Whether you are moving or just want to reorganize your home and reclaim your space, we have 5 great tips to get you started!
1. Set Goals and Boundaries
Decide what must go, and what can stay. If your goal is to condense four drawers of stuff into two, you'll need to be firm on what can stay in the house. You want to avoid "but maybe..." piles that will just end up back in the drawer or closet being ignored. Chances are, if you haven't used it, worn it or fixed it in the last three years, it's not going to happen this year either. Set firm boundaries for yourself, and you can achieve your goals and declutter your house quickly.
2. Go Digital
One of the easiest ways to eliminate clutter is to go digital. The internet and smartphones allow us to have nearly everything we need within a moment's notice. If you have resisted going digital in some areas of your life, let that be one of your goals. The idea of a clean, decluttered home is a great motivator to get rid of stuff and embrace change! Here are a few ways you can transition to digital to free up space and eliminate clutter in your home.
- Coupons - No need to clip paper coupons anymore! Add them to your loyalty cards or scan the coupon they sent via email or text.
- Menus - Restaurants post their full menus online. Dump the paper menus!
- Cookbooks - Every recipe you can imagine is online, and usually you can compare several with a quick internet search.
- Bank and Bill Statements - Embrace mobile banking, e-statements and online bill pay to help reduce paper clutter.
- Books/DVDs/CDs - Do you need that massive media collection? Transition to audiobooks, eBooks, and digital streaming apps for movies and music and you can free up a lot of space.
3. Support the Local Community with Donations
When you are going through cupboards and closets and find yourself with boxes and bags of stuff, you may realize you have no idea what to do next. One of the best ways to declutter your home is to donate gently used items to local organizations. Professional attire can be donated to organizations that help low-income job seekers dress for interviews. Some organizations specifically help the homeless population and domestic violence victims get back on their feet, and accept furniture and household items to help furnish apartments.
If you have piles of magazines and newspapers, ask the neighborhood preschool if they can use the magazines for arts and crafts, and drop the newspapers off at the animal shelter. Let someone else enjoy your books by placing them in a Little Free Library. Clean out your overflowing pantry and donate in-date items to the food bank, because they accept donations year-round!
4. Safely Discard of Hazardous Materials
If you are determined to declutter your home, it's time to tackle the trash that cannot go in the trash can and never gets addressed! If you have old prescriptions and a take-back program is not available, you can follow FDA advice for disposing of unused medicine. Contact your local recycling center or dump to find out how to dispose of items that cannot be thrown away with regular trash. Certain types of paints, batteries, electronics and appliances are hazardous and require special disposal, and it is important to check with your municipality for the safest way and best place to do this.
5. Organize and Store Your Belongings Properly
Now that you have decluttered your home and are left with only items that fit, work, and serve a purpose, you need to keep your home organized. The best way to organize is whatever way that works for your specific household needs. Find a method that helps you maintain order. If you still find that you have items that you want to keep, but do not need to be readily accessible, a storage unit is a great option. Your childhood collection of toys that you're saving for your own kids, the heirloom furniture that has been passed down, seasonal items like holiday decor, outdoor furniture, or sporting and camping gear are all things that can be stored without hassle.
If you find yourself looking for storage after you successfully declutter your home, Blue Mountain Self Storage is a family-owned company that provides indoor and outdoor storage units to meet your needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help you keep your home clutter free!
