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It’s easy to accumulate stuff. Whether it’s a collection of books, Tupperware, clothes or unwanted Christmas gifts, it doesn’t take long for your house to fill up and make it difficult to find what you’re looking for. That’s when it’s time to declutter. But where do you start? How do you know what to keep and what to throw? In this article, we show you how to declutter your home in six easy steps – without sacrificing the things you love – and give you helpful strategies for keeping it that way.
Set goals
Before you do anything, it’s important to visualise your goal. Do you want to organise your kitchen cabinets? Do you need space for a second car in your garage? Are you getting your house ready for an inspection? Once you’ve got a goal, you’ll have a clear idea of what needs to be done. This could include throwing away food containers you don’t use, sorting through books in your study or storing furniture you don’t need. But remember, if you’re aiming to declutter the entire house, do it room by room. This will stop you from getting derailed or feeling overwhelmed by the process!
What to keep and what to throw
This is the hardest part of decluttering. You can make this process easy by asking yourself some simple questions. How long have you had the item? How often do you use it? Is it still useful? If the item is new and you used it recently, then it goes in the keep pile. If you can’t remember when you last used it, put it in the throw pile. The decision is much harder with gifts and decorative items. If they still give you pleasure, keep them. If not, it might be time to part ways.
Put some things in storage
Fans, heaters, foldable beds, sewing machines and similar items can gather dust and take up space in your rooms. A better solution would be to place them in an attic, garage or storage closet until you need to use them again. Just make sure you store them in boxes or vacuum sealed bags to protect them from insects and dust. And don’t forget to make a list of what you’ve put in each storage space. It’ll save you rummaging around for that sewing box or foot spa!
Donate to friends or charities
Not everything you discard should go in the bin. If you’ve got an old typewriter or vintage garden tools, you might consider selling them on Gumtree or donating them to a friend. Clothes and accessories that are still in good condition can be reused by family members or taken to a charity shop. Items like used batteries, paints, chemicals or empty ink cartridges shouldn’t be thrown in your usual bin. Instead, take them to your local council (they have designated days for drop offs) or take them to your nearest recycling centre.
Don’t buy anything new – yet!
Wait until you’ve finished decluttering before you go on a shopping spree. You’ll be surprised by what you find, like a new pair of shoes or an unused blender. This will save you money on unnecessary or duplicated items. Knowing what you have and what you don’t have also means that you can buy more judiciously. You’ll be less likely to fill your wardrobe with random new clothes or buy new kitchen gadgets – and it’ll save you money in the long run.
Tips to avoid clutter
If you’ve got a large family or a busy lifestyle, it can be hard to stay on top of clutter. Children’s sports gear, school books and discarded toys can undo all your hard work! But there are some simple strategies you can implement to keep your clutter to a minimum:
- Have a regular decluttering schedule
- Give everyone a cleaning checklist for their room
- Check your storage inventory before buying something new
- Borrow pasta machines, power drills or similar items if you use them infrequently
- Keep used toys and clothes for your next child, or donate them to a friend
- Find an alternative to gift-giving or encourage people to give vouchers
Final thoughts
Keeping your home clutter-free doesn’t have to be overwhelming. All it takes is clear and actionable goals, smart storage, and strategies for keeping your home tidy. However, if you don’t have space to store your belongings at home or you need to minimise clutter for an open house, you can always use Storage Plus. We provide clean, flexible and affordable storage solutions. If you’d like to discuss your self-storage needs, contact our friendly team or fill out our online form to get a free quote.
