February 7, 2018 by Mulberry Maids
Clutter – we all hate it – but we still allow it to build up! Science shows that it is bad for our mental health, increasing stress, anxiety and even physical pain! Decluttering is important because it promotes better sleep, a healthier diet, and increased physical activity. Thankfully, there are easy steps that can be taken to help reduce clutter in our homes, and to help slow the clutter buildup.
While a lot of your clutter may need to be thrown away or donated, some of it just needs to housed in the correct spot. Utilizing a variety of bins to help sort your clutter can assist your decluttering project. Start with one room at a time, try not to get overwhelmed with the task. Remember, the more items you have, the more difficult it is to manage your clutter. Trying to reduce unwanted or unnecessary items can greatly assist in eliminating clutter.
Four simple bin ideas to start the declutter process:
Put Away Bin: Use this for things that you want to keep, but have been taken out of their rightful place. This may include towels and rags that were left outside of their closet, or those dishes that never seem to make it back to the kitchen.
Trash and Recycling: Though this bin sounds fairly self explanatory, it can be one of the most difficult. Often times we end up collecting so much clutter that we think we will maybe- one day- far in the future be of use. Be cautious with all these miscellaneous things. The stress of having all of these items laying around the house, filling junk drawers, and taking up essential storage space may not be worth it. Ask yourself- “If I one day find I really need this item, will I be able to replace it easily?” If the answer is yes, try to get yourself to get rid of the item- either through the trash or donation.
Project Bin: Be careful with this – as this bin should be used for unfinished projects that you WILL realistically finish in the near future. If it is not something that you are really motivated to complete, this bin will just be another source or clutter and anxiety.
Donate: Extra stuff that does not fit into the previous bins should most likely be donated. Old clothes, books, etc., can be very valuable to other people, especially those who are less fortunate. Not only does this help to declutter your house and foster your own mental well being, you will also be helping the local community and charity groups.
In addition to using bins, creating a spot for incoming mail and miscellaneous papers will help to control the clutter that take over parts of the house, such as your counter space. Proactively going through your papers will help to stop clutter buildup before it gets bad, and will keep you more organized.
Utilizing hooks and hangers can help to increase storage space for things that need to be kept, but don’t seem to have a great spot in your home. This helps to get things off of the ground, and use vertical space that is typically unused to help organize important belongings. This can be especially useful in garages, as there is a lot of wall space, and many miscellaneous things that need to be organized.
Decluttering your home is never really finished – it is a continual process that needs to be kept up, but following these steps consistently will help lead you to a cleaner and healthier home.
