If you feel your house is a total clutter zone, and you want to take action, you have come to the right place.
When clutter piles up, we can feel a sense of overwhelm. Maybe we are unsure where to start. Maybe deciding on what to keep is too much. Time is also something I hear a lot about why clutter piles up in homes.
No matter why that clutter is there, these tips will help guide you to declutter your things.
Declutter With Questions
When it comes to decluttering, you have to ask questions. But not just any questions. The right questions that help you decide if you need to keep something or if you can part with that thing.
By asking yourself questions, you are able to quickly decide if something is worth keeping.
These questions can include things like:
- When was the last time I used this?
- Does this item serve a purpose in my home right now?
- Do I have another item that can do this same thing that I like better?
By taking time to ask questions, you are focusing your attention to why you are keeping an item. Which is a much easier way to declutter.
Instead of focusing on do I need this item, you are changing your outlook to see the purpose of an item instead.
The questions I use, along with other tools are included in my free declutter guide!
Declutter Single-Use Items
When I am working with virtual clients, one thing we try to do is remove items that only serve one purpose. And we typically do this with kitchen items because those single-use items can take up a lot of space in your cabinets and drawers.
But what is a single-use item?
A single-use item is an item that only does one thing but can be replaced by something else to do the same job.
I will give you an example. And since I see these single-use items so frequently, I am going to use kitchen gadgets as an example.
A strawberry huller is a tiny gadget that removes the tops off the strawberries. That gadget can be useful if you use it. But if you don’t, that item can be replaced by a knife or straw. So why keep it?
Another example is a risotto maker. That one machine can only make risotto. And while it might be nice for that one time you make risotto, would it be nicer to have that space in your cabinets instead?
What about the egg slicer? Or the veggie spiralizer?
Sometimes these gadgets come in really handy. While other times they just take up space in our cabinets.
Instead of just letting them sit there, why not declutter them so you have more space for things you actually use?
Declutter With A Caddy
I am a huge fan of creating a declutter caddy before any declutter project.
Because a declutter caddy is a bin that holds everything you need to declutter, you aren’t as likely to be sidetracked while searching for things you need.
What I have found is that when working with clients who either get distracted easily or who are just dreading the project, having a declutter caddy before they start saves time and keeps them focused.
Get a bin or basket. Add in items you typically use while decluttering. I like including cleaning supplies, bags, and labels.
Everything you need for your declutter caddy can be found here!
Questionable Items
Whenever you are decluttering, there are always things that you aren’t sure if you want, need, or use. Those are items I call “questionable”.
A lot of my virtual clients have a hard time parting with these types of items. So they let them sit in their homes. Taking up space.
Instead, let’s come up with a plan to decide if those items are actually used, needed, or wanted.
Get a large bin and collect all those questionable items.
Move them all to a different location of your home. Preferably a storage space.
Set a reminder on your phone for one month from the date you put them in that storage area.
If you find you need that item during the month, you can grab the item from the bin you stored. Now you can confidently say you use, need, or want that item.
If you don’t grab that item within the month, you can confidently say that you never need that item again.
Clutter Spot
You will always have clutter in your home. So instead of getting annoyed by that, create a designated spot for that clutter to go.
This one spot is the place where all your clutter can pile up. So you have only one area to declutter on a regular basis.
I keep my clutter spot in my office. I have a bin I use to hold all that clutter and go through it weekly. Since the shredder is in my office, this helps me get rid of paper clutter quickly. And I can take action on other items because it is near my garage, where I can dump items I want to donate into the trunk of my car.
By creating a specific spot in my house for where clutter can go, I am not stressed about decluttering every area of my home every day. Instead, I only have to declutter my clutter spot once a week.
Cluttered House No More
When decluttering, ask yourself thoughtful questions to focus on keeping items you actually use. Part with single-use items and replace with items that can serve many purposes.
Use a declutter caddy to help keep your decluttering focused if you notice you get easily distracted.
Create a clutter spot in your home for clutter to go while you decide what you want to do with those items. And if you aren’t sure, create a spot for questionable items.
While these tips are sure to help you clear the clutter from your home, you may want to read more posts on decluttering.
Where To Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed?
Best Way To Get Your Entire Home Decluttered
