How to Declutter Your Home
Is it just me, or does 2021 feel a bit like 2020 on repeat? Cue those scenes from Groundhog Day.
When I’m stressed or overwhelmed, a messy, cluttered house makes things worse. While I may not always have control over what’s causing me stress, I do have control over cleaning and decluttering my home. This may just be my enneagram 1 talking.
Nonetheless, I can’t be the only one that feels this way.
“Cher’s main thrill in life is a makeover. It gives her a sense of control in a world full of chaos.” – Clueless, 1995
Whether you’re on a quest to simplify your life, you’re downsizing, or you’re trying to control stress like me, decluttering your home is a big job. The best way to tackle it is in stages, especially if you’ve decided to take on your whole home. Look at this task one room at a time, or even one space within a room at a time (like your pantry first, instead of your whole kitchen). The key here is to finish each job fully before moving on to the next space.
For your entertainment, here’s what happened in my own pantry.
Here’s how to make it happen in your own space.
Do you remember that scene from the first Sex and the City movie, where Carrie is packing up her apartment? You know, the one where she’s trying on outfits in her closet, including her iconic ballerina pink tank top and tutu skirt. Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda are nearby to help her decide if she should keep it or toss it.
“I like my money where I can see it – hanging in my closet.” -Carrie
No matter what room or area of your house you tackle first, here are the rules. As you sort through your clutter, ask yourself keep it or toss it?
If you decide to keep it, here’s another round of questions:
Does it need to be put away? Does your favorite sweatshirt need to stay shoved in a basket in your mudroom, or should you hang it back up in your closet? Every item you decide to keep needs to go back to its designated spot.
Does the item you’re keeping need to be fixed, mended, or cleaned?
If you decide to toss it, here’s how to decide what to do with it:
Recycle—Paper, plastic, or glass can all be recycled at your local recycling center.
Trash—There’s probably more than you’d like to admit in your home that can immediately go in the household trash.
Donate—One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, am I right? Charitable organizations or a person in need might be the perfect recipient of your unwanted items.
However, there’s one spot in your home that can be a bit tricky when you’re trying to declutter: your closet. For many years, this was a place where I hung on to fashions that were past their prime or were no longer right for my season of life. A little advice from a personal stylist inspired me to take a serious look at what’s in my closet. There’s a quick way to help you move past your commitment issues of keeping or tossing something in your closet.
You’ve probably heard of this trick or pinned it to your closet makeover board on Pinterest. Start by turning each of your hangers in your closet backward. As you wear an item, wash it, and replace it in your closet, turn the hanger back around. After 90-120 days, look at your closet, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you actually wear day-to-day. Since we live in a pandemic world, you might want to give yourself a bit more time to see the front-runners in your wardrobe.
