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Over the years, it’s likely that you have accumulated a lot of items that you may not need. These objects may include unused or unwearable kids clothes, old toys, or items that simply have not been used in a while. Needless to say, having all these things lying around the house will result in clutter. As it is January, it is best to start the year on the right foot; and there’s no better way to do it than by clearing your house of these unwanted items. De-cluttering shouldn’t be as difficult as it sounds. You do not need to go through all your unwanted items in one go either. Simply prepare two boxes and label them “ Keep” and “Discard”. Once you have your boxes ready, you can start de-cluttering whenever there’s a suitable time.
Bedroom
Start with your bedroom -even the littlest trinkets can cause clutter at home. You may even want to look at your jewellery box; consider discarding items that you have not worn in awhile that may be of little value. Vanity drawers should also be checked. Do you need everything in them or should some of the items not be included in a particular drawer? It’s best to use your own judgment and organise your drawers as needed.
Bathroom
Aside from jewellery boxes and vanity drawers, you can also go through your medicine cabinet. Most medications have an expiry date of no more than two years and these should be discarded. Salves and medicinal creams that are past their expiry date may cause allergic reactions if used.
Kitchen and Dining Area
Do you have an old food mixer collecting dust in your kitchen cupboard? Getting rid of old, unused furniture or appliances is a great way to de-clutter – making more room in your cupboards or living spaces. Just remember, don’t be sentimental when trying to discard your old items. That refrigerator and dining table may have been wedding gifts from your relatives, but you have to let go of them if they’re not fit for use anymore or are blocking up your basement or garage.
Aside from furniture and appliances, you can discard old pots and pans. Include unused cookbooks in your “Discard” box, too (we all know we have plenty of these lying around which we haven’t used in years!)
Benefits of Living Clutter-Free
It’s important to note that you don’t need to do everything in one sitting. Take the time to plan and space out your de-cluttering goals to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Having to consciously make the choice of which things to keep or discard will aid you in differentiating between the items that you truly value and the ones that you can do without. Sometimes, all it takes is a little perspective to help you see that some items are really worth letting go off.
When clearing out your home of unwanted items, instead of just throwing them out, do consider these alternatives. If the items are usable and in good condition, you can give them away to homeless shelters or community charities in your area that might benefit from donated items. If you’re looking to make some money, you can also sell some of your items through online auctions sites like Quicksales or by holding a garage sale.
Lastly, do think twice before making purchases as the year starts. Remember to buy only items that are absolutely necessary for your home. Otherwise, that new purchase might just end up cluttering your home too!
Follow the steps above and you’re on your way to starting the New Year with less clutter!
