Positive Cleansing: Five Ways to Declutter and Create Space

If you feel claustrophobic in your own home or cringe when you see piles of stuff randomly growing throughout the house, it may be time to declutter. Thankfully, there are simple and easy ways you can clean up your property without relying on professional (and expensive) help. Here are some techniques you can use to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Sort and Sort Again

The first stage of decluttering is deciding what you can let go of. A good place to start is your clothing, as we tend to have more than we really need. However, rather than go drawer by drawer, take everything out and work through the pile by making three mini-piles: keep, donate or sell, and toss. After you’ve finished, ask yourself if you could use clothes that are too tattered to give away as dusters or cloths for cleaning. Now, turn your attention to the rest of the house and, again, do sections at a time. Gather all your yard decorations, office supplies, and whatever group you’ve chosen, and then do it all at once before moving onto the next. This way, you never do too much, and you see tangible results to inspire you further.

Letting Go

Once you have your belongings separated, it’s time to determine their fate. There are charities that take household goods to support those in need, and some organizations will come to you for large-item pickups if necessary. Just be certain that what you’re giving away is something that another person could genuinely use. Similarly, you can sell items in good condition to earn a small profit, either through a yard sale or by listing online. You could use a marketplace website, such as Amazon or eBay, but you do have to pay fees. Other sites, like Craigslist, are free, but always have people with you when you do the exchange.

Hack Your Storage

One reason your house may feel cluttered is because you lack storage. No amount of donating or throwing things away will change this; instead, research how you can expand your capacity. For instance, thinking beyond using only wardrobes and closets can be eye-opening. You can house a lot under your bed with decorative trunks, vacuum bags, or rolling bins for easy access. Likewise, look at places most ignore, such as the walls and overhead. Put shelving up high, and add hangers to walls so you can store even more. Finally, set aside some time to take a hard look at your closets. If you’ve casually tossed anything and everything into them over the years, chances are they need some hardcore TLC, which will ultimately free up some much-needed space. Angie’s List has a guide to help you work through and organize your messy closets, including ways to purge your belongings and determine what stays and what goes.

Upcycle Your Goods

If you have stuff you don’t think is worthy of a donation but you don’t want to sell, you could opt to upcycle. For example, this process can transform old silverware into a unique wind chime or drawer handles in the kitchen and bathroom. Even a rusty or bent colander might be turned into a hanging planter for your garden. The options are truly endless, and some of your creations could give you further opportunity to make a profit.

Keep Things Clean

Now that you’re organized and ready to rock, the next stage involves developing a system to stay tidy. As a start, know where everything goes so they are never again in “pile purgatory,” and create a schedule to maintain cleanliness. Routine and consistency will help, as will cleaning as you go. That means doing dishes while you cook and breaking up chores into projects you can manage throughout the week. Mondays can be the time you vacuum and dust the living room, while Tuesday could be when you scrub the tub and bathroom sink. Create something that works with your schedule, and stick with it to develop better habits.

It may seem intimidating to get the proverbial ball rolling, but that’s the hardest part. Once you’ve started, you may be surprised by how quickly you can get things taken care of. Yes, there might be difficult moments, but when you’ve finished decluttering, you can start a new phase of only bringing stuff you choose into your life and home.

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