Clearing Clutter: Be the Clutter Destroying Machine

Clearing clutter during spring cleaning can be a daunting task and is enough to shake up even the most veteran of housekeepers. Although it is a tough job, when you’re done you can reap the benefits of a luxurious open home. No more searching around and finding items you don’t really need. It’s time to start clearing clutter.

Now I found a simple but effective way for quickly clearing clutter in your home. Find three boxes and label each the following: Give Away, Store, or Trash It. Before you go ahead with this guide, you should stop at each item and ask yourself some questions. How long has it been since I used this item? Is there any chance I might need to use it in the near future? If I need to replace it, how likely will I find it again? Questions like these will help you determine if you need to relieve the item or keep it.

While you're clearing clutter, if you decide to give away an item make sure to be generous. Think about the uses that another individual might get out of the item versus how useless it is taking up space in your home. If you have enough items like this, you might consider selling it in a newspaper or placing it in a garage sale.

Trashing an item is always a good idea if it is broken or if it not suitable for selling or giving away. Things that you no longer need or want should also be placed in here.

If you have items that you no longer need but do not want to part with, place them in the box labeled storage. Remember to group similar items together, like vintage plates or dishes, and it is always a good idea to make an inventory list so you know what you have and where it is when needed.

Best Method

The best method I find is to go room by room, focusing on clearing clutter from one room at a time, and sorting each item in the appropriate boxes. Look at one item at a time, ask the right questions, and place them in the right box. Be sure to go through your closets, storage areas, and cabinets as well. Take your time and be patient. Rooms like bathrooms and kitchens might be easy on you for clearing clutter but closets and rooms with storage bins might be more difficult and requires a watchful eye.

Work on one room at a time; while clearing clutter I like to move from the basement up, to make life easier.  Doing this will allow you to have break points to rest and bring new boxes if the old ones are filled up. Don’t allow yourself to reminisce over the items or else your brain will trick you and make you rescue the items in the boxes.

Remove old clothing even though they are your size or your “ideal” size. It is very tempting to keep the old clothes in hopes that one day you will fit into them. Not a very realistic goal. It is better, and more generous, if you give away the clothing to a charity and purchase yourself a new wardrobe then keeping the old clothes.

When working thorough your home, keep one statement in mind. It is more important to free up space and keep things organized rather than keeping an item just because you might need them on a future date. Reminding yourself of this statement will help you decide which items need to go and which don’t.

Items that have been given to you as a present posses lasting memories. Due to this reason, certain items that contain a personal emotional attachment are sometimes difficult to let go. To overcome this dilemma, you must ask yourself a question. Are you attached to the memory of the item or to the actual need of the item? Knowing this will allow you to store it, throw it, or keep it where it is.

Now that you’re done, take a step back and look at your house. Your trash is gone, you stored your items out of sight, and you, bravely, gave away the items you no longer need or require. Your house is organized and looking very spacious and neat. Take a deep breath and begin enjoying the results of clearing clutter in your home.

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