How to Declutter Your Home
Let’s face it, clutter is easy to accumulate and difficult to get rid of. It’s a new year, so now is the time to figure out how to declutter your home.
1. Make a list of every room in your house and estimate the amount of time you will need to spend decluttering each room.
Try to keep each room under two hours so that you can get to every room within a couple of days. Smaller rooms may even take as little as 30 minutes, but make sure you are planning a realistic amount of time to finish decluttering the space.
2. Create a schedule.
Once you have determined how long each room will take, create a schedule of which rooms should come first. If you stick to your time limit for each room and continue following the order of the schedule, you will be able to get your entire house decluttered within your determined time frame.
When you are learning how to declutter your home, it is important to add time into your schedule for taking items to their intended locations. Don’t forget to schedule in breaks every so often, too.
3. Gather everything you will need.
When you are just beginning to declutter, you may not know which materials you will need to complete the project. Gather trash bags, boxes, tape, a marker, and clear storage bins. If you have supplies nearby when you are ready to start, you won’t have to stop what you are doing to go and find something.
Use the trash bags and boxes for things you plan to get rid of. Mark each box or bag clearly so that you know what is trash and what should be donated later. Get some masking tape so you can easily write the contents on the tape to label the bags.
4. Set a timer when you begin decluttering in each room.
Try to stick to the time limit. This means you’ll have to work quickly and not spend so much time thinking about each item. The timer helps you throw things away or put them in the “donate” box before you have time to attach emotion and meaning to the item and reconsider.
5. Decide what to keep and what should go.
This is definitely the hardest part when learning how to declutter. You can start by answering the following questions:
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- Have I used this item in the past 3 months?
- Does the item have sentimental value? If so, is it something that brings happiness or does it make you sad, angry, or another negative feeling?
- Is the item valuable? If so, can you sell it instead of leaving it in your home?
- Is the item broken or worn out?
- Do I have more than enough of this item?
The most important part of this step is deciding quickly and moving on. If you spend too much time on an item, you may cause yourself to form an unnecessary attachment to it. You will quickly discover the importance of this after you learn how to declutter.
Have a bag for trash items, which will include anything torn, damaged, or worn. You should have a separate bag or box for items to donate. If you are struggling to decide what to do with a certain item, put it in a different pile to decide on later. If you are going to sell some items, you will also need a separate area for that.
6. Take everything to its intended location.
Do not keep any of the items that you’re getting rid of in your home. Immediately take the “donate” bag (or box) to the donation center. List the items you intend to sell on a sale site immediately, and take your trash out right away. If you leave these items in the house, they’ll be cluttering your home again in no time.
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