Decluttering your home is something that we all think about from time to time, but is there a reason that you haven’t done this yet? More often than not, the reason is because it’s a lot of work, it takes a lot of time, and more than either of these, it can be a pain in the behind to do. Depending on when you last decluttered your home, if you’ve done this at all since you moved in, it can be quite a big job which puts people off even getting started.
The thing with decluttering is that if you do it regularly, you won’t have to spend hours, days or even weeks trying to get through it. It won’t take as long as you think, even if there’s so much to do. As long as you double down your efforts and get through it efficiently, that’s what matters.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you should do when completing this task that will make it easier. Keep reading if you’re interested in finding out more.
Look For Things That Are Damaged
The first thing that we encourage you to do is go through your home and look for anything that is broken or damaged. Some things may be able to be fixed, and some things are going to have to go so it’s up to you to figure out the best way to do this. If you’ve got bigger things that need to be disposed of such as appliances like dishwashers then you might want to look into a scrap metal service that can help you here. It can be difficult to move these things yourself and know where to put them, so to take the stress out of it, a service is your best bet. Other things that are easy for you to transport and get rid of can be loaded up into your car and taken to the dump.
There are also going to be things that you find that are damaged but can be fixed. If it can be fixed yourself then you can just put this to one side so that you don’t forget about it. Or, if you’re going to need professional help getting it fixed then you need to find someone who can do this for you. You may have to wait until you have the money available, but once you do you can get this sorted. For the meantime, it needs a place anyway so find somewhere for it.
Start In One Room And Work Round
The next thing that we’re going to recommend is that you start in one room and then work your way around the home. If you take things one room at a time it makes it far easier to manage because you’re not constantly stressing. You can just set yourself a target of getting one or two rooms done per day and then that’s an easy target for you to achieve.
If you start at one end of either the top or bottom, work your way through that level and then do the other. If you think that it will be easier for you to make a list, then make a list. You can tick each room off as you complete it, helping you to see how far you’ve come since you got started. Sometimes this helps you to stay motivated, which is always helpful.
Look Into Selling Items
When you’re decluttering, we have no doubt that you are going to find items that no longer have a place in your home. It might be that you no longer need them, or that you no longer like them, or simply that you’ve outgrown whatever it is. Should the items be in good condition, then it’s a good idea for you to sell them, because you never know who is going to want or need the things that you have. You know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
You can use platforms online to sell your items, or you can even have a garage sale depending on what is best for you. Some people prefer to use Facebook Marketplace or Vinted, or other online options like this to get rid of the things they don’t want as this gives you a larger reach. If you don’t want to pay postage and packaging though, then a garage sale, or taking them to a large sale is your best option.
Store Items You Want But Don’t Have Room For
We’re sure that you are going to come across items that you want to keep but you don’t have room for in your home. When this happens it can be really hard to navigate because you’re not sure what you do. You don’t want to throw them away, but you can’t find any space in your home for them. The solution to this though is to look into self storage options near you. You don’t want anything that is too far away as this isn’t going to allow your items to be accessible, so you have to look for options in your area.
Make sure that the storage unit you choose is temperature controlled to ensure that none of your items get damaged. Also, make sure the unit is big enough for other items that you may want to add over the years. Don’t just get the smallest available as it’s the cheapest, you need to get the size that is going to work for you.
Have A System For Throwing Away
It’s a good idea to have a system for throwing things away so that you don’t have to umm and ahh throughout the whole process. You will know what kind of things you’re ready to get rid of, and it will help you when you come to items that you’re not sure of. It happens a lot more often than you think when you come across an item that you’re not really sure whether it’s time for it to go or stay. Generally, the rule that we recommend you go with is if it has no sentimental or monetary value, and has no use to you then it’s time for it to go.
If you don’t like that kind of system then you are more than welcome to choose your own. Whatever works for you is what you should do, as long as it helps you get through the decluttering process.
Get Someone To Help You
Trying to take on this entire task on your own can be somewhat of a nightmare. A good idea to help you manage would be to ask someone if they can help you. This can be someone that lives in the home with you, or you could ask a friend to come to your home and help you get through. If you are someone who struggles with things like this, then you want someone who is good at doing tasks like this in their own home, and enjoys clearing out. At the very least, they will keep you motivated, and it will also be easier to get through all of the rooms with someone on your side.
Doing things on your own is not only boring but tedious, so when you have someone to help you, it can be far more enjoyable.
Understand That It’s Necessary
The final thing that we’re going to say is that if you want to get through the decluttering process but you’re finding it hard to do, remind yourself of why it’s necessary. Remind yourself that you need to free up some space. Remind yourself that you don’t need all of these items and you could either make a little bit of money from them, or you could give them to someone who needs them. Either way, you’re making the space that you need for new things, ensuring that your home isn’t a trip hazard as it may have been in the past, and generally making it a nicer place to live.
You know what they say, a tidy house helps with a tidy mind. So, especially if you are struggling with your jumbled thoughts and mental health, this is a great idea for you.
Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the steps that you should take when it comes to decluttering your home. As long as you take this process one step at a time then it should be much easier than you’re thinking it’s going to be. You don’t need to panic about everything that’s coming because you can stop and start as you need to. It’s not necessary to push yourself further than you are able to go, and that’s something that we need you to understand. This process should not be one that stresses you out more than anything, it should be enjoyable, helping you to love your home once more.