27 Things Fly Lady Suggests Getting Rid Of
The Fly Lady "27 things" exercise helps break emotional attachment to clutter by removing exactly 27 unnecessary items from your home in one go. This manageable number delivers visible results without overwhelm, training quick decision-making and creating space. Regular practice prevents clutter buildup and transforms your relationship with possessions.
The Essence of the "27 Things" Exercise
One of the most liberating exercises in the Fly Lady method is getting rid of 27 unnecessary items in your home. This isn't a deep clean or a total clearout of all your closets in one day. It's a simple yet powerful action that helps you break the emotional attachment to clutter and feel lighter.
The rules are simple: grab a trash bag and walk through your home, collecting exactly 27 items that no longer serve you. These could be broken toys, old magazines, clothes you haven't worn in years, expired food from the pantry, duplicate kitchen utensils. The key is not to overthink it—act quickly and without regret.
Why 27? This number is large enough to see results, but not so overwhelming that it triggers resistance. You'll be surprised how easily this number adds up when you start looking at your belongings honestly.
Why This Exercise Really Works
We often hold onto things out of guilt, fear, or habit. "I might need it someday," "it's a shame to throw it away," "but it was a gift"—these thoughts turn our homes into storage units and us into hostages of clutter.
The "27 things" exercise works because it breaks the emotional dependency on clutter. When you regularly let go of what you don't need, you train yourself to make decisions quickly and without drama. You stop clinging to the past and make room for the present.
Moreover, this exercise delivers instant results. You see your home becoming freer, and that inspires you to keep going. The LadyFly app will help you track this task and remind you when it's time to repeat it again.
What Exactly to Look For
If you don't know where to start, here's a list of categories where unnecessary items most often hide:
- Clothes you haven't worn in over a year
- Broken or non-functioning items
- Duplicates: extra pens, scissors, mugs
- Old magazines, newspapers, advertising flyers
- Expired cosmetics and medications
- Toys your children have outgrown
- Gifts you never liked
- Dishes with chips and cracks
- Bags and boxes kept "just in case"
Go through each room, look in drawers, closets, and storage spaces. You'll be surprised how much has accumulated without you noticing.
How to Do the Exercise Regularly
Fly Lady recommends doing this exercise once a month or even more often—whenever you feel your home is starting to get cluttered again. Consistency is key to preventing clutter from building up.
Set a reminder in LadyFly so you don't forget about the task. You can create a challenge for yourself: find 27 items every week until your home becomes truly light and free.
Don't try to make everything perfect. Even if you only found 15 things today—that's still a win. The important thing is moving forward, not perfectionism. Over time, you'll notice that making decisions about letting go becomes easier, and your home becomes more spacious and comfortable.
