It's Time to Declutter!
Quick and Easy Tips for Decluttering Your Home
Whether you're preparing your home for sale, or trying to make the most of the space you have right now, decluttering is always the best starting point. Not only will you be removing excess stuff from your home and creating more space, you'll be removing a lot of excess stress and giving yourself room to breathe.
Clutter is anything that does not add value to your life, decluttering does not mean getting rid of things you love, but rather things that no longer serve you.
This is a great way to spend a rainy spring day indoors and the entire family can (and should) take part.
Step One - Choose a Room
Decide if you want to tackle each room together as a family, or if each person will be responsible for a specific area.
Let small children be in charge of decluttering their rooms, but remain there to guide them through the process.
Step Two - Collect Boxes or Bins
You will need a total of 4 boxes or bins, labeled Trash, Recycling, Donate, Keep/Storage.
Trash - Any item that is broken, un-needed, and cannot be salvaged or recycled.
Recycling - All plastic, glass, old wires and electronics that no longer work. Be sure to check your local recycling regulations if you aren't sure about an item.
Donate - These are any items in good condition that you no longer have a need for. Consider giving items to your local Buy Nothing group, or set up a yard sale. Encourage children to donate toys and clothes they no longer use to children in need. Local shelters are always in need of clothing for adults and children.
Keep/Storage - Any items you don't have an immediate use for, but you still want to keep, go in this box.
Step Three - Get Started
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| Kids can help too! |
If the room you're in has a closet it's best to start in there. Closets hold a large amount of clutter, and clearing them out will give you space for the items you plan on storing.
Go through each item one at a time and decide if it should go in one of the 4 bins, or stay where it is. Move methodically from one end of the room to the other. Once done, empty your trash and recycling bins, then move on to the next room.
A Few Extra Tips
It's OK to keep items with sentimental value, don't feel pressured to toss all of your belongings.
If you can't decide whether you should keep or donate an item, ask yourself when you last used it. If you find something you forgot you had, it's probably safe to donate it.
Don't get rid of anything that doesn't belong to you, especially items that belong to children. Allowing them to choose which items they no longer want will give them a huge sense of accomplishment.
Before you throw an item in the trash or recycling, consider its re-use value. For example, old towels can be torn up into cleaning rags. If you enjoy gardening, old papers can be torn up and composted.
If you have a lot of art projects from your kids, take pictures of each piece so you have a digital copy and recycle the originals.
Label your storage boxes clearly before putting them away.
Clean as you go.
Enjoy your clutter-free home!
