How to De-Clutter Your Home

Is it Time to De-clutter Your Home?

Its so very difficult when you are working and you have a household to run and one day you wake up thinking ..."Where did this clutter come from?"

The "lazy clutter" needs organizing and the "In case clutter" needs to be dealt with.

Well here are a few "what to do" tips to make your life easier  and your home more organized!

Firstly plan a family day to get the house organized. If everyone has a few days notice they get used to the idea and they plan it into their schedule. No Excuses and be firm!

• The Rule of Thumb is: - If in doubt - throw out and
•  if you haven't worn, used it or read it in the last 18 months you don't need it and you need to get rid of it!
• Handle each item only once
• Put three bags in each room - Donate, Recycle, Discard and have spare bags beside each so you don't have to go and find more and get distracted.

Buy:

• A few good stackable cardboard boxes that are easy to lift and not too big to carry
• Trash bags
• Ziploc bags
• A good marking Pen
• A few shelves for the garage or man cave for storage boxes
• A notebook with a calendar for addresses, telephone numbers and important dates like birthdays, anniversaries etc

Take a look at each room:

Donate:

• Books
• Toys
• Magazines
• Old Clothing
• Small appliances that you don't want anymore or that have never been used
• Unused exercise Equipment

It will make great space to pack away the things you really do want to keep and that you have recently used.

Recycle:

• Magazines
• Catalogues
• Unfiled and old mail and envelopes
• Coupon books | slips | brochures that are outdated
• Paper brochures and travel brochures

Discard:

• Anything in your cupboard and freezer that is past its sell by date
• Outdated medicines - they can be toxic and harmful if you use them after their sell by date!
• Old batteries, flammable items, swollen cans and sprays.

Cancel:

• Magazine subscriptions that you don't have time to read
• Catalogues - because nobody ever really looks at them more than once or twice

Sentimental and Cherished items -  remember you want to clear clutter, so you may have to be harsh with yourself. If you really cannot part with it and you are not likely to look at it in the next 18 months, put it in a box and label it with the date of storing, so that its easy to see if you are just hoarding!

Write all the addresses, birthday and events into your book and throw out the reminder papers.

Use the ziploc bags to put your yarn, makeup, anything you need that can be keep tidy in a see through bag.

Call your  local Salvation Army or Goodwill Store and get them to come and collect the items you can donate. The sooner its out your way the better!

Once you have de-cluttered your home you will have such a freeing feeling. Remember to avoid shop sales, yard sales and other venues that can cause you to gather stuff again!

Happy De-Cluttering!