Decluttering the house helps simplify one’s life, reduce tension and chaos, free up physical space, and provide mental clarity. If the job seems too overwhelming, one can break it down into smaller steps. For instance, one can aim to declutter one room every week until the whole house is tidy. This simplified declutter process is useful for people who have busy schedules and do not get a lot of free time.
Room-by-room Decluttering Tips
Every room will require a different approach to decluttering depending on its size, purpose, and design.
Bathroom/restroom
To begin, open every cabinet in the bathroom and discard outdated and old wellness and skincare products. Only keep those that are frequently used and store them at eye level. Next, open the drawers and remove everything before quickly evaluating what needs to be kept and what needs to be tossed. Eliminate objects ruthlessly based on utility before storing them all in the top drawer.
Now, check the shower, tub, and bathroom sink area and pull everything that’s not required. All objects that do not have any “home” can be discarded into the bin.
Bedroom
Tidy the bed first by clearing anything that’s scattered over it and neatly arranging the sheets, blankets, and bedspread. For nightstands, remove anything on them that does not belong there, such as already-finished books, pens, paper, and mail. While at it, consider recycling objects that are not useful but may fetch value in other ways. These include empty tissue boxes, dried pens, or non-working chargers.
Once the bed and nightstand are clear, head to the dressers, chests, and bureaus and discard or fold neatly any clothing strewn on their tops before slotting them into cupboards. For drawers, desks, or vanity tables, resist the urge to shove things back in. If any objects in question are not being used, discard them altogether. Remember, the key to removing clutter efficiently is to retain only those objects that are used.
Kitchen
Kitchens are incredibly complex to clean or declutter as several activities occur there, frequently and simultaneously. For pantries, drawers, and cabinets, the first step is to empty each space, assess each object, and put everything back where it belongs. Commence the decluttering with powerhouse storage spaces, such as the upper cabinets and the pantry. Once those are handled, deal with the drawers, lower cabinets, and the filthy space under the kitchen sink.
Living Room
In many homes, the living room is the all-important space for entertaining guests. Cleaning this room can be difficult due to the sheer number of objects and activities taking place here. A key tip when clearing out living spaces is to discard or reposition larger furniture, electronics, or toys based on how frequently they are used and how easy or tough it is for people to get to them.
Practical Home Tidying Strategies
Following certain tried-and-tested strategies helps people declutter their homes efficiently and quickly.
Retain Only the Essentials
When decluttering, most people find it hard to discard certain objects. Still, it’s important to think practically and retain only the things that are truly needed. Keeping the essentials and discarding unnecessary objects that occupy space and do not add much value to life is the first golden rule of clearing out living spaces.
An effective tactic for discarding things is giving away one item daily. This would remove 365 objects every year from the home, cleansing a lot of unnecessary clutter and making living spaces more habitable. To step things up, increase this to two objects every day. This will raise the number of unnecessary things eliminated every year to a whopping 730.
Tackle Small Sections at Once
The task of decluttering may seem monstrous at first, but it is deceptively simple when handled in a room-by-room manner. Tackling only small sections and completing them provides the confidence to continue. The more people accomplish with each small victory, the greater they will feel. Ultimately, this confidence will help complete the decluttering task with aplomb.
Remember, the entire property does not need to be decluttered in a day. Just allocate around five minutes each day, and the job will be done in a week or a month, depending on how big the home is and how badly it is cluttered and unclean.
Donate Unused Clothes and Objects
Apart from discarding objects, donating them is an effective way of removing clutter efficiently. Give the less privileged (or NGOs) unused clothes, shoes, and other accessories that have not been used in months but are still in pristine shape and form. Besides decluttering the home, donating unused objects can make someone’s day.
View the Home as a First-time Visitor
People who do not know how or where to begin when it comes to the practical home tidying process can start by visiting their own home as they would an outsider’s home. This helps get a neutral perspective about the place’s untidiness and prompts homeowners to take the right steps to declutter efficiently.
