Make a Schedule to Declutter
When faced with the challenge of decluttering an entire home, many people think that they don’t have the time. Set aside time every week. Maybe it’s 15 minutes every morning or maybe you can set aside four hours on a Saturday. Find time in your schedule and put it on the calendar so you’ll remember when to work on decluttering.
If something comes up and you’re unable to stick to your schedule, check your calendar and set aside a different time for the project. The hardest part about decluttering a home is committing to do the work.
Start Small
Decluttering is a major undertaking. Stay motivated and don’t let yourself get burned out. The best way to do this is by starting small. Once you’ve set aside time to declutter, choose an area that you can complete in that amount of time. Begin with a single kitchen drawer or the bathroom medicine cabinet. Start and finish one area before moving on to the next. Seeing progress will help you stay motivated and you’ll be more likely to stick to your decluttering schedule.
Tips to Declutter Your Home
Before you begin working, gather a few supplies: cardboard boxes for items you’ll donate, bins or baskets to hold things that you’ll keep, trash bags for collecting garbage, and cleaning supplies for the areas you are decluttering.
Start to declutter a space by clearing out all of the stuff. If you’re working on the silverware drawer, remove everything. Store spoons, forks, knives, and other utensils in a box or on the countertop until you’re done. When the area is empty, thoroughly clean the space.
Next, take a look at the belongings that were stored there. Items that you don’t need or haven’t used in 6 months can be donated. If you find things that belong elsewhere in the house, put these in a separate basket or bin. Throw away any trash you encounter along the way. Finally, put the items you are keeping back in the freshly cleaned space. Find a place for each item so you will be more likely to return it after use.
Decluttering is a big project, but one you can easily tackle in small steps. Set aside time to do the work and get the whole family involved. You can motivate each other to continue until the house is tidy and clutter-free.
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