10 Ways to Remove Clutter from Your Life
- Clear everything off: Take everything off your desk and put it in a pile on the floor.
- Clean: Wipe down your desk, and clean your drawers if you’re decluttering them too.
- Sort: OK, here’s the meat of the process: sort through your stuff, one pile at a time.
Contents
What is the fastest way to clean up clutter?
By Leo Babauta
- Designate a spot for incoming papers. Papers often account for a lot of our clutter.
- Start clearing a starting zone.
- Clear off a counter.
- Pick a shelf.
- Schedule a decluttering weekend.
- Pick up 5 things, and find places for them.
- Spend a few minutes visualizing the room.
- Create a “maybe” box.
How do I get rid of clutter in my home?
- Start by printing or writing “Toss,” “Give” and “Do” on separate pieces of paper.
- Toss.
- Toss items that are broken, stained, ripped, outdated or have missing parts.
- Expired food.
- Give or Donate.
- Give or donate any items that you no longer need but that are still in good condition.
- Take Control of Paper Clutter.
How do you speed up decluttering?
7 Helpful Tips to Speed Up the Decluttering Process
- Start easy with a clean sweep.
- Find motivation with built-in deadlines.
- Donate more.
- Include some help.
- Find freedom in temporary storage.
- Tell a friend and invite them over.
- Don’t confuse intent with action.
How can I make my house clutter free?
The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life
- Live within your means.
- Purge often.
- Have a place for everything.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of a junk drawer.
- Become a habitual putter-awayer.
- Store things where you use them.
- Stop clutter before it enters your home with a landing strip.
- Go paper-free.
Why can’t I throw stuff away?
People with hoarding disorder have been made famous by the A&E documentary series “Hoarders,” which follows individuals as they struggle with debilitating amounts of clutter in their homes. People with hoarding disorder acquire lots of stuff and are psychologically unable to throw it away.
How do I start purging my house?
10 Creative Decluttering Tips
- Start with 5 minutes at a time.
- Give one item away each day.
- Fill an entire trash bag.
- Donate clothes you never wear.
- Create a decluttering checklist.
- Take the 12-12-12 challenge.
- View your home as a first-time visitor.
- Take before and after photos of a small area.
What should I purge before moving?
The minimalist move is all about decluttering, which, if you’ve done it before, you already know can be a pretty time-intensive endeavor.
Categories of stuff you’ll want to consider paring down include:
- Furniture.
- Clothing.
- Papers.
- Books.
- Toys.
- Kitchen items.
- Décor.
- Holiday decorations.
How do I get rid of so much stuff?
Got too much stuff? Try these 7 tips to help pare down
- Tip #1: Realize that more stuff does not equal more happiness.
- Tip #2: Commit to 30 days — yes, 30 days — of tidying every day.
- Tip #3: Listen to what your clutter is trying to tell you.
- Tip #4.
- Tip #5: Put everything you don’t need in a box — and forget about it.
How do you get rid of a lot of stuff?
How to Get Rid of Things: Tips to Start Decluttering
- Start with Your Mindset.
- Think About Your End Goal.
- The 80/20 Rule.
- Choose a Place to Begin.
- Just 10 Things.
- Try a “Power Purge”
- Use a Decluttering “Snowball” Method.
- Declutter Every Single Day.
How do I get rid of stuff and make money?
Easy ways to sell clutter and make money from decluttering
- Use consignment stores for kids’ clothes and toys.
- Get cash for old phones.
- Bulk trade CDs, DVDs and games.
- Hold onto some stuff to sell seasonally.
- Use local sales to save effort.
- Don’t underestimate the value of your time.
How do you know if your house is cluttered?
10 Signs Your Home Has Too Much Clutter
- You think you need to buy more storage.
- You’re constantly misplacing items.
- You have junk drawers.
- You don’t need to unpack.
- You’re embarrassed by your house’s appearance.
- You buy stuff to organize the clutter.
- Laundry is never-ending.
- Drawers, cabinets, and doors won’t close.
Can a cluttered house cause depression?
Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, for instance, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered.
Why is my house such a mess?
Having a messy room might be the result of a lot of factors. It might mean you are busy and have little time to clean and organize. It might be a sign that you have too much stuff. Or it might be the result of having young kids in the house who are usually not motivated to clean up after themselves.
What causes compulsive decluttering?
Financial problems resulting from “re-buying” similar items like books or appliances that you repeatedly throw away in order to “declutter” your life. Feeling excessive fear or outright guilt when you realize how many things you own. Comments from friends and relatives about the amount of stuff you throw away.
How do you be ruthless when decluttering?
A great way to be more ruthless when decluttering your wardrobe is by setting a limit for the number of clothes you want to keep.
- Give yourself a set number of hangers.
- Decide on a limit for each category of clothing.
- Turn your hangers around.
- Track your wears.
- Make a point to wear every item you own.
When should you declutter a move?
As soon as you know you’ll be moving, it’s a good time to start the decluttering process. Don’t try to do it all in one day; start a few months in advance and take your time in each room. It’s a lot less stressful if you give yourself plenty of time to get it done.
How do I get rid of everything full of my house?
Clearing out the rest:
- Clean out and toss broken items. Go through the house room by room and clean out the clutter.
- Host an estate sale. One of the most profitable ways to clear out your parent’s house is to hold an estate sale.
- Donate items that are left.
How do you throw things away when you move?
If you’re about to move, you don’t want to take everything with you.
The old and used
- Clothes that don’t fit.
- Shoes you wore once and then hid in a hamper.
- Outdated electronics like old phones or VHS players.
- Posters you bought in college.
- Expired food.
- Expired medications.
- Expired makeup.
- Stray cords.
How do you declutter when overwhelmed?
15 SIMPLE WAYS TO START DECLUTTERING WHEN FEELING OVERWHELMED
- #1 – Just get started! I know, I know.
- #2 – Start small.
- #3 – Create a habit.
- #5 – Focus yourself.
- #6 – Start in the place that will make the most difference.
- #8 – Do a rubbish amnesty.
- #9 – Create a calm place.
- #10 – Don’t worry about perfection.
How do I know if I own too much stuff?
Common Sign When You Have Too Many Stuff
- Sort Your Clothing. One of the biggest items that people seem to contend with on their mission to de-clutter their homes is the amount of clothing they keep.
- Losing Your Belongings.
- General De-Cluttering.
- Duplicate Items.
- Drawer Cleaning.
- Sentimentality.
- Extended Unpacking.
- Storage Bins.