Let’s talk clutter. You know- the toys, books, papers, and random household items that mysteriously end up right in the space that you want to organize. You want a tidy home, but everywhere you look there are things cluttering up your living space. When making the decision to creating a more organized home, the very first step in organizing is to do some serious de-cluttering (I’m pretty sure that’s a word). The great thing is, de-cluttering can be done in a very short amount of time. Don’t worry, you can put the rubber gloves away. Today we’re just going to deal with the clutter. Cleaning comes later.
Tip #1
Perform daily CARE (Collection And Removal Expedition). On a daily basis, go through the major living areas and collect all the items that don’t belong there. Remove them and place them in the right spot. Simply carry a laundry basket with you to toss items into while you roam the house. You and your family can work as a team to replace the items to their homes. This can be done at the end of the day when clutter levels are at their highest, or right before dinner as you are clearing the table for the family meal.
Tip #2
Every thing needs a home. As you are de-cluttering, begin to group like items in easy-to-locate places. Use baskets or storage containers that are clearly labeled. This will help your family to know where to put things and make it easier to tidy up. If you encounter an item that doesn’t have a place to be or is rarely used, consider putting it into storage. When you are confronted with difficult-to-place things, reflect on whether this item is even necessary to have around.
Tip #3
Don’t keep items that you can live without. If you haven’t used it in a year, will you really miss that item? Is it something that can be easily replaced? Or maybe you have another item that can do the same job? Recently I realized that I have a small, manual food chopper and a large food processor that also chops food. The small manual processor was in good condition and was even in its original packaging, so I was able to sell it on eBay. This way I made some space in my kitchen and made a little money in the process. You don’t want an unused thing in your home collecting dust and taking up space, so before you stash another surplus item away in a closet, think about selling it or giving it to charity or a thrift store.
Tip #4
Make tidy living a habit. Start putting things away right now. When you are done using something, return it to its home, and encourage your family to do the same. At all cost, avoid creating junk drawers and junk rooms, because these are simply places for clutter to collect behind closed doors. Start going through the things that are piling up, because a home with less clutter leads to a more organized home.
How do you handle clutter build-up? If you have any tips to add, share them in the comments below!
