Top 6 Rules of Decluttering

It's that time of year again! The sun is shining (most days), flowers are blooming and our homes are ready to be decluttered! It's most likely been a year or two or even more since you decluttered your house. You have no doubt accumulated lots of new "stuff" and even the old "stuff" isn't quite as neat and tidy as it could be. Maybe a linen closet you can no longer close? Or how about your kids’ playroom, the one you’re sure a tornado blew through? 

But where do you start? To help give you a list of the top 6 tips to streamline the organizing process, we looked at the 6 Golden Rules of Decluttering on the spruce.com. Here are the most practical tips on how to best declutter your space: 

1. Start Small

Chances are, you have a lot to clean out. Start small, one room at a time or even one space at a time. It doesn't all have to happen in one day. Start with a micro anxiety space first. How about the piles of papers that accumulate on your counter or a junk drawer or a tupperware cabinet? Give yourself a small win first, that’ll encourage you to continue to larger, more difficult spaces.

2. Reassess What You Actually Use

Perhaps you bought a blazer thinking you’d wear it to meetings, but years later that meeting is now on zoom and the tag is still on. Maybe you invested in a blender with good intentions of making smoothies, but now it just collects dust.

We’ve all been there, clinging onto an item in the hopes that it would have a place in our lives someday. Does this sound familiar? If so, it's time to donate, toss it or sell it on Facebook marketplace.

3. Check Expiration Dates

Not just items in your refrigerator or pantry have expiration dates. Remember to also look at the dates on skin care products (including sunscreen), medicines, makeup, and hair products; they may not last as long as you think. No wonder your refrigerator, pantry, and medicine cabinet are overflowing. 

Tossing expired items is easy place to start when decluttering and evaluate why it expired. Did you not like it? Perhaps you could buy a smaller size of it or try something new next time. 

4. Digitize Everything

Although it's changing, most appliances, household gadgets and toys come with paper manuals but how often do you actually reference them? Instead of keeping stacks of loose papers with a “just in case” mindset, digitize anything you may want or need to reference again. Often times, you can now google your "how to's" or download manuals online. If you are unsure, take a picture or download a scanner app on your phone! That includes kids’ artwork, tax returns, bank statements, medical records, cards, and other sentimental items, like physical photos. 

5. Find Other Halves

Face it: that lone sock will never find its match. The same goes for food containers without lids, remotes that control who-knows-what, games/puzzles with missing pieces and random cords that you can’t identify. If you don’t know where the missing piece is, chances are you won’t find it.

Instead of allowing the solitary piece to take up valuable real estate in your home, collect all of the mismatched items. If any of the pieces fit, your problem is solved. If they don’t, say goodbye. 

6. Regularly Tackle Kids Spaces

Kids’ items tend to multiply at lightning speed but they can also hold sentimental value. It’s crucial to regularly declutter your children's clothes, and art supplies. Your children may even rediscover toys that were buried at the bottom of a basket or that they thought had been lost. 

It’s important to be realistic about what your children still wear, use, and play with. You don't need a drawer full of too-small pajamas and a playroom littered with unused and broken toys. Donating these items to other children will not only make you feel better about your space but also helps children understand the importance of giving to others. 

Nothing is better than the feeling of a clean, organized and decluttered home filled with all of the love and laughter your family shares! Cheers to spring and happy cleaning, love Arrive Real Estate Group