You don’t have to be a hoarder to have a lot of clutter around the house. Many of us are reluctant to get rid of things that we have become attached to, even if we don’t use them any longer. But one way to motivate yourself to get rid of clutter is, instead of just throwing it out, to donate it to a worthy charity such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

The way it works is that you gather up the books you no longer read, clothes you no longer wear, kitchen gadgets that you never use, and anything else that you no longer need. Box them up, and then call the charity to send a truck around to haul the stuff away, You will have the satisfaction of having a cleaner house. The worthy charity will have some more stuff with which to raise money for its causes.

Alternatively, you can have a garage sale. That way your neighbors and whichever bargain hunters come will buy some of your clutter and take it away. You lose your clutter, but you have a little extra money. You’ll also get to interact with your neighbors, always a good thing. It goes without saying that a garage sale only works to get rid of clutter if you don’t go to other people’s driveway bazaars.

The last option is to find out if any of your used items will do as gifts. Maybe you know someone who would love a used pasta machine or your complete set of DVDs of every episode of “Friends.” Your relations and friends get something that they don’t have, and you get rid of something that you’ve had for far too long.

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Closets are the greatest things, they hold what we need and hide what we don’t. Sooner or later you get to the point that you can’t fit any more in, and you don’t know what you have. This usually causes stress and frustration. If you’re there, or even almost there, it is time to go through the stuff. Here are a few tips on managing this task.

Clothes

We have a few lies we tell ourselves about clothes, such as I will lose weight enough to fit in that outfit that is two or more sizes too small. We say, it will come back into style someday, but by then the color will be wrong. If it is too small, too trendy, or just not loved enough. If you haven’t worn it in the last year, it should go. Give the good stuff to a thrift store, throw the rest out. There are a few exceptions, like a wedding dress you hope to pass down or the tux that gets rarely worn but still fits. Anything else you should look at more critically. Clearing out the old will make it easier to find what you want.

Electronics/Cords

Electronics are out dated so fast it is not funny. If it is hiding in a closet, it is quite likely you have not used it in years. If you have not been searching frantically for it, it most likely needs to go. Any cords that have unknown devices are junk, especially if they have a boxy end. In the old days, those only went to one thing. Using a cord on the wrong device was a good way to fry the electronics, and for some reason we seem to get rid of old devices and keep the cords. For anything along these lines over a few years old, when in doubt throw it out.

Non-seasonal knickknacks

You hid it in a closet, usually this means you don’t love it. The ones we love, we display. Unless it belonged to your grandma or some other cherished relative, it is time to get rid of it. These are usually good items for “white elephant gifts” if you belong to a group that does that. Otherwise, pass it on, give it to a thrift store, or throw it out.

Most of the time, this will describe the bulk of what you have hiding in a closet. When you get rid of the junk, you can find the treasures. Also, while cleaning you will find treasures you forgot you had. Limit how many treasures you keep. If you didn’t miss it while it was hidden, you will not miss it when it is gone. Having an organized closet with only things you use will give you a feeling of peace, and make your daily life less hectic. After all, when you can find everything you need easily, it takes so much less time to get ready for the day.

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1. STOP

The first step is to simply stop. Identify the actions that contribute to the disorder in your life and stop doing them. It’s as simple as refusing to buy that extra pair of shoes, or putting a piece of junk mail in the garbage rather than on the table. By ceasing to add to it, you will put yourself in a position to deal with the clutter that already exists.

2. SEEN

The second step is to tackle all the clutter that can be seen. The floors, shelves, counter tops, tables, and other surfaces should be clear and orderly. Put away, throw away, or give away anything that adds to the chaos. The old rule applies: if it hasn’t been used in a year, get rid of it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to box up and temporarily store some items to deal with later.

Now is the time to clean! We can help give your home a thoughtful, thorough cleaning to finish out this step. When your environment is clean and clutter-free, you will feel less stress and more peace.

3. UNSEEN

Once your visual space is organized, it’s time to move to the unseen spaces. Venture into the deep, dark corners of your closets and cabinets. Again, consider the value and function of each item and give it away, throw it away, or put it away. Try to whittle your possessions down to 100 items or less. It sounds difficult at first, but you may be surprised at what you can live without. Block out some time to work on yourself. Confront and clear out any worries, fears or doubts that are cluttering your thoughts. Try to sustain a clear, peaceful frame of mind.

4. MAINTAIN

You’ve put so much work in to de-cluttering, it would be a shame if it all came undone. Arm yourself with containers and other organizational tools that will prevent the clutter from building up. Have a system in place to deal with mail, bills, kids papers, and household chores. Partner with us to take care of your cleaning needs, so you have one less thing to worry about. Remind yourself of your goals to live free of clutter and chaos.

Contact us today for prompt, reliable, expert service de-cluttering and cleaning your home or office.

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