52 Tips To Declutter Your Home & 12 Steps To Maintain
A list of 52 Decluttering Tips for your entire house! For those of you drowning in too much clutter I am betting you can implement 1 of these tips a week.
Too much stuff!
Are you feeling suffocated by all the stuff in your cluttered home? With a little effort you too can enjoy a clutter-free lifestyle! Decluttering does not have to be daunting task.
Good news! If you don’t have enough time or desire to dive into a full time decluttering process, an effective first step to get through the piles of stuff is to commit to one of these easy tips a week.
Trade clutter for peace of mind
In less time than you can imagine your physical space will be on its way to sparkling. Additionally you and your family members may feel less stress and better mental health. You may find that within your newly decluttered home you will experience fewer frustrations, distractions and feel more productive.
Material possessions can weigh us down. If your life today is feeling like you have a lot of clutter you can turn this around. In a small amount of time and by applying a few easy steps you will feel a greater peace of mind.
One item at a time
By decluttering one single item at a time you will trade material possessions for a more calming physical environment. For me having a smaller number of things leads to a simpler life.
A simple life brings me peace of mind in all areas of my life! So what are you waiting for! Grab a trash bag and get started.
52 Tips!
1 Old clothes in your closet and in storage containers you no longer wear
2 Expired pantry items
3 Worn-out or uncomfortable shoes
4 Unused kitchen gadgets
5 Broken or mismatched dishes
6 Outdated electronics
7 Expired medications in your medicine cabinet
8 Unread books
9 Paper clutter i.e. junk mail, excess paperwork and important documents
10 Unused or broken jewelry
11 Tangled cords, cables and outdated phone chargers
12 Outgrown kids’ toys
13 Unwanted or outdated home decor
14 Old magazines and newspapers
15 Dried-up pens and markers
16 Unused or expired cosmetics
17 Worn-out or uncomfortable bras
18 Broken or outdated sunglasses
19 Unused or expired coupons
20 Old and worn-out towels
21 Outdated event tickets and invitations
22 Unused craft supplies
23 Non-functional or outdated appliances
24 Expired personal care products
25 Unwanted items i.e.gifts and trinkets
26 Broken or unusable tools
27 Outdated or unused software and CDs
28 Faded or worn-out bedding
29 Unused or broken phone cases
30 Chipped or cracked glassware
31 Single socks without a match
32 Unused or half-filled notebooks
33 Old and worn-out backpacks
34 Expired or unused spices in kitchen drawers
35 Outdated or unused exercise equipment
36 Empty or near-empty cleaning products
37 Broken or incomplete board games
38 Outgrown or unused baby items
39 Expired batteries
40 Outdated or unused holiday decorations
41 Unused or duplicate kitchen utensils
42 Worn-out or damaged belts
43 Empty or half-used candles
44 Faded or torn curtains
45 Broken or damaged picture frames
46 Unwanted promotional items
47 Outdated or unreadable CDs and DVDs
48 Outgrown or unused sports equipment
49 Broken or unusable furniture
50 Outdated or unused clothing accessories
51 Expired or unused condiments
52 Empty or near-empty toiletry bottles in bathroom cupboards
Maintenance
You worked hard to declutter your space. Wait! What will you do to prevent the clutter from building?
12 Tips to maintain your clutter-free home!
One in, one out rule
Follow the ‘something comes in the front door something goes out the front door’ rule when you make a new purchase. Yes there are exceptions to this and every rule. This keeps the overall number of possessions in check.
Regular decluttering session
Schedule regular decluttering sessions, like once a season or every six months. This prevents clutter from accumulating over time and makes it easier to tackle smaller tasks more frequently.
A place for everything
Organizational systems are necessary for home maintenance. When items live in their proper places it’s easier to return items after use, reducing the chances of clutter piling up.
Practice the “one-touch” rule
Deal with items immediately rather than putting them off. When you finish using something, it goes back in its designated place right away.
Limit impulse buying
Think carefully before making purchases. Ask yourself a couple key questions. Is the item genuinely needed and where will I store it? Avoiding impulse buys prevents unnecessary clutter from entering your front door.
Donate or sell
When you no longer need certain items, donate to a charity shop or sell them, instead of letting them accumulate as clutter. Books can be donated to your local library.
Digital decluttering
Clutter isn’t limited to physical spaces; digital clutter can be overwhelming too. All your digital files need organization systems too. Delete old emails, texts and remove unused apps to keep your digital space clutter-free. Don’t forget to backup everything!
Adopt a minimalist mindset
Embrace a minimalist lifestyle and focus on owning fewer but more meaningful possessions. Recognize that material possessions do not equal lasting happiness, more like a fleeting high.
Practice mindful consumption
Be mindful of your purchasing habits. Before buying something do you consider if the item aligns with your values and if it will genuinely enhance and add to the quality of your life?
Cost of clutter is high
Clutter has negative impacts on your mental well-being and productivity. There are many reasons that have motivated many folks to maintain a clutter-free space.
Clutter and health
Consider the negative mental impact on your health. The environment is another consideration. It takes energy to manufacture goods as it does to dispose of stuff – lots of energy.
If I can’t leave the earth better than I found it I sure don’t want to add to its destruction.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
One does not accumulate a house full of clutter overnight. Creating and maintaining a clutter-free environment is a gradual process and takes time. Using one of these tips each week to start decluttering will add up in a short amount time!
Of course if you are feeling inspired using a tip a day will get you there faster!
If not be patient and celebrate your progress along the way. With consistent effort and these tips, you can enjoy a clutter-free and more organized living space.
You will come to find the easiest way to maintain your newly clutter free home is by adding a few small mindful steps on a daily basis.
Best wishes!
Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutterer and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.
For more Declutter Buzz & Freebies check out our safe and private Decluttering community on our Facebook page. We are a safe and private space of like minded folks tackling this all encompassing clutter thing once and for all. No shame allowed! We will have a few laughs too!
To see more articles like this, please like and follow me. Thank you!
