Is your purse overflowing with receipts, snacks, and who-knows-what? It’s time for a quick and easy purse declutter!
Your purse is a catch-all for everything under the sun. Snacks for the kids, receipts from who-knows-when, a random toy, some loose change, and at least three different lip balms – all crammed into one space.
As a homemaker and a mom of two little ones, my purse often turns into a portable storage unit, and before I know it, I’m digging through a mess just to find my keys. Sound familiar?
It’s time to declutter your purse! I promise, once you tackle this small yet mighty space, you’ll feel lighter, more in control, and way less stressed when you’re on the go.
Plus, keeping it organized afterward is easier than you think!
So, let’s do this together.
Step 1: Dump everything out.
The first step is the most satisfying – dump everything out!
Find a clean, flat surface (a table or your bed works great) and turn your purse upside down. Shake it a little if needed to get those tiny mystery crumbs out.
If you’re anything like me, you might even find a long-lost change in there!
As you empty it out, take a moment to appreciate how much stuff actually accumulates in your purse. It’s a little shocking, right?
But don’t worry – we’re about to fix that.
Step 2: Sort into categories.
Now, let’s get things sorted. Make piles for:
- Essentials (wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, etc.)
- Beauty & self-care (lip balm, hand lotion, compact mirror, tissues)
- Kid-related Items (snacks, wipes, small toys)
- Receipts & paper (to be sorted later!)
- Random junk (crumbled gum wrappers, expired coupons, old grocery lists – trash them!)
This step helps you see what actually belongs in your purse versus what’s just been hanging around.
Step 3: Purge the unnecessary.
Be ruthless here! If you don’t need it, get rid of it. Here’s a quick guide to what should go:
Expired items (old coupons, outdated membership cards, used-up gift cards)
Trash (crumpled receipts, old tissues, candy wrappers)
Duplicate items (do you really need five pens or three lipsticks in the same shade?)
Things that don’t belong (kid toys, random kitchen utensils – yes, I’ve found a spoon in my purse before!)
If there are receipts or papers you need to keep, snap a picture and store them digitally, then toss the physical copy.
Step 4: Clean your purse.
Since you’ve already emptied it out, this is the perfect time to clean it!
Shake out any crumbs, use a lint roller inside, and wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth or leather cleaner (depending on the material).
If your purse has fabric lining, a quick vacuum with the hose attachment works wonders.
Step 5: Use pouches for organization.
One of my best purse organization hacks is using small pouches or zippered bags to keep things neat. Here’s how you can do it:
One pouch for beauty items (lip balm, hand cream, compact mirror, hair ties)
Another pouch for “mom essentials” (wipes, tissues, band-aids, a small snack for the kids)
One pouch for receipts and papers (helps prevent clutter from building up!)
This way, everything has a home, and when you need something, you’re not rummaging through chaos.
Step 6: Restock with only the essentials.
Now that everything is neat and organized, put back only what truly belongs. Here’s what I consider essentials:
- Wallet
- Phone
- Keys
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- A pen and small notepad
- A small snack (because kids always get hungry at the most inconvenient times!)
If you’re used to carrying a lot, you might feel like you’re missing something at first but trust me – less is more!
Step 7: Make decluttering a habit.
Decluttering your purse once is great, but keeping it that way is even better. Here are a few simple habits to maintain your newly organized bag:
- Do a quick clean-out weekly – Every Sunday evening, take a minute to remove unnecessary items.
- Trash receipts immediately – If you don’t need them, toss them before they pile up.
- Stick to your pouches – They help keep things in their place.
- Be mindful of what you add – Before tossing something in your bag, ask yourself if it really needs to be there.
The Perks of an Organized Purse
Decluttering your purse might seem like a small thing, but it has a big impact! Here’s what I noticed after doing this:
- Less stress – No more frantic digging for my keys at the bottom of a black hole.
- More space – My bag feels lighter, and I can actually find things!
- A sense of control – There’s something about an organized purse that makes you feel put together.
- Easier outings – Especially with kids, when everything is easy to grab, outings go much smoother.
Decluttering your purse doesn’t have to be a huge chore.
And it doesn’t have to be a one-time thing too. With just a little effort, you can keep it neat and organized all the time.
So, mama, grab your purse and let’s do this together. I promise, you’ll love the feeling of having a clutter-free, easy-to-navigate bag.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll even inspire a friend to do the same!
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever found in your purse? Let me know in the comments or in the email – I’d love to hear!
Join my 21-day decluttering challenge!
If you loved decluttering your purse and want to keep the momentum going, I’d love for you to join my 21-Day Decluttering Challenge for Busy Moms!
Each day, we’ll tackle a different small space in your home, making decluttering simple, stress-free, and totally doable – even for busy moms like us.
By the end of the challenge, you’ll feel lighter, more organized, and ready to enjoy a clutter-free home.
Ready to join? Sign up now and let’s declutter together!
Looking for more decluttering tips? Check these out!
- Decluttering with Toddler Underfoot: A Homemaker’s Guide
- How to Let Go of Sentimental Clutter Without Regret
- Why Decluttering Feels So Hard (And How to Push Through)
- or simply go to our Declutter category page and read everything about decluttering!
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