Are you tired of the same old decluttering advice? Looking for a way to make organizing your space more exciting?
Get ready to transform your tidying routine with the Decluttering Scavenger Hunt Challenge!
This innovative approach turns the daunting task of decluttering into an exciting game that can involve the whole family. Keep everyone’s stress levels down and HAVING SO MUCH FUN LEVELS UP!
Why a Scavenger Hunt?
Traditional decluttering can feel overwhelming and, let’s face it, boring. By turning it into a game, you:
- Make the process more enjoyable
- Break the task into manageable chunks
- Create a sense of accomplishment as you “find” items
- Add a competitive element if doing it with others
- Give yourself a structured approach to decluttering
- Playing is fun! We should try to incorporate play into our days wherever we can.
How to do a decluttering scavenger hunt.
Setup.
- Choose your time frame (2 hours, half-day, or full day)
- Print out the scavenger hunt checklist (template at the bottom of this article)
- Gather supplies:
- Boxes or bags for ‘donate’, ‘trash’, and ‘relocate’ items
- Timer or phone for tracking time
- Camera for “evidence” (optional)
- Notebook for inventory (optional)
Basic rules.
- Start the timer
- Use the checklist to find items in each category
- For each item found, decide whether to:
- Donate
- Trash
- Relocate
- Sell
- Check off items as you go
- Tally points at the end
You can choose one (or a few) categories per game, or do the whole thing! The whole list might be an entire day declutter challenge, so pace yourself!
The Ultimate Declutter Challenge: Scavenger Hunt Checklist
Grab some friends or play alone. Here are your assignments!
Kitchen Expedition (185 points possible)
Scour your kitchen counter, kitchen table, cabinets, pantry, and fridge for these hunt items.
- Find 3 expired food items (15 points)
- Locate 2 duplicate utensils (10 points)
- Identify 1-2 small appliances you haven’t used in a year (25-50 points)
- Discover 4 mismatched food containers/lids (20 points)
- Track down 3 items that belong in another room (15 points)
- Spot 2 broken items you’ve been meaning to fix (15 points)
- Find 5 items you forgot you had (50 points)
- Let go of 2 water bottles you don’t use (10 points)
Clothing Quest (200 points possible)
This quest can stretch from bedrooms to the laundry room to the bathroom floor–wherever you keep clothes!
- Uncover 5 items that no longer fit (50 points)
- Locate 3 items still with tags attached (30 points)
- Find 4 items you haven’t worn in the past year (40 points)
- Identify 2 pairs of worn-out shoes (20 points)
- Discover 3 items that need repairs but aren’t worth fixing (30 points)
- Track down 3 duplicate items (30 points)
Bathroom Bounty (120 points possible)
These items can be found in your medicine cabinet, shower shelves, linen closet, or on the bathroom floor, if you’re an animal.
- Find 2 expired makeup or medications (20 points)
- Locate 3 nearly empty products (15 points)
- Identify 4 items you never use (40 points)
- Discover 5 free samples you’ll never use (25 points)
- Remove 2 defunct makeup brushes (20 points)
Paper Clutter Chase (150 points possible)
Paper clutter makes up most of the clutter in many homes–is yours the same? Check out how to deal with paper clutter. Okay, now back to the fun!
- Locate 5 old magazines or newspapers (25 points)
- Find 3 user manuals for items you no longer own (15 points)
- Discover 10 pieces of junk mail (20 points)
- Track down 5 expired coupons (25 points)
- Find 3 old receipts (25 points)
Entertainment Excavation (100 points possible)
If you’re not a digital media type of household, then replace some of these search items with books/whatever applies to you and your family members!
- Locate 3 books you’ll never read again (30 points)
- Find 2 DVDs or games you no longer watch/play (20 points)
- Discover 4 old electronics or cables you don’t use (40 points)
- Identify 2 duplicate entertainment items (10 points)
Junk Drawer Spelunking (100 points possible)
These are common items for junk drawers, and you might find them all in one drawer, or need to search the entire house to win all of the points!
- Find 3 dead batteries or irrelevant chargers (25 points)
- Collect 4 loose paper clips or safety pins (25 points)
- Uncover 5 pieces of unwanted craft supplies (25 points)
- Spot 2 important documents that need to be put away (25 points)
Garage Gold Rush (200 points possible)
Garages are a clutter magnet! If you have littles playing with you, be sure to keep a close eye on them around power tools, blades, and chemicals.
It may be a good idea to skip this category entirely if you’re playing with young children, but use your best judgment! 🙂
- Find 3 items that need to be returned to neighbors (30 points)
- Locate 2 broken tools you’ve been meaning to fix (20 points)
- Identify 4 items that can be consolidated into one (40 points)
- Discover 3 half-empty paint cans or expired chemicals (30 points)
- Track down 5 items that should be stored indoors (25 points)
- Find 2 pieces of sporting equipment you no longer use (30 points)
- Dig up 5 types of unused cleaning supplies (25 points)
Home Office Hustle (125 points possible)
If you don’t have a home office, you might find some of these things in a craft area or area where someone works remotely.
- Locate 3 dried-out pens or markers (15 points)
- Find 2 outdated pieces of technology (20 points)
- Discover 4 instruction manuals for items you no longer own (20 points)
- Identify 3 duplicate office supplies (15 points)
- Track down 5 unnecessary paper clips or rubber bands (15 points)
- Find 2 old planners or calendars (20 points)
- Locate 1 stack of unnecessary printouts (20 points)
Kid’s Corner Cleanup (150 points possible)
For sure get the kids involved in this one! This can be a great opportunity to teach them about letting go of clutter and making hard decisions.
- Find 5 broken toys (25 points)
- Locate 3 items they’ve outgrown (30 points)
- Discover 4 incomplete puzzles or games (40 points)
- Identify 2 duplicate toys (20 points)
- Track down 3 items that belong to other children (15 points)
- Find 2 craft projects that can be photographed and discarded (20 points)
Seasonal Storage Sweep (125 points possible)
Seasonal storage can hide useless and broken items all year! Dig through the cluttered spaces of your home, like the garage, attic, and anywhere else you store seasonal pieces.
- Locate 3 holiday decorative items that are damaged (30 points)
- Find 2 outdated seasonal wardrobes items (20 points)
- Discover 4 items from last season that weren’t used (40 points)
- Identify 2 duplicate seasonal items (15 points)
- Track down 1 forgotten gift you never used (20 points)
Memorabilia Mission (130 points possible)
This one might get emotional! But gamifying the process of decluttering sentimental items that may be emotionally charged could make the process less painful.
- Find 3 items you’ve kept out of guilt (30 points)
- Locate 2 duplicate photos that can be digitized (20 points)
- Discover 4 souvenirs that don’t bring joy anymore (30 points)
- Identify 1 collection you no longer want to maintain (20 points)
- Find 2 sentimental items that you’re not really feeling anymore (30 points)
Bonus Challenges!
Speed Rounds (50 bonus points each):
- Complete any category in under 15 minutes
- Find 10 items to donate in 5 minutes
- Identify 15 trash items in 10 minutes
How to Keep Score
- Beginner Declutterer: 200-300 points
- Intermediate Organizer: 301-500 points
- Advanced Tidier: 501-700 points
- Decluttering Master: 701+ points
Making It a Family Event
Turn this into a family competition with these variations:
- Team Challenge: Split into teams and compete
- Kids vs. Parents: Make it a family rivalry
- Room Wars: Each person takes a different room
- Time Trial: Who can get the most points in 30 minutes?
Keep it fun! Big hugs all around, perhaps a family team chant. Have fun with it.
Age-Appropriate Modifications for Kids
- Ages 5-7: Simple picture-based checklist with easy-to-spot items
- Ages 8-12: Add point values and more complex items
- Teens: Full checklist plus bonus for finding items to sell online
After the Hunt: Next Steps
- Immediate Action
- Take out the trash items right away
- Put “relocate” items in their proper places
- Box up donation items and put them in your car
- Within 24 Hours
- Donate items to a local charity
- List valuable items for sale (avoid having a garage sale)
- Properly dispose of expired medications (don’t flush! you’re making the frogs gay!)
- Within the Week
- Organize the spaces you’ve decluttered
- Consider storage solutions for the remaining stuff
- Reflect on shopping habits that led to clutter
Expert Tips for Success
- Set a timer for each category to maintain momentum
- Play energetic music to keep your energy high
- Have plenty of bags/boxes ready before starting
- Take “before” pictures to appreciate your progress
- Reward yourself based on points earned
Get your free decluttering scavenger hunt search list here:
Looking for another decluttering challenge? Try the 2,025 in 2025 challenge.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to win points–it’s to create a more organized, peaceful living space. Use this game as a springboard to better habits and a clutter-free home. Happy hunting!
