How to Get Rid of Clutter for Good

Clutter is something that seems to follow you like a shadow. Unfortunately, clutter leads to stress and makes it more difficult to find what you’re looking for in a hurry. This could lead to you re-purchasing some items simply because you can’t find them.

Clutter also makes your home more challenging to clean. Decluttering can be a big project, so you understandably want to know how to get rid of clutter for good. Here’s what you need to know.

Benefits of Decluttering

Clutter isn’t something that just happens. It builds up over time. For example, you might lay down a stack of mail after you walk in the door one afternoon, and you might continue adding more envelopes to the stack throughout the week. Perhaps you’ve purchased a few too many books for your bookshelf, and now you’ve got stacks of books piling up on the floor or a nearby table.

This clutter makes your home feel more cramped, which can be a source of stress and anxiety. It also takes more time and effort to clean when you have to move piles of miscellaneous items. This can lead to a dustier, dirtier home, which can impact indoor air quality and the overall healthiness of your living space. Decluttering eliminates all of these concerns, so it deserves your full attention.

Start Small: Focus on One Area at a Time

Decluttering a messy home can be overwhelming, so it’s best to start small. Rather than looking at the current state of your entire home, focus on one room or even one closet or drawer at a time. You don’t have to declutter your entire home in a day or a weekend.

Set aside 30 minutes a day decluttering one small space at a time after work. By taking this approach, you’ll see exciting results from your efforts. This helps you stay motivated to continue decluttering.

Keep, Donate, Trash, Relocate

Decluttering and organizing go hand-in-hand, but decluttering involves getting rid of some items as well. Often, clutter builds because you own things that don’t have a space of their own. As you go through every drawer, cabinet, and closet in your home, make an intentional decision about whether to keep each item or get rid of it.

If you decide to get rid of something, decide if you’ll toss it out or donate it. If you keep an item, decide if you want to keep it in its current location or relocate it to a different area of your home.

Adopt a One-In, One-Out Rule

After making the effort to declutter and organize your home, you understandably want to keep your space neat and tidy. However, as you accumulate more things through everyday and special purchases, you’ll eventually run out of space to store those items when they aren’t in use.

As a result, your home will grow more cluttered over time. You can prevent clutter creep by adopting a one-in, one-out rule. Each time you bring something into your home, donate or toss a similar item. This gives that new item a dedicated place of its own and prevents you from stashing away items you no longer need or want.

Create Daily Habits to Prevent Clutter

As you go about your day, you might leave a few items out of place. For example, you might leave a magazine on the coffee table, papers strewn across your desk, and cosmetics and hygiene items on the bathroom counter. When these habits are repeated day after day, it won’t take long for your home to grow cluttered again. Adjusting your daily habits can eliminate this type of clutter.

Be mindful of where you place each item after using it. Make an effort to return each item to its dedicated space. In addition, at the end of the day, walk through your home to do a quick reset. This lets you start off the next day with a clutter-free home.

Clutter is a top reason why a recently cleaned home looks dirty. If you’re tired of trying to maintain a clean, decluttered home on your own, put the Cleanzen team to work. We offer a full range of cleaning services to meet all of your needs today and in the future. Book your next cleaning service in Boston with us today.