10 Steps to Getting Rid of Clutter
November 30, 2007
Are you ready to get started on your journey to clutter control? Here are 10 things you can do right now:
- Get rid of your largest items first. Eliminating exercise equipment and large stuffed animals that don’t belong in a room can result in an immediate improvement in clutter reduction. Once you get rid of the big pieces, it will make it easier to move on the the smaller pieces.
- Return everything that has been borrowed from someone else. Magazines, books, CDs, videos and tools are just a few of the things that may below to friends or neighbors. Return them to the people they belong to.
- Pick up everything that is on the floor. Sort into boxes, baskets - and most importantly - trash bags. Take laundry directly to the laundry room.
- Recycle newspapers, magazines and catalogs. If you’ve read them, throw them into your recycle bin. If you haven’t, put them into a “to read” basket or shelf. Cut out articles that you want to keep and toss the rest of the magazine.
- Have you looked into your closet lately? I mean really looked? How many pieces of clothing and shoes are there that you never even wear? Donate them or put them in a box for your next garage sale.
- Go through your dresser drawers and toss old socks, pantyhose and lengerie. Also, get rid of sweaters and jeans that no longer fit you. Are you really going to be able to wear them within the next few months?
- Now, go to your office. How many old pens are in your desk drawers that don’t work? Toss them! While you’re there get rid of used ink cartridges and other things that you’re never going to use.
- Clean off your desktop. Go through each piece of paper and decide how important it is. Put bills and statements into your “in” box to pay. Throw old newspapers and flyers away.
- Empty all of the wastebaskets where you have tossed your decluttering efforts immediately - before you decide there’s something in there that you just can’t part with. Believe me, after a few days you won’t even remember that item!
- Wash each room’s windows. There’s nothing that will make a room look brighter and cleaner than a little sunshine.
There it is. Start with this ten items to make a huge difference in the clutter of your rooms. You’ll be glad you did.