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Step 1
Start by stopping what gets through the door in the first place. Are you reading your newspaper or the weekly free delivered one? If not, call and cancel delivery. If you are, recycle as soon as you read it. You just gained at least from 5 to 50 cubic inches of space a week.
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Step 2
Make small and unintimidating projects for yourself. Start with one food cupboard, or one medicine cabinet.
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Step 3
Be honest with yourself. If you haven't worn the dress since high school and it doesn't look like your son is ever going to wear it, it can probably leave your life. You can still cut a scrap of it and tuck it in your year book if it really means a lot to you.
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Step 4
Be sneaky. If your child starts a new collection every other day, chances are they won't be traumatized when some of the older collections go missing. Reduce their stress and yours by not reminding them they even had that collection of dandelion fluff.
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Step 5
Treat yourself. Once you have de-cluttered a room, paint it or replace the window coverings to show off the new space.
Comments
frischy said
on 10/19/2009 Good advice about not accepting other people's clutter. I made the mistake of taking someone's clutter when she moved and, boy, have I regretted it! Sometimes it is harder to get rid of other people's clutter than it is your own! Wow!
scleaver said
on 10/8/2009 I've started a blog on decluttering - http://declutteryrlife.blogspot.com - and will be regularly posting from the how, to the why, and with links to recommended websites and stores.