5 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home & Live Cleaner
Tired of the mess in your home? If your home feels unorganized no matter how often you clean, then your problem may be the amount of stuff in the house. You don’t necessarily need to switch to a minimalist lifestyle to get your house in order, but some of the basic ideals will help you. We’ve listed some of the most important tricks and ways to declutter your home below. From the buy one-toss one rule to creating a decluttering checklist, these tips will give you a cleaner space!
Start Slow
If you rush through the decluttering process, it won’t stick. You need to start slow as you begin—if you take on too much all at once, you’ll get worn out. Build up your momentum and start out with five minutes a day. Focus on clearing off your surfaces to start—this will be a visual reminder of your accomplishment. The more of those little accomplishments you begin to see, the more you’ll want to finish the whole job.
Go Through Each Room with a Donation Box
One of the best ways to declutter your home is to go through each room with a donation box. If you’re struggling to stick with your decluttering routine, then you need to give yourself some motivation. Do a bit of research and see what kind of charity you’d like to support. For example, Purple Heart converts your donations to dollars in order to help U.S. veterans. Once you’re done decluttering, you can schedule a donation pickup with your chosen charity.
Take on the 12-12-12 Challenge
Another great tip is to go through each room and take on the 12-12-12 challenge. It asks you to locate 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items you need to return to their proper homes. Do this once a day for optimal results. The more times you complete the challenge, the less items you’ll have to relocate at the end of the next day.
Do the Declutter Exercise
If you don’t have much time to spend on decluttering, this exercise will prevent you from falling behind. Grab two trash bags and spend ten minutes putting stuff in the “trash only” bag and putting stuff for donation in another. Just ten minutes of tossing items into a bag will make a difference.
Don’t Forget About Your Paper Trail
A lot of people tend to forget about the paper trail strewn about their homes. If you have an office, spend a bit of time each day sorting through the stacks of papers. If you leave mail around the house, pick it up and deal with it right away. Getting rid of your paper trail is a big step toward a decluttered home and a cleaner space.
