Make Decluttering Easy

Whether you wish to live a simple life or clear your mind, decluttering does the job. However, despite how simple it seems, many find this an overwhelming and anxiety-producing task.

• It’s hard to decide what to keep and throw or give away.
• There’s just so much stuff to go through.
• It’s hard to let go of items and the memories they carry.

Decluttering need not be as daunting as we imagine if we take it one step at a time. This article will help you get started.

Make Decluttering Easy: Preparing to Declutter

Before you get started, get prepared to make your decluttering task a breeze.

1. Prepare a checklist

It’s a lot easier to declutter when you know where you need to get started. A checklist acts as a guide — the best part is ticking off tasks one by one. It gives a sense of fulfillment to see your tasks getting done.

If you’re new to decluttering, make sure the checklist you have consists of tasks you can do 5 minutes at a time. You may find that when the 5 minutes is up, you want to keep going. This way, you’ll be able to build momentum even if it’s just a few minutes every day.

2. Have containers for sorting items

Some call this the four-box method —or perhaps five-box depending on how many you need. What matters is that you label each box according to the items you put in it. You can label them to suit your needs. For example, boxes can be labeled Throw Away, Keep, Relocate, and Recycle. You can add Donate, Put Away, or Laundry boxes. In other words, use what works for you.
Whenever you’re sorting items from one room to the next, place items you find in one of the boxes. Don’t skip a single item. This can take weeks or months depending on how much clutter you need to go through.

3. Have a decluttering timeline

Having a timeline or a deadline can do wonders in accomplishing your decluttering activity. You can give yourself 30 days to declutter your house or schedule your decluttering for the weekends.

Set realistic and attainable goals to avoid being overwhelmed. Break down the spaces to declutter and the timeframe for each. Give yourself a buffer in case your decluttering doesn’t go according to plan.

4. Take before and after photos

It pays to take a before and after photo of each space where you need to declutter. Choose one part of your home and take a photo of it. Quickly clean all the items in the photo and take another shot once you’ve completed it. This will act as a reminder of how your space looks when it’s tidy.

How to Declutter Rooms

Bathroom

• Start with the medicine cabinet. Take everything out, and discard outdated medications, makeup, and skincare products. Put everything you’re keeping back into the cabinet at eye level
• Remove everything inside your cabinet drawers. Do a quick evaluation of what you need to toss out. Put items you use often in the top drawers.
• Do the same thing with your shower/tub area and then pull out everything from below your bathroom sink.

Bedroom

• Make your bed first.
• Remove anything that’s on your nightstand and put it away in a bin. Discard or recycle items you don’t use anymore like empty tissue boxes or pens that have dried up
• Go to your drawers and dressers next and do the same thing.
• Immediately put away all items that need to be folded or hung up in your closet.
• Empty each drawer and remove everything you haven’t worn in the last year. You probably won’t wear it again.
• Anything on your vanity that you haven’t used in more than six months should be either recycled or discarded.

Closet

• Start decluttering your shoes, boots, dresses, denim, etc. Take them all out of the closet then group them. It’s easier to determine what to keep and what to toss.
• Put away any item in your closet that shouldn’t be there in the first place (e.g. a pair of socks).
• If you find dirty laundry, place them in the laundry hamper.
• Collect all your clothes that need to go to the tailor or dry cleaner.
• Get rid of clothes you don’t use anymore. Either repurpose them or donate them.

Kitchen

• Declutter your kitchen by focusing on one category of items at a time.
• Categorize items such as cutting boards, glassware, utensils, bakeware, and so on.
• Empty the space and assess where each item should be placed.
• Start organizing your upper cabinets before moving to your lower cabinets, drawers, and under the kitchen sink.
• Concentrate on your countertops next.

Living Room

• Decide on permanent storage spaces for commonly used items (remote control, magazine, and books). Declutter this space regularly.
• Start decluttering bookcases, consoles, the coffee table, and side tables. Empty and assess which items should be stored there and which are out of place.
• Reduce paper clutter such as mail, folded paper, magazines, and newspapers.
• Keep remote controls in a designated spot.
• Remove all the wires and cables connected to your television or home theater system. Check which of these you’re using and which ones are not and replace them neatly.

Creative Decluttering Tips

If you want to create a decluttering habit but you’re having a hard time, here are a few creative tips.

• Give away one item per day.
• Donate clothes you never wear.
• Determine monthly 12 items to donate, 12 to throw away, and 12 to repurpose.
• Let go of items you haven’t used for over a year (especially if these are clothes).

Declutter Regularly

Decluttering is a never-ending task. While it may seem tedious, it’s also a great way to stay mindful of the items we have and whether they are important or not. If you find yourself in a dilemma, deciding what you should keep and what you should let go of, self storage can be your solution.

You can store your items and take your time deciding how to dispose of or repurpose them. Here at Handy Storage, we have plenty of available types and sizes of storage that will fit your needs and your budget.

If you consistently make time to declutter, you can keep your peace of mind and truly relax in your home.