Declutter Your Life by Decluttering Your Home

By Avanti Vadivelu
 
Ah! Spring has finally arrived! The earth is being renewed and revived with its blossoming flowers and blooming trees. As you step outside you can take in a deep breath of air, and everything seems fresh, new and clean. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that same feeling inside your own home? Well, you can. After all, the term, “spring cleaning”, didn’t come from no where!
 
Take advantage of your energized spring self by getting rid of the clutter in your home that has piled up over the last few seasons (or years!). We promise you that by decluttering your home, your mind and life will feel a little less cluttered as well. All it takes is a little bit of time, some creativity and a whole lot of motivation!
 
Top 10 Decluttering Tips to Keep Your Home in Tip-Top Shape!
 
1.)    The One Year Rule
When tackling the daunting task of cleaning out and organizing your, your kids’, or your coat closet, keep the one-year rule in mind. Whenever you come across a clothing item that hasn’t been used in at least one year, throw it in the donation or garage sale pile. If you haven’t had the urge to use it for one whole year, what’s the likelihood that you’ll want to use it in the coming year? Give it to someone who may find a much better use for it!
 
2.)    How Long Are You Going to Keep that Keepsake, for Goodness’ Sake!
Of course, we’re not suggesting that you give up a family heirloom or pitch that very sentimental ticket stub marking the first time you and your spouse went on a date. We’re merely suggesting to clear up all of the “other” items you’ve undoubtedly collected over the months or years. Perhaps you’ve saved an old theater program believing that it has sentimental value. If you come across it and it doesn’t solicit that sweet feeling inside that you expected it to, toss it. Maybe you’ve collected a number of wedding favors over the past year that you have found no use for. Donate it, sell it or pawn it.
 
3.)    Send the packrat inside of you off packing!
Are you the type of person who likes to save newspapers and/ore magazines. Perhaps you just can’t bring yourself to recycling those high-quality National Geographic publications or academic journals. Give yourself a timeframe as to which publications to save. For example, perhaps you would like to save the latest three issues. Any publication in your home beyond that timeframe should be sent to the recycling bin or given to the local library. 
 
4.)    Bills, bills, bills!
According to www.bankrate.com, bills only need to be saved for one year. Same goes with paystubs. If your annual W2 forms accurately portray your earnings, then you can safely shred those earnings statements. You can also shred bank statement recording anything of no long-term relevance.
 
5.)    Fewer Toys, Girls and Boys!
If you have kids your home is probably taken over by trucks, dolls, balls and stuffed animals. Pick a number of toys that you want to get rid of and stick to it. If your kids are older, have them help you choose which toys to donate. Then take a trip to the donation center together to show how their old toys can bring a smile to another child’s face. If your youngest child has outgrown a large number of infant or toddler toy,s box them up and hand them down to another member of the family or a friend with young children. And of course, trash any toy that has been recalled or has been broken or damaged in any way for the safety of the kids.
 
6.)    If it’s broke, trash it
Are there items in your home that you have set aside that needs fixing? Have you found yourself looking at them without getting around to doing the deed, and with no consequence? Then trash it. Getting rid of these broken items that you don’t need to fix will not only declutter your home, but will declutter your to-do list.
 
7.)    Clean up that makeup drawer
Take some time to dig to the bottom of your makeup drawer and pitch whatever makeup item that you haven’t worn in the past few months. Getting rid of this junk will help ensure that the makeup you ARE wearing is fresh and not contaminated.
 
8.)    Please Rewind and Review Your DVD Collection
In this day of age, you may be finding yourself ordering more on-demand movies or Netflix flicks than watching the DVDs that have a home in your entertainment center. Go through your collection and pitch the movies that you don’t feel the need to watch over and over again. Alternatively, you may choose to keep the DVDs but get rid of the cases that seem to take up more space than necessary. A sleek DVD carrier may be just the ticket if you’re looking to keep your collection without keeping the boxes.
 
9.) Invest in Closet Space Savers
On your voyage of decluttering your home you may want to invest time and money into organizing the existing items of your closet. Hanging sweater racks, rollaway sock drawers and over the door hanging shoe racks can help to lift your wardrobe and your spirits by organizing your items in a clean, easy to spot manner. It can also remind you of “older” clothing items that you love to wear but forgot all about!
 
10.)Take Advantage of All Storage Space
Whether you live in a shoebox or palace, storage space is always a hot commodity. Get creative with where you store winter clothes, old books, research materials, serving ware, photographs, etc. Hide away rarely used items on the highest shelves, or tuck them away in neat under the bed storage boxes. Buy decorative chests that can give your living room a new look while hiding away junk at the same time. Get hanging storage cubes for your childrens’ rooms to get their stuff off the floors
 
By taking heed of some of these useful tips you may find your home -and self- cleansed for yet another whole year! Got Spring Cleaning tips of your own? Please help us all become clutter free by posting your ideas.