6 Tips for Decluttering

For many people, clutter is just a normal part of life. If it isn't bothering you, there's no reason to worry about it.

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But if clutter is making it difficult to use your home as intended, it's worth spending some time to get organized.

1. Start Small

When you try to tackle an entire room at once, it's easy to end up feeling overwhelmed. Preserve your sanity by choosing small areas and decluttering them completely before you move on to something else. Instead of emptying all 10 kitchen cabinets, for example, pick one drawer and one cabinet. Once you go through all those mugs and takeout menus, you can start working on another area.

2. Set a Timer

For most people, decluttering is a chore, not something fun to do on weekends. That's why it's so easy to procrastinate when you should be sorting items. Beat procrastination by setting a timer for 15 to 20 minutes. The timer keeps you on task, making it less likely that you'll stop decluttering to do something more fun. If you're a competitive person, setting a timer turns decluttering from a chore into a game.

3. Ask for Help

If you live with other people, you shouldn't be the only one decluttering your home. Whether you live with a spouse, a teenager or a roommate, everyone should take responsibility for sorting through the clutter, getting rid of unused items and keeping things as organized as possible. Instead of trying to do everything on your own, ask for help. Share these decluttering tips to make it easier for everyone to work together.

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4. Sell, Donate or Toss Unused Items

Clutter takes up valuable space in drawers, cabinets, basements and garages. It also covers countertops, making it tough to prepare meals, pay bills and complete other tasks. Unfortunately, many items found in clutter piles aren't necessary for a fulfilling life. Take back your house by identifying unused items and selling, donating or tossing them.

Selling

It takes time to list items for sale, answer questions from potential buyers and prepare the items for shipping or pickup. Therefore, you should only sell an item if you stand to make a decent profit on it. Auto parts, computers, jewelry, fragrances and collectibles are among the best-selling items on eBay. If you don't want to pay listing fees, consider selling on Poshmark, Mercari or another social marketplace.

Follow these tips to make more sales:

• Give each item a good cleaning before you list it for sale.
• Take photos from multiple angles.
• Provide plenty of information about each item to help potential buyers make a decision.
• Look at recent listings to determine an appropriate price for each item.

Donating

If you're not interested in selling your items, or you don't have anything that's likely to turn a profit, consider donating goods to a local charity. Many nonprofit organizations accept gently used items, making it easier to declutter your home without throwing everything in the trash. For example, many animal shelters need used towels, bed linens and pillows to make cats and dogs more comfortable while they wait to be adopted.

Another option is to sign up for your local Buy Nothing group. The Buy Nothing Project started out as a way to bring neighbors together while keeping items out of landfills. As of 2023, there are more than 128,000 Buy Nothing groups worldwide. Once you sign up, you can offer free items to other members, making it easier to declutter your home without creating more waste.

Tossing

As you declutter your home, you may come across a few items that have no value to anyone, such as chipped coffee mugs and shoes with soles that have practically disintegrated. It's okay to throw away these items instead of allowing them to clutter up your living space.

5. Use Furniture With Built-In Storage

If you live in a small house or apartment, you may not have enough room for tons of baskets and storage bins. To keep clutter contained, look for furniture with built-in storage. Some coffee tables have lids that lift up, revealing enough room to store board games, puzzles, books and other items. If you need somewhere to store sheets and blankets, look for a bed with drawers underneath it. A storage ottoman is a great place to put items that have been cluttering up your living room.

6. Choose Storage Solutions Carefully

Many people buy bins, baskets and other storage solutions before they start decluttering. This is a mistake. When you buy these items ahead of time, there's a good chance you'll finish decluttering and find out that what you purchased no longer meets your needs. You may even end up with way more bins and baskets than you need, creating a pile of clutter all over again. Before you buy a single bin or basket, follow the rest of these decluttering tips to get rid of unused items and free up as much space as possible.

Go Forth and Declutter

Now that you know how to declutter your home, it's time to practice your new skills. Remember to start small, choose your storage solutions carefully and set a timer to keep yourself on task.