It is very easy for your home to quickly fill with clutter,
and while it is easy to not see clutter, you can always feel it. In many ways,
clutter works like drag off of boat or airplane, slowly keeping us back,
providing a constant, “I’ll get it tomorrow” attitude that only enables the
procrastinator within us.
When purchasing a home, and even more so after you have
moved into your new home, people often find clutter to be at its worst. You
have spent weeks, perhaps even months preparing for this big move. The day
comes, you work hard to move all of your worldly possessions, and invariably
once everything has been transplanted you are done with the whole moving thing.
You might set a plan to slowly, and methodically, unpack and put all your items
in their proper place. But, once you turn on the TV, or a friend asks you out
for a drink you toss your list away, leaving boxes, and a mess, that never does
get cleaned up.
So, this list isn’t a list of unique places to put your
stuff, such as hidden drawers, special shelving, or coffee tables that second
as blanket storage. I want to address the root of the problem—Your inner
pack-rat. Yes, we all have this urge to keep everything. Are you still holding
onto the Birthday cards from ten years ago on the off-chance Aunt Zelda comes
by and asks what you did with it? Is your letterman’s jacket still in the same
box it’s been in since you packed it away for college? The truth is that you
don’t need these items, and if you have things packed away for years and don’t
remember having them, that is a big sign to suggest eliminating them from your
life.
The 15 Minute Clean-up
Let’s start easy. Clutter doesn’t just come and go when you
are done moving, but rather lingers around for, well…forever. One way to work
through this is set a room schedule. One room per day, to tackle a 15-minute
clean-up every day of the week. If the room takes you 5 minutes, then awesome,
you’re done.
You want to look for any items that can be thought of as
clutter, meaning anything that doesn’t belong. Look through mail to toss out
the unimportant, dishes laying around, toys that should be put away, garbage,
etc.
Additionally, I suggest setting up a box or small closet
where you put all those items you say, “I think I’ll need this in the future, but
I just don’t know where I want it.” But, you know you likely won’t ever see it
again. Storing all of these items in the same place will one keep them out of
the areas they don’t belong, and two, at some point in your future make it
obvious you don’t need the item. Often, a single space with a bunch of junk
reminds you that the stuff you have in that closet, box, or drawer, is in fact
junk you don’t need.
The 6 Month Rule
I know you’ve heard the rule. If you haven’t needed the item
for six-months that is a good sign you should just throw it away. Now, of
course, this won’t work for everything. So, before following the rule you
should make an exception list. Items such as important paperwork: passports,
home abstract, living wills, birth certificates, etc. Truly sentimental items,
not a piece of paper and chewing gum you’ve had since high-school. Tools you
will use in the future. The other caveat is that you need a legitimate place
for all of these items. This can be a safe for valuable paperwork and items, a
large tool box for your tools, or a display case for your sentimental items. If
you do not have a location designated for these items then either get rid of
them, or find a place.
A Place for Everything
Talking about finding a place for items. You should always
have a place for everything. Another word of advice is that drawers, cabinets,
and storage units do not make the best places to store your items. The reason
is that it is too easy to toss your stuff in these places to simply hide them
and not deal with the items you no longer need. This is how clutter gathers.
Ideally, you would arrange your home to be drawer, cabinet,
and clutter free. I know this sounds a bit crazy, but many homeowners have done
this. For example, mason jars to hold utensils, a knife magnet to hang your
knives, pots and pans hanging above your kitchen island, open and visible
baskets for your socks, and hang your clothes. It may take time, but is very
doable.
Go on a Selling Spree
Thanks to websites and Apps such as Craigslist and Nextdoor,
you have full ability to sell your unwanted, or unneeded items. I suggest a
monthly browse of your home to find things you don’t think you need and post
them for sale on one of these sites. You may be amazed at how many people are
interested in your junk. This is also a great way to make a little extra cash
for the things you do need.
Throw a Clutter Party
Clutter parties are gaining in popularity as they combine
several tools to de-clutter your life. They can:
- Offer staging advice
- Bring buyers to your home
- Get friends together
A clutter party is when you invite friends and family to
your home for the sole purpose of getting rid of your stuff. You may want to
entice with pizza and beer, or wine. Then set up several games around your
clutter. Some suggested games:
- Junk, or silent, auction your stuff
- Room make-over where you let your friends make over your room
- Have friends make a list of the top five useless things in your room. Then get rid of those top five items.
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When your guests arrive ask them to guess how
many items will be tossed by the end of the party. Whoever guesses closest wins
a prize.
Great!
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