Have you found yourself wondering “How did I get so much stuff!” If this thought has crossed your mind chances are it’s time to declutter.
Over the years I’ve learned that life happens fast. As a busy mom, it’s not always feasible to stay clean and organized. Life happens and before you know it your home is an absolute mess.
Help is here.
Keep reading to find 10 ways to declutter every room of your home.
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Decluttering Tips for Hoarders
Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming. These 10 simple tips can be used to declutter any room in your home.
Don’t worry if you don’t know where to start decluttering. Pick a room, take your time, and do one room at a time.
If you get overwhelmed or you need to do something else… no worries! Note where you left off and make plans to start again the next day.
Slow and steady will allow you to win the declutter race.
One: If you haven’t used it in one year get rid of it!
No matter how cool you think something is if you haven’t used it in a year then get rid of it. I was notorious for holding on to items that I thought I “might” use.
For example, I have this thing about keeping the boxes that my Apple Devices come in. After a few years, I noticed I had an entire corner and drawer in my bedroom filled with empty Apple packaging boxes that I never use for any reason.
Am I the only one who does this? Lol
I would find myself packing things like papers, letters, magazines, containers, and other random stuff in drawers or bins and not touching them for years. Finally, I came up with my one year rule.
If I haven’t used it in a year, it’s time to let it go.
Two: Throw away any broken or damaged items
It’s so easy to just take that broken heater that doesn’t work because the dog chewed the cord and put it to the side thinking… “I can get that fixed one day.” Three years later the heater is still tucked away in the corner just taking up space.
Just me again?
As you examine each room in your home, throw away any broken or damaged items. If a year has passed and you have not taken the time to send an item to be repaired, then let it go.
Three: Convert all DVDs and CDs to digital formats
Physical DVDs and CDs can take up a lot of space. It’s time to start streaming movies! If you have a large collection that you do not want to part with, try getting your collection converted to digital formats that can be stored in the cloud or on an external hard drive in your home.
Now, if you are a collector and your DVDs and CDs are stored neatly and are apart of your decor you can totally ignore this tip.
However, if you have a stack of DVDs pilled up in the corner… it’s time to go digital!
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Four: Go through all your clothes and donate items you can no longer wear
Closets are one of the first places where clutter starts to grow. It is super easy to accumulate tons of clothes as the years go by. This is especially true for kids as they are continuously growing out of their old clothes.
Go through your closets and donate any clothes that you no longer wear. This includes clothes that no longer fit and those that you just don’t find yourself wearing anymore.
Five: Place all important documents in printed form in one secure location
Documents in printed form can definitely add to the clutter in your home. This includes everything from newspapers to printed flyers, to paperwork from doctors. After you have read any printed material throw it away.
There are some documents such as insurance paperwork or bank papers that you may want to keep in a printed format in your home. Find a secure location in your home and place all documents in this location for safe keeping.
I recommend a fireproof document bag or fireproof safe. This will keep your documents safe from theft, fire, or water damage.
Six: Go through all storage areas and toss items you no longer use
We all have the “junk drawer” or “junk closet” that houses all of the random stuff that we happen to toss in those areas. While on your decluttering journey, go through all of your storage areas and get rid of anything you no longer use.
Seven: Clear items from all counters, tables, and dresser tops
Counters, tables, and dresser tops are common areas where we accumulate a lot of clutter. It’s super easy to just drop the mail on the kitchen counter or accumulate a pile of random items on top of your dresser.
Clear items from all counter, tabletops, mantels, and dresser tops that are not functional or apart of your home decor. Place items that you need into a proper storage location.
And you know what comes next… throw away anything that is broken or you don’t use regularly.
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Eight: Place all items in their proper location
This declutter tip might seem like a no-brainer but we often overlook simple solutions. Place all items in their proper storage location around your home.
You’d be surprised how much clutter you can remove by just cleaning up and putting things where they belong.
Nine: Use storage bins and shelves to organize storage areas
There are certain areas of your home that are designed to hold your stuff. However, even these areas can use a little decluttering from time to time.
Add shelving and use storage bins to declutter and organize the storage areas of your home. You’ll expand the number of items you can store.
This will also give you the added bonus of being able to find things in your storage space.
Ten: Add storage areas if you don’t have enough
You’re A Boss Mom!
Decluttering your home can seem like a monumental task. Just remember that you are a Boss Mom and there is nothing that you can’t conquer.
Take your time and use these 10 Boss Mom Decluttering Tips and you’ll be clutter free in no time.
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I am such a sucker for the junk drawer. I even have one in my dresser! Thanks for the tips, this will help with my next deep clean.
OMG Erica! Me too! But now I have too many. Some I don’t even open. I’ve got plans this week to go through each one and consolidate.
Great tips! We are working on decluttering and these tips are just perfect. I am taking it one room at a time so I’m not totally overwhelmed.
Toni
http://Www.becomingschultz.com
Hey Toni! Decluttering can be a big task. Just throw on some music and take your time.
I’m about to start the process of cleaning out my room and I honestly didn’t even know where to start. After reading your tips, I think I might have some ideas! I especially like the idea of having keep, give away and throw away containers. It will make it easy for my to go through everything and just throw things into one of the three
Hey Laura! Getting started is always the hardest part. I’m glad you found my tips useful.
Ughh. I SO need to do these things, but where do I find the time?! I’m overwhelmed by the rate of kid entropy that happens. ?
I here you Amy! Finding the time is a whole separate beast to slay. Lol
It’s so hard for me to throw away things. I need to follow this list one step at a time.
Hi Mirlene, it’s easy to get attached to our purchases. I normally get the feeling that I’m going to need something as soon as I toss it. That’s when I had to start enforcing my 1 year rule.
Uh oh… going through storage!! Our attic has been such a mess ever since we moved, but I know it needs to be done. My husband is more of the sentimental one and hangs on to a lot!
Sounds like the 1 year rule could really help you Declutter your attic. Try giving hubby 5 items he can hold on to for sentimental reasons. Then challenge him to repurpose those items in some way so that they add value to your home.
I love a good organizational post, it really makes my heart flutter. I am currently working on # 3 and 5 which are taking a while to convert the files as we have a lot of files, CD’s, DVD’s and photos so it is a project. I have to do little bits each day to continue to move forward, but I know it will be worth it since technology is the way of the future.
Hey Jen! Glad to hear you’re getting everything converted over to digital. I’m a technology fan myself.
Hi does using my Grandmother good china at Christmas pass the 1 year rule?
I most definitely think it does. Family heirloom should not be included in the one year rule. 🙂
Hi Shawn, just love your clear direction. I have been struggling with clutter for a while and have become somewhat depressed reading some of the organisational blogs – there always seems to be an analysis of why you have clutter etc. I know why I have clutter and don’t need to feel judged. Most blogs have included most of what you said but throw all the analysis in and I move to a point of paralysis (literally) and the actual tips get lost and forgotten and nothing gets done despite the best intentions in the world! Thanks for decluttering my mind by not trying to analyse my situation and essentially telling me to get off my butt and get going. Everything seems more do-able now. Thank you and don’t lose your ‘style’.
Thank you for the awesome comment Bruna! I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes you just want to know how to do something without all of the analysis chatter. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article and found it actionable.
Shawn 😉
Hi thank u it’s day one but here I go, u have motivated me thank u!! I’m starting with my daughter wardrobe wish me luck lol this post has Realy helped me ??