Why you shouldn't overlook a digital decluttering session this spring (2025)

Spring is the ideal time to declutter, but while many of us might be stripping out our wardrobes and cleaning out kitchen cupboards, one organisational area is often overlooked: digital decluttering.

While many of us might build a desktop tidy up and clear our emails as part of a daily decluttering routine, things have a habit of building up, and a digital cleanup will help keep online spaces and admin seamless and organised.

To pull together a plan for how to approach digital decluttering, we consulted professional declutterers Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman, two of the UK’s leading authorities on decluttering and organising your home as The Declutter Hub, a podcast with more than 2.5 million downloads and a Facebook community of nearly 50,000 members.

We also interviewed Caroline Gowing, co-founder of national virtual assistant network Pink Spaghetti, about organising your online space.

"Our brains are constantly processing information, and when we’re surrounded by digital chaos – hundreds of unread emails, dozens of open browser tabs, a desktop covered in file – it becomes harder to focus," Caroline explains.

"It is not a coincidence that as we have become more dependent on carrying so much around with us on our phones, that mental wellbeing is becoming more of a problem. A clear digital space, fewer notifications, and no outstanding email will lead to a calmer, more organised life."

The main categories for digital decluttering

There are seven main categories to bear in mind when it comes to digital decluttering:

• Emails: Go through and delete old emails, categorising anything you need to keep in email folders.
• Photos: Tackle your desktop and organise photos you want to keep into desktop folders.
• Contacts: Check for old numbers or people you're no longer in contact with.
• Passwords: Create a document or use a tool like Lastpass to keep all your passwords in one place.
• Files and folders: Check desktop folders and file away like for like – for example, invoices can be stored together, as well as important documents, and screen-grabs.
• Apps: If you have a smartphone, delete apps you no longer use and categorise similar apps in a folder together.
• Social media groups: Leave any groups that are no longer useful to you on platforms like Facebook.

"The method would be different depending on how techie you are," Ingrid Jansen and Lesley explain.

"But our advice would be to work systematically on one category at a time and create a system that will serve you in the longer term. This is not just about deleting; it’s about organising, rationalising and developing a bespoke, foundational structure that will work for you."

Digital decluttering methods

Our experts share some useful methods for digital decluttering.

The inbox zero method

"The ultimate goal of digital decluttering," Caroline explains. "This method aims to keep your inbox at (or as close to) zero as possible."

Here's how to apply it:

• Take time to unsubscribe from every unnecessary email you receive – this alone can have a huge impact. The unsubscribe link is usually right at the end of the message.
• Be brave and delete anything you no longer need to refer back to.
• Use folders, labels, or filters to organise incoming emails.
• Set a regular time each month to check and manage your inbox, keeping it under control. It’s not a one off job, but a regular ‘housekeeping’ task.

"Emails are the best place to start as it’s something where that little notification number winks at you every time you open your email inbox," Ingrid and Lesley explain.

"This is a constant reminder of tasks to be done and can overwhelm you. Don’t decide to delete en masse – it’s the digital equivalent of throwing everything into a skip and hoping for the best. You’ll feel a lack of control and always feel fearful that something important has gone unintentionally."

It's also important to find the emails you need to keep and categorise them. The decluttering experts advise that you should ask yourself, "Are they actions that need to be done? Are they sentimental emails? Are there photos attached?

"Each of these will require different actions. Set up a digital filing system for your emails. Save any photos into your photos app and be sure to gather a list of to-dos as you work."

The 10-minute rule

"Following these actions will make your home screen look less cluttered, will free up memory and even speed up your device."

Turn off notifications

"Something as simple as turning off notifications can feel like a digital declutter," Caroline explains.

"Do you need to be warned every time you receive an email? Do regular news alerts actually improve your day or just leave you on edge. Being selective with which notifications you need to receive can certainly help to clear your mental load."

Recommended tools for digital decluttering

Caroline suggests that these tools will help you to digitally declutter:

• Clean.Email is a highly regarded tool to help you declutter your email in bulk.
• Lastpass is a fantastic tool for keeping all your passwords in one place and secure – meaning you can choose secure ones instead of the old regulars people tend to use.

Reset Your Home, Unpack Your Emotions And Your Clutter, Step By Step by Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman is out now.