Clutter in a home can feel overwhelming and lead to stress and feeling unsettled in your living spaces. A cluttered house is difficult to keep clean, and homeowners may struggle with organization. Decluttering your home can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these simple tips and tricks to clean and organize quickly and efficiently.
1. Start Small When Decluttering Your Home
When starting a major project, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Pick a small area of your home to begin, like the kitchen countertop or coffee table, and organize that area. Compartmentalize your decluttering project into smaller chunks, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. As you progress, you’ll see changes in your home and feel more motivated to continue.
2. One In, One Out
A great rule of thumb when it comes to decluttering is “one in, one out” – for every item you bring into the house, someone else has to go. Getting rid of items helps prevent clutter from accumulating as you acquire more things throughout the year.
3. Take Inventory
Before organizing your space, take an inventory of what items are cluttering your home. Create piles of things that need to be sorted, discarded, and donated. You’ll have a better idea of the work required. Label a few cardboard boxes as donation boxes, and put items you no longer want or need in the boxes as you work. Drop them off at a local charity.
4. Decluttering Your Home: Get Creative
When storing items, think creatively about how they best fit. Use wall space by installing shelves or hooks. Find baskets or bins that fit your storage areas and assign a group of things to each container. Depending on what you need to store, you might have bins for body care, craft supplies, household cleaners, gardening tools, etc. Make sure everything has its place that is easy to access when needed.
5. Use Labels
Labeling makes all the difference when trying to find a specific item or keep things organized over the long term. Invest in simple labels for boxes or containers to keep items sorted and in the right place. Labels help your family member find what they’re looking for and remember where to return things.
Decluttering can seem overwhelming, but with a few simple tips, any homeowner can conquer their clutter quickly and efficiently. When starting your project, choose a small area to work on and finish it before moving to the next. As you sort and organize, use labels to keep track of where things are stored. You’ll be able to create an ordered, stress-free household with just a bit of work.
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