Professional Organizers Say This Decluttering Habit Is Making Clutter Worse

If you’ve ever decluttered, you know that deciding which items stay and which ones go can be surprisingly challenging. But there’s one decluttering mistake to stop ASAP, according to the pros: Creating a “maybe” pile. It’s the pile of clothes (or cosmetics, or linens, or whatever you’re decluttering) that you uncover while decluttering that you maybe want to keep, but you’re not sure about.

Too often, the maybe pile is filled with items you’re keeping “just in case.” Examples might be that dress you haven’t worn in years, that sheet set you never reach for, or that sunscreen you tried but didn’t love. It’s easy to argue that you might want to have those items handy, but experts say that more often than not, these things are just contributing to clutter.

Another common justification for the maybe pile is guilt. Even though you don’t need or want the item anymore, you feel bad getting rid of it. Think that purse your friend gifted you or those baby clothes your kid only wore once before outgrowing them. But putting these items in a maybe pile just prolongs the guilty feeling and makes decluttering far more arduous than it needs to be.

Shaniece Jones, decluttering expert, never suggests clients create a ‘maybe’ pile when decluttering. “‘Maybe’ piles lead to hesitation instead of resolution.” Instead, she recommends quick decision-making. Try placing items into piles that communicate clear next steps, like keep, donate, trash or recycle and repair.

“While some organizers see ‘maybe’ piles as a helpful middle ground, I’ve found that they often prolong the process and create a breeding ground for indecision,” Jones adds. “Hear me out: ‘Maybe’ piles equate to indecision, indecision leads to overwhelm, then you are right back where you started when you began decluttering in the first place.”

Why should you avoid the “maybe” pile?

• You inevitably have to return to it. If you aren’t making an immediate decision about the fate of your items, you’re essentially creating a task for your future self. “It’s a decision delay tactic,” says Jones. “It keeps you stuck in a mental loop and undermines the clarity you initially are trying to create.”
• You might end up creating more clutter. Jones calls it a form of “clutter shuffling.” Moving things from one place to another might feel like progress, but it’s not true productivity. “It’s a temporary payoff because it feels like you cleared a space, but you still have not made the decision.“
• It can lead to overwhelm. “While it’s tempting to hold onto everything ‘just in case,’ that approach isn’t practical and often leads to overwhelm,” says Susan Guraj, founder of VS Organized Interiors.
• It delays decisions: “When you decide to keep the ‘maybe’ pile for later, you are stirring up decision fatigue, which can cause you to avoid the pile altogether,” Jones says.
• You may end up keeping items you don’t care about. If you avoid going through the pile, you may take the easy way out: Decide to keep it all. “Creating a ‘maybe’ pile can allow items that aren’t truly needed to be kept anyway,” says Emily Mass, owner of Spaces By Emily.

Is there a right time to keep a “maybe” pile?

The “maybe” pile can be helpful in certain situations, but it should always be a temporary solution. It’s important that you address items in the pile during the same decluttering session. “I actually like to reframe it as a ‘Revisit’ pile,” says Jones. “It’s a small shift, but it sends a clear message: This isn’t where things go to sit forever — it’s just a pause before a real decision gets made.”

Here are two instances where a “maybe” pile might work:

• If you’re warming up to decluttering. Victoria Tran, founder of Sorted, sees the benefit of a “maybe” pile when you’re early in the process. “Once you see the progress and realize what you truly need and love, that ‘maybe’ pile almost always turns into a ‘no’ pile — so don’t shy away from using it when needed, but always aim to move through it with confidence and clarity.”
• If you’re not the sole decision maker, for example “when sorting sentimental items or items that require input from a family member who isn’t present,” says Tran. “But ideally, try to avoid deferred decisions. Every item should have a clear destination by the end of your decluttering project.”