Want to Remove Clutter?
Start Decluttering Today With Our Easy Organizing Tips

"Decluttering" is a buzzword that's everywhere! There is something about clean countertops, a clean expanse of floor, and a neat-looking home that brings a sense of peace. However, there is a fine line between keeping your home clutter free and getting rid of things that you'll wish you had back at some point. Following are some tips to help you declutter and organize your home!

What You Will Learn

How to effectively declutter
Tips to organize your home
Strategies for keeping your home clutter free

DECLUTTERING DOs

• Declutter only one area at a time.
  This will help prevent chaos and getting rid of things you didn't mean to.
• Do expect this to take some time, especially if it's your first time decluttering.
• Make sure you are not rushed.
  Of course you want to be efficient and work through this as quickly as possible, but don't be on such a tight schedule that you can't give a bit of thought to what you are about to toss!
• Clearly mark your "take-out" boxes or bags so that things don't get mixed up.
  Have one box for trash, one for donations, and one for yard sale (if that is part of the plan).
• Do get rid of things that make you think "yuck" but you have held onto "just in case."
  For example, if you have not worn something in a whole year, chances are you won't! Chances are you can toss it!
• Make sure your home is as neat and clean as possible before you begin your decluttering project.
• Do plan to keep your home clutter-free by thinking carefully before every new purchase.
  (This will save you lots of money, too!)

DECLUTTERING DONTs

• Don't start on more than one area at a time.
  I can tell you from experience, this is not a pretty sight!
• Don't start decluttering impulsively on an emotional whim
  (think monthly cycles, traumatic events, or after visiting another's home and developing -- dare I say this? -- "comparison envy"). Decluttering should be a conscious choice to weed out the things that do not enhance your lifestyle in the place you live each day.
• Don't start a decluttering project in the middle of a holiday.
• Don't start a decluttering project if you cannot see it through to completion.
• Caution: take care when decluttering items that don't belong to you
  Even if they are your children's items and you feel you can let them go without your children noticing, you need to make sure you are not giving away something with extreme sentimental value.
• Don't toss things you know you are likely to use again.
  Yes, believe it or not, people do this.
• Don't begin a decluttering project in a house that's already out of sorts and upsidedown.
  It's best to tidy up first as much as possible so everyone involved doesn't go mad!

Handling the Daily Flow of Clutter

Lynn's Big Basket Idea

Here's a large basket in our hallway,
used to catch clutter in a central location.

I keep a big, pretty basket in many areas of my home. Baskets are great for catching clutter. From time to time I make a call for everyone to gather 'round and get their stuff. What is not claimed is thrown out!

Organizing Your Home

This bears repeating: a place for everything and everything in its place! Once your home is clutter-free and clean, you'll want to keep it organized! Here are some tips for organization and storage.

• Utilize every space in your home to the utmost! For example, instead of a plain end-table in my small living room, I purchased three antique suitcases at a thrift store and stacked them. One suitcase houses my knitting and crocheting items, one suitcase houses old linens, and one suitcases houses family photos, and it makes a great table!
  
• Invest in some well-chosen storage items to organize your home, inside and out!

• Utilize wall space for hooks for coats and hats, to get clutter off floors and tables and furniture.
• Train young children to put things away by labeling drawers and bins for specific items.
• Always keep your eyes open for items that do double-duty in the storage department!

More Resources

• Your Housekeeping Checklist
• Natural Cleaners: Using Herbs and Natural Cleaners in Your Home

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I see and I remember.
I do and I understand."
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