7 Helpful Tips On How to Declutter Your House

Is your home organization system starting to fail you? Does your house resemble something straight out of an episode of Hoarders?

If so, it’s time for you to declutter your house.

You might think that your clutter is manageable, but in reality, it can affect your life in ways you don’t even realize. Studies have shown that besides being an eyesore, excess clutter can impact everything from your productivity to your creativity.

To help you get everything back to a manageable state, we’ve put together this guide. The tips below will help you manage even the most chaotic of messes.

Read on to learn about seven steps you can do to declutter and organize your home.

1. Be Realistic About How Often You Use Things

When you start decluttering your home, one of the simplest things you can do is ask yourself the last time you used something. Has it been weeks or months? How about years?

If it’s been a while, or if you didn’t even remember that you had something until you stumbled upon it, it might be time to get rid of it. Odds are, it’s not adding anything to your life besides taking up space.

Unless you see yourself using them sometime soon, consider donating or throwing things out that you haven’t used for a long time.

2. Consider Item Condition

Besides considering how often you use something, you’ll also want to think about its condition.

When things break down in our homes, we tend to say that we’ll fix them as soon as we get around to it. But the truth is that many items go unfixed because we don’t need to hold onto them.

If you find something broken or in need of repair while decluttering, set a deadline. If you don’t find time to repair it before that day comes and goes, take it as a sign that you can get rid of it.

3. Don’t Worry About Sunk Costs

Another mistake that people make is holding on to expensive items that they no longer care for. This can be anything from old pieces of technology to expensive pieces of clothing.

We often think that because we paid a lot for a particular item, we need to hang onto it. But holding on to a pair of shoes you never wear isn’t a good idea, nor is keeping a tablet that you never use.

Understand that the best way to add value to your life now is by getting rid of those sorts of items. You already paid for them, so there’s no sense in holding onto them longer than you have to.

4. Avoid Getting Nostalgic

Everyone who’s ever tried to give their home a deep clean is guilty of getting nostalgic from time to time.

Whether you’re cleaning out your closet or your basement, you stumble across an old item you forgot existed. Then, before you realize it, you’ve spent an hour reminiscing about whatever memories go along with it.

Instead of doing this, set the item to the side so that you can worry about it once you finish. Putting it aside for later helps you avoid wasting time but still gives you the chance to toss or keep it.

5. Create a Maybe Box

When you find those sorts of nostalgia-inducing items, consider putting them in a maybe box.

This is a temporary (emphasis on temporary!) box that you carry around with you while you organize. If you come across items that you’re unsure whether you want to get rid of, put them in there for the time being.

Then, decide on a time in the future when you’ll open the box up and go through it. Just make sure that on that day, everything inside finds its way to another location—inside or outside of your home.

6. Limit the Number of New Items You Bring Home

What’s the best way to prevent yourself from having to do monthly garage sales and continuously clean out your home? Stop bringing home new items in the first place!

Identify where in your life you’re acquiring everything that you have. Try your best to reduce the number of things you get from that source. Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you need it.

If you do catch yourself starting to bring home more items than you should, you can always look into making the next cleanup process easier. Consider investing in a roll off dumpster rental for the next time around.

7. Don’t Think of Decluttering as an Event

Remember that decluttering and cleaning your home shouldn’t be a massive event that the state of your home forces you to embark on multiple times a year.

Besides reducing the influx of items into your home, make a point to always keep it as tidy as possible. Try to find time to give it a quick clean once a week.

When it is time for a decluttering or deep cleaning session, you’ll find that things are much easier than they were before. It’s easier to keep a home neat and tidy than it is to get it that way.

Declutter Your House and Give Yourself Peace of Mind

If you can’t remember the last time you’ve walked into a room that doesn’t have mountains of things inside of it, it’s time for a change.

Use this guide as a resource to help you declutter your house. By following the points mentioned, you’ll be well on your way to a future of organization and cleanliness.

Are you looking for lifestyle tips on how to clean your house? If you are, make sure to check out the rest of our site for more helpful guides and tips.