How to De-clutter your Home

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By lymanalo
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De-clutter your Home

If you are like me, you probably have dozens of odds and ends lying around without a purpose. But do you know unnecessary clutter affects our productivity and quality of life? Make efficient organization your New Year's resolution and follow these simple tips on how to de-clutter your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Review anything you have not used for more than 6 months. Designate five piles for your items: Repair, Trash, Donate, Store and Keep. Evaluate each item for their usefulness, beauty, and value. Remember, to effectively de-clutter your home, you need to let go of years-worth of sentiments and memories as well.
Step 2

Put any items that needs repair or mending in a bag or box. Place in a "repair" corner and out of your living space. Commit to fix or to get them fixed NOW. Sell, donate or trash any that costs more to repair or that you have already replaced.
Step 3

Toss any items that are beyond successful mending, cost more to get fixed or has no significant wear left. Trash items that are obsolete, are missing parts or present danger (frayed cords, etc).
Step 4

Donate items that have life left but are no longer useful in your home, have duplicates of or have been outgrown. Give to family, friends or neighbors. Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army donation centers will greatly appreciate contributions of kids' clothing, warm outerwear, and classic business attires. Ask for donation receipts to use come tax-filing. Donate old books and magazines to senior homes, public communities and medical facilities where they will be greatly enjoyed. Keep in mind that trash for some are treasures for others. Make a few bucks by posting these goods on eBay, by holding a weekend yard sale or by selling through consignment shops.
Step 5

Stash items you don't use regularly far from your everyday spaces. Designate a closet or an area in your garage for off-season clothing or for items you don't regularly use such as silverware, holiday decorations and ski equipments. Store them in boxes and label every container to eliminate guesswork come time to use.
Step 6

Keep most-used and loved items in the most-accessible locations. Categorize closets and cupboards and make sure to return items to where they belong. Nail clippers should be not nestling between salad forks and vice versa. Eeeww!