The idea of simple living may sound attractive, but most people don't take it seriously. Simple living is all about keeping your home minimal, clutter-free, and organized. However, most people feel overwhelmed with the idea of decluttering. This is mostly because they don't understand where to start and how to do it.
Decluttering is the way to organize and remove unnecessary items that have been in your home for too long. These items take up space, making the home look overwhelming. Decluttering involves sorting the items and deciding what to keep, donate, recycle, or discard. So, in this blog, we have put together 10 ways you can keep your home clutter-free and clean.
What Are the Benefits of Decluttering?
Here are a few benefits to keeping your home clutter-free:
Less Stress
A home should be in peace - not chaos. Your surroundings impact your mental well-being. This means a cluttered home increases stress and affects the ability to focus. Remove excess clutter and create calmness in the home.
You Have More Space
With a decluttered home, you will have more space for other things. When you keep only what you need and appreciate, it adds value to your life. In addition, a clean and expansive space makes you feel happier and productive.
Finding Things Becomes Easy
If you have less stuff at home, it is less likely for you to lose something. There are fewer items to sift through. This means you'll find what you're looking for in a matter of time. It also helps analyze what's important and what can be thrown away.
10 Ways to Clean and Declutter Your Home
A decluttered home requires a consistent habit. Here are a few tips to help you keep your home organized and clean:
Use Containers to Sort Items
Before decluttering, have a few labelled containers ready for each purpose. This makes sorting easier and more efficient. A put-away bin helps return items that have wandered from their original spots, while a fix/mend bin holds items that need minor repairs. Also, label a bin with recycle, which will include recyclable items, and a trash bin to throw away things that are not needed anymore. Doing this makes decluttering mindful and less overwhelming.
Remove What Seems to Excess
When you have too many things in your home, it creates clutter, making it difficult to stay organized. So, go through the possessions that are too much in too little space, unused items, or anything that leads to a disorganized environment. If there are any such items, remove them. Start with small items, such as unused stationery, outdated decor, unworn clothes, and other items in your cabinets and drawers that you hardly look at.
Stop Accumulating Possessions
To stop or slow down the possession, you need to change the mindset and understand if the purchase is really worth it. Once you buy and take a particular item home, it needs additional space, energy, and time to take care of. So, before making a purchase, ask yourself,
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Do I really need this item?
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Do I have space to keep it?
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Am I buying it for the right reasons?
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How much effort or extra work do I need to put into maintaining it?
These questions will restrict you from purchasing things that aren't really necessary. Make intentional purchases instead of impulsive ones.
Don't Follow Trends
Don't go after the hottest and trending possessions, be it cosmetics, accessories, clothing, showpieces, etc. Instead, use the items until they are completely used. You don't need to own a million things. When you focus on what truly fits your lifestyle instead of what's trending, you buy less and keep only what's useful and meaningful.
Store Your Belongings Wisely
Store items in easily accessible places. Things that are mostly used annually or seasonally, such as holiday decorations, fine china, etc., should be kept somewhere in hard-to-reach areas. This will free up the space and ensure your home looks clean and uncluttered. It is also best to put your skis and sporting equipment in the garage or attic. Moreover, keep daily-use items in places where you can easily get to them.
Create a Donation Drop Box
Start letting go of things. Designate a box where you can keep things that are of no use to you anymore but might be useful to others. Gather books that you've already read, clothes that don't fit you or your kids, or toys that are of no use now. Drop them in the donation box. Once you start doing this, it becomes a healthy habit.
Dedicate 20 Minutes Daily
Instead of waiting for the weekend to clean the house, dedicate 20 minutes to your home daily. It will save you from spending hours cleaning the house. Give this time to each room daily, as decluttering in small chunks won't make you feel stressed out. Set a timer and see how much you can do in just 20 minutes. These small cleaning sessions prevent clutter from piling up.
Follow a One-Minute Rule
Don't save small tasks to do later. They pile up too soon and make it much more annoying. So, if tasks such as - putting shoes away, wiping off the counter, etc., take 1 minute or less than that, do it immediately. These are small but effective habits that keep the home decluttered and don't overwhelm you later.
Make a Cleaning Routine For Your Family
Get everyone involved in the cleaning routine. Cleaning and decluttering should be a team effort. Assign age-appropriate tasks. For example, assign your kids to tidy their room and teens to do the dishes, while adults can help deeply clean the home. It is also advised to incorporate "one-in and one-out" rules. This means that if a new thing comes, the older one, if not in use, must go out. This helps you make the home a stress-free place to be.
Clean Out Your Fridge Weekly
Putting food items in the fridge for later use and not consuming it is a common habit. So, try cleaning all the food items that cannot be eaten to prevent mould growth. If food is fresh and you don't want to eat it, donate it to someone in need. Do this once a week, as this helps clear up the space for next week.
Implement Habits to Manage Your Clutter
Decluttering should be part of your daily habit, not just a one-time thing. This helps healthy decluttering habits to develop. Keep the routine of organizing and cleaning and put more energy into removing the excess. This is because once you start removing the excess, more free space is created. For example, you can make a habit of putting away toys, clothes, and books back in their designated place.
Ask the Right Question
Clutter is mostly caused by the habit of postponing work. Hence, asking the right questions can help make sure that the home remains uncluttered. Here are four major questions that every homeowner must ask -
Do I Use This?
Suppose you have any such items that you frequently don't use. However, when you do, you feel grateful for it. Hence, these items need to be kept. Remove items which are not of much use.
Do I Like This?
If you have artwork - self-made or purchased - that keeps lying around, see if you like it. Or if it can be put somewhere for display. If yes, keep it, or else discard it or donate it.
Do I Need This?
Not everything you have is something you need. If you are a hoarder, it's time to let go of useless things. Make a list of all the things you have and checkmark the ones you don't need.
Does This Fit?
Well, this mostly goes for clothes. You may have hundreds of clothes lying in the wardrobe. But do they fit? Not all of them, of course. So wade through the pile of clothes and donate the ones that don't fit you anymore.
Always Make Your Bed
Develop a habit to make it every morning. It helps to achieve a peaceful and organized mind. It is also important to be mindful and take time to make your bed. Don't rush, as taking things slow and easy makes your day more productive. Moreover, it creates a positive atmosphere in your personal and professional life.
What Are the 5 Decluttering Rules to Remember?
Here are five decluttering rules every homeowner should know -
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12/12/12 Rule - Find 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 to be returned to their proper place. This makes the decluttering process manageable and structured. It helps you quickly refresh your space.
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20/20 Rule - Get rid of items you can replace under $20 within 20 minutes. This mostly applies to old kitchen items or random household things that can easily be replaced.
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80/20 Rule - As per this rule, people only use 20% of their belongings 80% of the time. So, try to get rid of the remaining 80% that you don't use. This helps you get rid of things without losing anything important.
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5-Second Rule - Sort through items and give yourself 5 seconds to remember the last time you used them. If you don't remember, discard it. This removes hesitation and second-guessing.
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Rule Of Five - When decluttering, try to recall if the items were used in the last 5 years. If not, consider getting rid of them. This rule helps you make thoughtful decluttering decisions.
Conclusion
Decluttering should be a part of everyday life. It should not be taken as a task. Instead, delegate work among the family members. This creates a sense of responsibility in kids and adults, too. If you work together as a family, decluttering becomes easy and fun actiity. In addition, develop a habit of cleaning your home regularly so that you won't have to spend your weekend deep cleaning it.
