4 Quick Tips for Decluttering and Maintaining Your Home

Maintaining a clutter-free home means being willing to let go of old things that are normally taking up space, otherwise collecting dust. Think of all the space that you could reclaim in your home if it weren't so full of clutter. If you're having trouble letting go of the clutter, follow these quick tips for organising your home.

Stop the excuses

"Someone could use that," or "but I need it!" and "I need to go through that" are three of the primary excuses people use to avoid decluttering. Once you accept that these excuses are keeping you from achieving inner peace, you can begin working on decluttering your home. If you desire a clean space that is free from clutter, but you're not sure how to get there start by asking yourself three questions. Do you genuinely need it? Do you really adore it? And are you willing to trade inner peace for keeping that item? Once you can answer these questions, the decluttering becomes more natural.

Declutter Slowly

Declutter and Maintain your Home Image 2 - Tidy Desk

The number one mistake untidy people make is trying to declutter too much at once. Instead, take two rubbish bags a day and follow a routine to start tidying your home. In the first bag, gather up all the items that needs to be thrown away. In the second, start with items that can be donated to charity. Do this two-rubbish bag declutter routine at least once a day until your home is fully decluttered. You'd be surprised at how much gets moved out each day. If you really can't face the first day then it's simple to ask a decluttering expert to support you. They can offer advice to get you motivated and create a plan of action or get involved in the process of decluttering as you prefer.

Stop Doing Things Half Way

One of the primary reasons people get a cluttered home is through only doing chores halfway. For example, dropping dirty dishes in the sink instead of the dishwasher or leaving post in a drawer instead of opening it straight away or dropping clothes on the floor rather than taking them to the linen basket. Think about your daily routine and the chores. Do you always finish all of your chores, or do you let them pile up to deal with later? If you do, you may be contributing to your clutter problem with a bad routine. Doing chores regularly and often will save the chores building up to something you can't face.

Keeping It Tidy

Once you've got a decluttered house, you should maintain a healthy cleaning habit to keep it decluttered. A good rule of thumb to use here is look at the things in your home that haven't been used in the last 12 months. If you haven't used it in the last year, it's likely the item is not essential and could be unnecessary junk rather than something you truly need to keep. You should also not keep anyone else's things in your home. If items in your home belong to someone else you haven't seen in a while, consider getting rid of it. Regularly throw away anything that doesn't belong to you or your household. If you don't feel comfortable throwing it away, contact the owner and tell them they have a set time to pick it up before it is donated. That way you can get rid of the items without having a guilty conscience.

Client Testimonial

"I was delighted with the HouseWow® de-cluttering service. It gave me the confidence that I needed to get started and the advice will help me to avoid getting cluttered again."
Claire Anderson

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