Brilliant Ways to Declutter This Season

 

The start of a new season is a great time to do a thorough declutter to put your home, mind, and spirit more at ease. A cluttered home environment can create chaos, tension, and unmanageability.

 

Look below for 24 brilliant yet simple ways to declutter your home spring, summer, fall, and winter. 

1. Before you begin, think about the change of season and the items you’ve just finished using, and those that are suitable for the coming months. 

2. Adopt a minimalist mindset, and ask yourself if you really need each thing that's crowding your space. The less seasonal clothing, blankets, pillows, sports equipment, toys and games, pots and pans, etc. you save for a rainy day, the clearer your view. 

3. Cultivate a desire for quality over quantity. This attitude can help you appreciate what you already own, and champion only those items that are well made, functional, and/or beautiful.

4. Tackle one small messy area at a time. Schedule and devote 10-15 minutes for decluttering the first day. Then gradually build up to any increment of time that suits you. 

5. Set a daily goal and jot it down on your calendar or planner. 

6. As you work, place unwanted stuff into donation, recycling, or garbage bags. Take each out of your house that day, and bring it to the appropriate place. 

7. At first, select those areas where it is easier for you to make decisions. Even small amounts of progress breed more success.

8. Pace yourself to avoid overwhelm. Just remember you need to persevere ( walk the walk), if you want to see results.

9. Check the expiration dates on make-up and grooming products. Dump out those that are ancient, caked or are a glob, smell bad, don't work.

10. Check medicine cabinet, bathrooms, and other places where you store prescription or over the counter medicines. 

Use proper disposal methods for expired or unwanted medications. Before you do, read "Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines."

11. In the kitchen, look at your spice and herb inventory to see what needs to be dumped in the compost pile, replaced, or swapped or donated to a friend, family member, or charity. Even unopened spices loose their potency after a few years. For details read “Do Spices Go Bad?"

12. Go through your pantry and refrigerator and get rid of anything that’s stale, moldy, or know you and your family won’t eat. Unopened foodstuffs are a welcome addition to food pantries, food drives, etc.

13. Do the same for unopened cleaning materials you can't use. Check with a local charity, church, or homeless shelter to see whether they will accept them. If they agree, that day bring them to them.

14. In your home office, go as paperless as possible. Cancel print newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and read them on-line instead.

15. Convert paper bank statements, utility bills, stock brokerage account statements, etc. into e-statements to reduce clutter and your paper trail.

 

See "Feng Shui Tips to Refresh Home's Chi" for additional ideas to help you simply.

 

16. Remove broken chairs, tables, and chipped or stained furniture. If you love certain pieces, spend the time and energy to fix them. Donate or recycle the rest.

17. When your living room, bedroom, or dining room is untidy or overcrowded with dirty clothes and dishes, rugs, drapes, throw pillows, throw blankets, or too many plants, clean, reduce, release, and breathe. 

18. Gloves, vests, coats, shoes, and boots can crowd rooms, closets, drawers, shelves, hooks, and nooks and crannies. Simply your collection and feel the energy flow.

19. Upcycle, trade, donate, or sell those things that are in good condition but you don't need or want. Consider using worn or stained items as cleaning and dusting rags.

20. Shred old financial records, and donate unwanted books, clothing, and excess knick-knacks. These moves can help you feel less cramped and more comfortable in your living space.

21. Follow the old adage, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” You'll be able to see what you have, and reduce anxiety and time spent searching for misplaced things. 

22. Do you misplace your car or house key often? To remedy the situation, designate a basket or wall mounted key holder near the front door to store keys. This move is sure to contribute to greater peace of mind.

23. If it's hard to keep up the decluttering momentum, find a friend or relative who is willing to help you weed out junk. 

This person can hold you accountable to your decluttering schedule and lend a hand with tasks. They also won't likely experience the same emotional attachment to certain things, and can offer an unbiased opinion about whether you should keep or release them.

24. Get with the program and focus on getting rid of unwanted possessions to create an organized, streamlined living space. You are entitled to live with less stress and find serenity, pleasure, and happiness by living well and clutter-free.

Want more? See the related post, "Tips to Make Deep Kitchen Cleaning Green and Healthy." 

Do you think, feel, believe, or recognize places in your home that are cluttered or getting out of control? Please explain below in the comment section.

Have you made strides curbing impulse spending and/or come out of denial about how much clutter you have accumulated? Please share about that below too.

What ways to reduce or prevent clutter mentioned, are most relevant and helpful to you? Please comment below.

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