Around one in 10 Americans have rented an off-site storage facility due to ownership of excessive belongings which is not surprising considering how on average, each person owns around 300,000 items.
While it is completely normal to hold on to non-essential items because they bring you joy, having too much clutter around the home can make it hard to move around, downsize, or just for adequate cleaning of your living space. Regardless of your motivations, decluttering can help with organizing your space and starting afresh in a new space. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we have compiled a list of tips to decluttering to get you started.
Go Room by Room
Instead of approaching it with the mindset that you need to declutter your whole house at one go, plan out your project room by room. In fact, it might even be helpful to start with your slowest room so that you can establish a working system and gain momentum. During the process, focus on what you need in that space and make small goals along the way.
Organize The Items
When you are going through decluttering, it can be helpful to sort items into three piles – keep, throw, and donate. This ensures that you are able to assess what you need in your life and what you don’t, while still making sure that items in good condition will be given a good home. By making physical piles, you are able to have a good visual of what you are currently sorting through. If you are having difficulties making decisions on the piles, it can also be helpful to add a maybe pile for items that you are uncertain about.
Clear Hazardous Items
When you are clearing your living space, make sure to throw out any hazardous items. This refers to anything that can potentially cause harm or lead to you injuring yourself. A list of things that should be removed include:
- Misshapened rugs
- Old medications
- Expired or old food
- Dangerous tools
- Broken or fragile items
- Unused and broken appliances, electronics, and wires
- Unused decorations
Do a 90-Day Test
For items that you are struggling to make a decision on, try out a 90-day test. Put all the items that you are uncertain of in a box, and if you need the item within these 90 days, you can retrieve it immediately. However, if you find that you haven’t used it after 90 days then it is a clear sign that you do not need that item in your life.
Declutter Duplicates
If you find that you have too many of one item, make sure to get rid of any that you do not use regularly. Many people tend to buy things just in case they misplaced something or break it. However, the fact is that you simply do not require five pairs of scissors or a dozen towels for one person. Kitchenware, stationery, clothing, and bathroom items are especially prone to duplicates so make sure to get rid of any items that you are not using.
The senior living community at Conservatory at Alden Bridge hosts a dedicated team that provides Impressions Housekeeping & Maintenance services. This means that you one can rest assured that your living space will be kept neat and tidy throughout your stay.
