Start Small When Decluttering Your Home
Removing clutter from your home is a great way to stay organized, but when things are messy, it can be hard to see where the clutter begins and ends. It may also be overwhelming at first glance to decide what to keep and what to toss. However, there’s no saying you must get rid of all your possessions. Before you start making tough decluttering decisions, there are many items in your home that are easier to part with than you think.
JUNK MAIL
How long has that newspaper been sitting on the counter? Make a habit of going through your mail and promptly throwing away anything that is junk. Don’t leave it until later. It’s easy for a stack of papers to grow quickly, and then you won’t remember what mail you needed to keep. Have a sorting rack in an easily accessible area, such as bills that need paid or important notices that you can file later.
ANYTHING BROKEN
If it’s broken, there’s no reason to keep it. This can range from jewelry to cameras and toys to appliances. You may have the best intentions of fixing something, but unless that is a realistic expectation, there’s no reason to collect broken items in your home.
OLD CLOTHES
Clothes that have holes, are outdated, haven’t been worn in a year, or no longer fit all belong in the toss pile. Clothes take up valuable space in your closet, and you want that reserved for items that you wear.
DUPLICATES
It is rare that you truly need duplicates of something. A spare blender is not something that is going to come in handy often, so you’re better off gifting it to someone else or abandoning the older version of the duplicate items.
CRAFTS FOR UNFINISHED PROJECTS
Perhaps you picked up knitting a year ago and never picked it back up again, or you were excited about scrapbooking but lost interest. If there are crafts or hobbies laying around your home that you never use, it doesn’t belong in your home. If you don’t know anyone personally that could benefit, a classroom is a great place to donate craft materials.
ANYTHING FORGOTTEN
As you’re sorting through your home, if you come across anything that you forgot even existed, think hard about whether you need it. Items that have never been missed do not typically have a purpose in your life.
ANYTHING EXPIRED
Food, spices, makeup, and medicine all have expiration dates. Rotate through these items periodically, especially if you notice a build-up of lotions or non-perishables. Anything that is expired should go right in the trash or to a recycling facility.
THE JUNK DRAWER
In most cases, you can take most of what’s in your junk drawer and slide it right into the trash. If there are some things worth keeping in the drawer, return them to their logical spot.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t have to dig into the old photo albums and family relics to feel as if you are cleaning. Decluttering starts with the most basic of organizing techniques in your day to day life. Getting rid of items that fall into the categories listed above is an easy first step to an organized and clutter free home.