Does your house need an overhaull? Here’s how to declutter a house step by step!
There are times when a general tidy-up isn’t enough. Clutter may have developed into a real mess with papers, books, and items everywhere. It can be challenging to see where to start in such a situation!
How to Declutter a House
The first step is to sit down and think about what needs to be done and what will be needed during the sort out so that items are dealt with rather than pushed off for another time.
What Should Be Decluttered First?
The first thing to do is to decide which area will be dealt with first. Declutter one area at a time and things will seem much more manageable than trying to plan the whole clearance at once.
Remember it isn’t necessary to deal with an entire room at once, especially if it is severely cluttered. Real mess doesn’t build up overnight, and it will take time to clear it.
How Much Time Will It Take to Declutter a House?
Decide how much can be done each day. Dealing with a certain number of items (for example, 20 or 30 items) at a time can make things more manageable. It’s also a good way to get in the habit of having regular decluttering sessions.
Seeing progress – no matter how much – is always a motivator!
How to Declutter a House and What You Need to Do It
Once the area to be sorted out first has been decided upon, it’s time to think about how the items will be disposed of.
You Might Also Like: How to Organize a Closet on a Budget
You will also need to grab a few things to make sure you can organize and declutter. I suggest having the following things:
- A large recycling bag will be needed for papers which are neither personal nor confidential nor essential to be kept.
- One medium sized box is needed for papers which should be kept. These will be filed later.
- One medium sized box will be needed for confidential papers which do not need to be kept.
- One small shredder.
- A large box for unwanted items which could be sold or given to charity. Remember ebay and yard sales can be great venues for getting rid of old toys, books, etc.
- A large box or bag for junk which is to be thrown out.
- If storage is not immediately available, a large box for items which are to be kept.
Decluttering a House Means Planning the Disposal of Old Electronic Equipment
Remember that old mobile phones and other electronic equipment such as computers can often be recycled, taking appropriate care for removing personal information beforehand.
You Might Also Like: Car Organization Ideas That Actually Work
Check with your local town to see if they offer an electronics recycling day. Some do! Other options include electronic stores that sometimes have collection days. Out of everything to dispose of, I think finding a place to get rid of old electronics is the hardest!
Removal of Unwanted Large Items
Check with your trash company to find out if they pick up bulk items during regular trash days or if there are specific arrangements that need to be made. Craigslist and Freecycle can also be good sources for getting rid of unwanted items that cannot be sold but which are too good to be thrown away.
Why Decluttering Your House is Good
Whatever happens, take the time to go through the clutter methodically, decide what needs to be kept and what should go out. You’ll be amazed how good it feels to watch the clutter and the mess disappear! Be patient with yourself and the process. It’s worth every minute of your time!
