The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering and Organizing Your Purse

Is your purse basically a mobile version of a junk drawer—complete with loose Band-Aids, expired mints, and receipts that date back to a pre-mask era? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I once found a rogue sock in mine… and I wasn’t even carrying gym clothes. But there comes a time when enough is enough.

Let me take you step-by-step through the purse purge you didn’t know you needed—because back pain from carrying a bag full of “just in case” nonsense is not a personality trait.

1. Dump It Like It’s Hot

Step one: dump the entire contents of your purse onto a flat surface.

Yes, all of it. Don’t just peek in like you’re negotiating with a raccoon. Flip that bag like a pancake and see what falls out. Be brave.

You’ll likely find:

• Receipts that have turned into fragile scrolls
• Half-empty hand sanitizer bottles (vintage COVID-2020, anyone?)
• Snacks that are either mysterious or fossilized
• Fifteen pens that all don’t work
• Bonus: an emotional breakdown waiting to happen

It’s okay. Breathe. You’re not a bad person because your purse is a disaster. But we’re about to fix it.

2. The Rule of Three (aka Lip Balm Intervention)

If there’s one universal truth it’s this: no human needs three lip balms. That’s the maximum. If you’ve got more in your purse, in your car, in your jacket, and on your nightstand—we need to talk.

Use the Rule of Three for your purse essentials:

• 3 pens MAX (preferably ones that write)
• 3 makeup items tops (ex: lip balm, powder, compact mirror—done)
• 3 emergency items (hand sanitizer, pain relievers, and portable charger)

3. Categorize Like You’re Building an IKEA Manual

Once you’ve exorcised the crumbs and old gum from the depths, start sorting what’s left into categories:

• Must-Have Daily Essentials: wallet, phone, keys, etc.
• Nice-to-Have but Not-Desperation: compact umbrella, hand cream, etc.
• Emergency-Only: bandages, spare tampon, mints (that aren’t fossilized)
• Why Did I Ever Think This Was Purse-Worthy?: that decorative rock from your kid’s art project. Sorry.

Put everything you actually use into neat little piles. And don’t forget to test your pens. Trust me, nothing’s more tragic than a pen graveyard masquerading as “being prepared.”

4. Embrace the Magic of Pouches

If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes fishing for your keys in a sea of crumpled napkins, it’s time to embrace container-ception: pouches inside your purse. Life-changing.

Consider:

• One for toiletries (lip balm, sanitizer, meds)
• One for electronics (charger, earbuds, spare cords)
• One for randoms (gum, mints, floss picks, voodoo protection crystals—hey, you do you)

Bonus: your purse becomes way easier to switch out if everything’s in compartments. You’re living in a rom-com montage now, sweetie.

5. Dump the Duplicates, Ditch the Dead Weight

Seriously, how many nearly-empty lotion tubes do you need on hand? You got dry elbows or are you starting a moisturizer museum? Be ruthless!

Here’s some stuff you probably don’t need in your bag:

• Unused loyalty cards (put them in an app, please)
• Business cards you might text “someday”
• Coins that have multiplied into a mini kettlebell
• Keys to doors that literally don’t exist anymore

6. Keep It Small, Keep It Sane

Here’s a harsh truth: BIG BAGS ARE ENABLERS. The bigger the purse, the more chaos your shoulder carries. Downsizing your bag size is an easy way to keep only what matters.

7. Set a Weekly Purse Purge Ritual (Yes, Really)

You clean out your fridge. Hopefully. So why does your purse not get that love?

Once a week, take five minutes to:

• Remove trash and receipts
• Test pens (again, seriously)
• Restock essentials (wipes, gum, migraine snacks)
• Rehome anything you tossed in without thinking

It’s five minutes of maintenance for hours saved not rummaging for your debit card while the person behind you sighs audibly.

8. Ask the Bag-Hoarder Question

If you switch bags often, you’ve got what I call “bag-bloat”. You know what I mean—three handbags in a rotation, plus that one you forgot about in the car trunk.

Some questions to ask when decluttering your actual bag collection:

• Do I love it, or just feel guilty because it was expensive?
• Does it actually function, or is it just “cute but chaotic”?
• How often do I really rotate bags?

9. Make Smart Swaps for Sustainably Stylish Living

Decluttering also offers a fabulous chance to make more eco-conscious choices.

Swap:

• Mini bottled sanitizer → [refillable spray pen sanitizer]
• Paper tissues → reusable hankies or biodegradable packs
• Plastic baggie stash → a washable zipper pouch

If this has you drooling for more sustainable swaps, check out Sustainable Fashion for Every Budget: How to Build a Greener Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank and start building a bag that’s as light on the Earth as it is on your shoulder.

10. Welcome to the Clean-Purse Club

Take one last look at your newly transformed purse. You know where everything is. Your shoulders feel lighter. You’re no longer terrified of the checkout line dig.

Celebrate that win, my friend.

And now that your purse isn’t lying to you about your preparedness level or hiding snacks that legally count as compost—why not snap a pic of your neatly organized bag, and tag us over at @mysimple.life.official on Instagram?

Let’s inspire the world—one beautifully decluttered bag at a time. 💼✨

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Simplicity is the ultimate power move.

Lydia Parker