How to Declutter Your Home
During the Coronavirus
The pandemic has forced most of us to hunker down and find new ways to spend our time. While it can be tempting to curl up on the couch and binge-watch your favorite TV shows, more time at home provides an excellent opportunity to tackle all those household projects that have been piling up. Making these changes now will come in handy if you hope to put your home on the market later in the year (though no one is quite sure what the housing market will look like).
When you’re ready to get started, check out these great tips to help your decluttering project go as smoothly as possible.
Establish Your Discard Piles
Before you start sorting through stuff, create separate piles for the things you no longer want. Consider establishing three discard piles—donate, sell, and throw away. There are numerous charities and groups that will accept your gently used items. Or, if you want to make some money for your decluttering efforts, you can sell your stuff online!
When it comes to your “throwaway” pile, try not to toss everything in the trash. According to Real Simple, you can recycle a surprising number of household items, including crayons, DVDs, makeup, and batteries. If you need someone to pick up your larger items, like furniture, mattresses, and appliances, look for junk removal services in your area. Professional junk haulers know how to dispose of your stuff properly, so you can keep hazardous waste and reusable materials out of the landfill.
Try Different Decluttering Methods
If you don’t know where to start, consider following a popular decluttering method. There are several different methods out there, so try a few and see which one works best. For example, the KonMari method, created by well-known decluttering professional Marie Kondo, is one of the most popular ways to declutter. Generally, the KonMari method involves making a large pile of your stuff, sorting through each item one by one, keeping the stuff you really love and getting rid of the rest. If you’re looking for a slow and steady decluttering method, try the minimalist game or the 5-minute method.
Start in the Easiest Room
When assessing the bedroom, living room, or kitchen, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the backbreaking decluttering process that lies ahead. Leave these rooms behind for now and start with your bathroom or laundry area. Decluttering a small room—with little to no sentimental items—will give you a quick sense of accomplishment that can motivate you to continue your decluttering project in more difficult areas of the house.
Work in Small Sections
When you get to those more demanding rooms, break your project up into small sections. Start by decluttering and organizing just one kitchen drawer. If you have the energy to move on, tackle another drawer or cabinet and continue chipping away at the room, section by section. If you need some additional motivation, take before and after pictures of each area you declutter and share it with your family members—this may inspire them to join you! While you’re doing the kitchen, don’t forget to clear out your fridge. Empty the whole fridge, sort through items and throw away anything expired or unwanted, and wipe down each shelf and drawer before restocking.
Give Everything a Place
The hardest part of decluttering is keeping your home clean and tidy. As you pare down your belongings, MindfullyMinimalist recommends dedicating a space for every item you decide to keep. When everything has its own place, you will know exactly where an item belongs when you’re done using it, making it easy to tidy up as you go about your day. And when you purchase something new, give it a spot in your home immediately. If you don’t have room for your new purchase, think about getting rid of something to make space. This will make it much easier to curb clutter going forward.
As long as you’re stuck inside, why not do something productive? Decluttering your home is a great way to pass the time, refresh your mental space, and brighten up your indoor environment. And it gives you a head start if you plan to list your home later this year. If you’re spending the quarantine with your family, try to get everyone involved in the cleanup effort, supporting each other and sharing memories as you sort through your belongings together!
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