If you find your house difficult to clean and are struggling to stay organized, it may be time to get rid of things you no longer need. Decluttering your living spaces helps to reduce stress and makes house-cleaning easier. Here are some tips and tricks to help you declutter your home.
One Section at a Time
Decluttering may seem like a time-consuming and intimidating process. To make the task manageable, break it down into smaller sections. Choose an area of your home to begin and make a plan to work through the entire house.
You might choose a room to start with, or a closet, or a single kitchen drawer. Working on one part of your home at a time allows you to focus on that area without feeling overwhelmed. When you finish a smaller project and see the results, you will be motivated to move on to the next space.
Make Separate Groups
When working toward a clutter-free home, place items that you’re sorting into separate groups. Decide what you want to donate, choose items to give to your friends, and make a pile of things that belong elsewhere in the house. Keep a garbage bin nearby to encourage you to throw away trash immediately.
Storage for Clutter-Free Living
Storage systems help to organize your belongings throughout the home. After decluttering, smart use of shelving, bins, and drawers will keep your living spaces organized.
Use Plastic Bins to Declutter Your Home
If you have kids, you know the struggle of toys being everywhere in the house. Help your children sort their toys into storage bins. This helps them learn organization so that they can clean up after themselves more efficiently.
Bins can also be used for storing foods in your pantry, organizing craft supplies, and storing garden tools. Use larger bins to hold holiday decorations, bed linens, and out-of-season clothing.
Shelves
Add shelving to closets to store shoes, hats, and sweaters. Shelving can be installed in the basement to hold car care products, cleaning supplies, and home maintenance supplies like paints, stains, brushes, and caulk. Shelving combined with bins or baskets makes a great storage system that helps you stay organized.
Chest of Drawers
A chest of drawers is an attractive solution for keeping things out of the way. Depending on the area of your home, you can use drawers for clothes, bedding, cutlery and serving dishes, or pet products. Organize the drawers with divider trays or small boxes to help keep like items together.
Declutter Open Spaces in Your Home
Open areas such as countertops, bedside tables, and your vanity tend to accumulate clutter. If you store things on tabletops, use techniques to organize the space. A small basket can hold jewelry or make-up. Install hooks to hold car keys and hang a purse. If your desk is always cluttered, use a cup to hold pencils, scissors, and markers. A desk tray is great for storing the mail until you’ve had time to sort it.
Recruit Help to Declutter Your Home
Decluttering your home will take longer if many of your belongings hold sentimental value. Enlist the help of friends or family members to work with you through the process. A trusted friend will often help you make hard decisions when choosing what to keep and what to let go of.
Decluttering your home does not have to be an exhausting process. Identify areas you would like to clean, make a schedule, and start small. With the right attitude and these tips, you’ll be on your way to a cleaner and more organized home.
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