Six Steps to Clearing Clutter

The following is a look at six ways to clear clutter:

1. Define spaces that need to be cleared of clutter: Make a list of every drawer, closet, table top, nook, and cranny that needs to be cleared of clutter. You can go room to room evaluating your need to reclaim your space, and get rid of stuff. Once your list is completed, you have a plan for how you are going to clear your home of clutter, and make it a stress and clutter free place. Start at the top, and work your way down.

2. 10 minutes a day: give yourself ten minutes a day where you will clear clutter. In no time at all your entire home will be clutter free. Start with the rooms you spend the most time in, and work your way into the lesser used rooms. You will find that ten minutes of sorting through clutter can make a huge difference in how your home looks and feels.

It can help to make a list of what needs to be done.

3. Multi-task to clear clutter: Clearing clutter is not ever on people’s top priority list, as it is not a fun things to do, but you can make time for it by multi-tasking. As you talk to your parent on the phone, try organizing and clearing off a counter top or desktop. As you wait for cookies to come out of the over, clear the clutter off the top of your fridge, or counters. While you do things that do not require your hands, such as talking on the phone, clear clutter. It may only be a few minutes of time, but that can add up really fast.

4. Decorate and design your home: If your home is well put together, you are less likely to allow clutter to accumulate. So, take special care with each room in your home. Select the items that go in it, and the placement, colors, design, and decoration to make it as appealing a space as possible. If you do this, you will not want to see areas get cluttered, and thus you will make bigger efforts to remove clutter.

5. Reclaim your space: Find spaces that are generally cluttered that you would like to reclaim, and make it your goal. You can make piles of things that go elsewhere, should be thrown out, donated, etc. When you are finished with a space, take a moment to appreciate your handiwork, and revel in the pleasure of having a clutter free area. It really can feel wonderful and be extremely motivating to clear clutter out of other spaces.

6. Recycle, donate, sell: When clearing clutter, make this your mantra. If you go at it with the mindset of recycle what needs recycling, sell what you can, and donate the rest, chances are you will stay on top of the clutter, and be more eager to get through it. Half the battle with clearing clutter is not having repeat occurrences.