Having a lot of stuff doesn’t necessarily mean you have to declutter, but it certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. If you have quite a bit of stuff just lying around and not being used for any particular purpose, it might be time to reevaluate your things and sort out what’s worth keeping.
We know decluttering is hard, but you can’t fall into that mindset.
Please don’t give up before we’ve even started; let us help!
In this guide, we break down actionable steps you can take right now to declutter your home. We layout an achievable time frame you can follow, plus some great tips to make decluttering a cinch.
This ultimate guide to decluttering will help get your home in tip-top shape!
Decluttering is a word with a lot of weight behind it. HGTV and TLC experts make it look easy. They swoop in, turn your life around and, poof, all the unnecessary items you’ve collected are gone.
But this is real life; this is your stuff. We’re not counseling gurus and decluttering connoisseurs, but we can help you out!
These pre-decluttering tips can help get you started on organizing the best plan to declutter:
During decluttering, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Take a step back and remember why you’re doing this.
Keep your goals in mind while you’re decluttering. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, remember your goals:
You may even have to extend your decluttering process, and that’s okay!
Once you’ve set your mind on decluttering, keeping your goals in mind and staying focused is vital to achieving your goal (not just in decluttering — in life too!)
As the ancient Chinese proverb states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So, if you’re having trouble focusing and getting started, try cleaning for ten consecutive minutes.
If you can power through 10 minutes without giving up, you’re in the right mindset!
We found a handy little 10-minute decluttering exercise called the Trash Bag Tango featured in Oprah magazine.
The article suggests getting two trash bags to start:
Then, set a timer and walk around your house for 10 minutes, finding things to throw away, donate, sell, or gift.
The magazine suggests doing the Trash Bag Tango as exercise once per day for two weeks, but this would be a good primer before taking on a large-scale decluttering project over the weekend.
Not only will you get a little bit of a head start, but you’ll start to recognize what to toss and what to keep — essential to know.
We will inevitably find something of sentimental value from a loved one while we’re decluttering.
As you’re going through boxes, you may come across a sentimental item or two.
Though it doesn’t have any monetary value, it was necessary to hold onto it at one point and time.
Don’t feel guilty. Instead, take a mental snapshot, appreciate the positive feelings the item(s) gave you and need to let it go so that you can move forward with a clear heart and mind.
Don’t forget to stop and buy the items you need before you become too involved in decluttering. There’s nothing worse than stopping your project to go shopping for extra organizational items.
Here’s a shopping list to help you get started:
Be sure you take the time to condense and reuse any boxes you already have before buying more.
Commit to your decluttering process by creating a simple list:
Set yourself up for success during your decluttering job by avoiding these three mistakes:
Done right, decluttering helps people healthily process their past and look toward a decluttered future.
If you’re familiar with Marie Kondo, then you’ve heard her mantra: “Does it spark joy?”
Well, it certainly has in the past but, what if everything sparks joy?
Answer the tough questions. What do you want to keep? Will it be helpful within the next month?
Repeat these questions, one category at a time and ensure you take breaks in-between categories.
If you and your family have committed to tackling this project together, that’s great!
This task is no walk in the park, and a few extra hands can get this process moving along effortlessly.
If they’re feeling a tad apprehensive, play to their strengths and divide the tasks accordingly.
We all have our blind spots. Perhaps you have an area unofficially designated as a “catch-all” for your clutter. One blogger and author refers to this as the “invisible corner.”
Don’t let your “invisible corner” become worse! Instead, develop and maintain new habits to prevent clutter buildup, such as:
Just like Frozen’s iconic Disney princess, Elsa, “Let it go” should be your mantra throughout this entire process.
Take back your space by:
Congratulations! We’re at the halfway point!
Though decluttering your home or office helps at a surface level, it is time well spent nonetheless, says Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist.
Here’s how to take this concept a step further and embrace minimalism:
Pre-tip: It’s all right if you don’t have the time or energy to engage in the process of holding a garage or yard sale.
Planning one can be quite the undertaking, and we have a few steps to help you get started:
Here are just a few local Facebook groups that are perfect for that:
Don’t forget to include outdoor advertisements by purchasing brightly colored posterboards at any nearby market or dollar store. Ensure your sign has a font large enough to be seen at a car’s distance.
Place important details on the board, including:
If you don’t take the time to advertise properly, all your garage-sale plans and decluttering efforts will have been for naught.
Once your sale concludes, donate any leftover items to a local charitable organization or center of your choice.
Remember: before you donate, you should ensure your items are not dirty, broken or “questionable” in quality or nature.
Check with the item’s manufacturer to make sure the item wasn’t recalled. If that’s the case, please contact the manufacturer and return the item.
If you’re looking to get rid of unused or old electronics, make sure the place you want to donate to accepts electronics. If not, electronic stores like Best Buy take recycled electronics.
You can also use Call2Recycle to help you find drop-off locations for items like batteries or old cellphones in your area as well!
Remember, always follow each establishment’s criteria and donation guidelines before donating items.
Use the locator feature by clicking the links below to find a list of nationally recognized places that generally accept donations:
If you’re looking to make more of an impact on your community, use the Great Nonprofits locator tool to find local nonprofits and charities that accept donations in your area as well!
From elementary to college, all schools love donations! New or unopened office supplies are best, and individual schoolteachers accept miscellaneous items, including:
The younger kids in elementary specifically appreciate any donations in the form of gently used or new winter clothing, school clothing, backpacks, shoes and more.
A charitable spirit is a human trait and nondiscriminatory. Reach out to your local mosques, synagogues, churches, temples and any other religious establishments. They’re a hub of any community and are in tune with what the community needs.
Another hub is a community center! They have athletic activities and amenities like indoor and outdoor courts, free educational and art courses and many other goodwill services for the community. They’re often an excellent center for outreach, so look for yours and ask about what you can donate to help!
Though it goes without saying, we’ll mention it anyway:
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE USED OR FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE ABOUT TO EXPIRE.
If you’re looking to declutter your pantry and give back, that’s wonderful, but do so not at the cost of someone’s health.
Expert organizers advise you to have a donation box in your house at all times. That way, if you’re going about your life and realize you don’t need an item, you can put it in the donation box.
When the box is full of donations, please take it to your local charity!
Now that you’ve:
What do you do next? Celebrate!
If any of these tips and tricks helped you out, we’d love to hear about it!
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