Don't Let Clutter Control You. 

Clutter can be overwhelming and sometimes we avoid areas of our home that are cluttered. This can bring us down and affect us negatively.

Having a clean organized area will have a huge impact on our life and mood. Picture walking into a room that is clean, clutter free and it is easy to find items you are looking for!

You don’t have to do it all in one go. Building up clutter takes time so it is understandable that it will take some time to clear.

Start with a strategy that you are comfortable with and have time for.

Whether it is one drawer at a time or a whole room, do what you can.

Feel good about what you have accomplished and look ahead to clearing another section. 

Here are a few tips to declutter your home.

Strategies to de-clutter your home.

Clean and de-clutter room by room

This strategy is to decide which areas you need to de-clutter. Decide which room to begin in and only move onto the next area once the first area is clean.

Set a timer and clear clutter around the house.

Set your timer for 30 minutes at a time and see how much you can clear in that time. This is a great strategy to get started - don’t think about it, just set the timer and start. You can aim to do a certain time each day and will be amazed how much can get done.   

Participate in a clutter challenge.

Download a clutter challenge and complete a task a day. We have 2 free challenges that will help you clear out clutter in your home.

30 Days to a clutter free home

30 Items to declutter in your home.

Tips to de-clutter your home.

Write Keep, Throw, Donate, Sell  or Maybe onto 5 boxes before you begin de-cluttering a room.

As you clean a cupboard, decide which box the items should go in

Keep - Items in good condition that you use or would like to keep. Before packing the items away, take a minute to make sure that you will be using it or should you place it in another box.

Throw - Think of old receipts, broken toys, items with missing parts, old arts and crafts, expired foods, damaged clothes, old make-up and medicines.

Donate - Any items in good condition that you no longer use such as clothes, books, kitchen crockery, kids toys, bed linen.

Maybe - This box is useful if you are undecided on an item and need some time to think about it. Make sure though that you don’t use this box often and that you give yourself a deadline on when to clear it out.

Sell - Items that can be sold on marketplace or on your local community board. You will be surprised how much money you can make selling your unwanted items. The money can go towards a family holiday, paying off debt, home renos etc

When you de-clutter think of how often you use the item. If you have not used it in years, is it worthwhile to keep?

Also think of how often you use the item. Should it be packed in a easy to reach place or stored on a high shelf if used seldom.

Paper can get messy in your home. Create a folder for all you manuals and receipts for electronic items. This makes it easy when you need to claim for an item under warranty. Create another file for all tax documents and family receipts and discard any that you don’t need to keep. Have a tray for incoming mail and receipts and make sure that you clear it each week.

Get the kids to help at the end of the day. Have a fun clean up challenge before bed. Set the timer and see who can pack their toys away first. An few extra minutes reading their favourite book can be a great reward.

Once you have finished clearing the clutter make sure to empty the boxes. Take the donate box to the Salvos or Animal Shelter. Place the ads for the items you are wanting to sell and throw away the damaged, expired items.

Consider having a container in the laundry for clothing that the kids outgrow- once the container is full, donate it. This prevents the cupboards being full of items not being worn.

 As you look around your clean home, set a goal to keep it clutter free. Make it a habit to clear out any area of your home that is becoming cluttered.

Enjoy the extra space you have in your home now that you have got rid of the clutter!