Emily filmed a follow-up video in response to the backlash, clarifying that she never said you should get rid of everything in your home that is less than $20

Emily filmed a follow-up video in response to the backlash, clarifying that she never said you should get rid of everything in your home that is less than $20 

'All I was trying to say is that if you are already on your decluttering journey... then start with the things that cost less,' she explained

'All I was trying to say is that if you are already on your decluttering journey... then start with the things that cost less,' she explained

‘All I was trying to say is that if you are already on your decluttering journey… then start with the things that cost less,’ she explained

Emily added that when she says get rid of, she means donate, recycle, or re-home the item

Emily added that when she says get rid of, she means donate, recycle, or re-home the item

‘All I was trying to say is that if you are already on your decluttering journey, you’re already going through your house trying to minimize and get rid of things, then start with the things that cost less.’ 

She noted that you probably won’t have to rebuy the item in question because you weren’t using it in the first place, but if you do, it won’t cost a fortune. 

‘Yes, $20 can be a lot to somebody, but I’m just trying to say it’s not things that are super-expensive like 100-plus dollars,’ she continued. 

‘Second of all, when I say get rid of, I do not mean throw it in the trash. I mean donate, recycle, [or] re-home to people who you know will use them. 

‘If you look back at my other videos, I talk about things like buy nothing groups. I am very aware of the environment and recycling and all of that. So I was just trying to make a quick video.’

‘The end. Be nice,’ she concluded.

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