Tips to Help You Declutter Your Home

Truth be told, even the best of us will eventually come across a prized possession that we want to hang on to for life. However, some people can take possessiveness too far and hoard hundreds of items over the years or even decades, which can clutter their homes and make living in them very difficult.

The good news is that even if hoarding has become an issue for you or your loved ones, there are steps that you can take to help declutter your home and even kick the habit. From clothing apparel you want for a special occasion to tiny knick-knacks that pile up over the years, the tips below will help you live a clutter-free life in no time.

De-Clutter More than Once

If you are the type of person who has problems with getting rid of their possessions, then trying to eliminate everything in one shot can prove next to impossible. We would suggest that you avoid trying to get rid of all of your possessions at once. In fact, trying to do so can cause your anxiety to skyrocket, which may cause you to panic and avoid eliminating even a single item.

We would suggest that you start with just one or two minor items. Then, after some time has passed, try and get rid of a few more. The result is that you will get rid of everything that you no longer need in short, periodic bursts, which will eliminate, or at least alleviate, any anxious feelings you may have.

On a side note, trying to declutter your entire home in one-go is not practical. After all, you will likely be too busy to try and declutter your entire home from top to bottom in one day, so try and do a little every other day or week and your home will be clutter-free in no time!

Use the One Touch Rule

If you are unsure as to whether or not you should keep or throw away a particular item, then we would suggest that you follow the one-touch rule. In other words, the goal is to make up your mind at that very moment, then pick up the item and place it where it needs to go — donation bin, recycling container, trash can, or back on the shelf. Conversely, if you mull over the item for days, or return back to it from time to time, then the chances that you make the right decision, or any decision for that matter, will dwindle.

Downsizing isn’t just for Businesses

If you are the type of person that keeps every birthday or holiday card that you receive from your friends and family, and every school art piece that your kids have made for you since pre-school, then you may want to stop doing so. Certain pieces are so unique that throwing them out would be sacrilege, or at the very least bad karma, but you do not have to keep every single piece as a memento.

We would recommend that you only keep your most cherished projects, drawings, awards, trophies, cards, and the like. You can also opt to frame, say, a college diploma or a particularly special award or certificate, or you can create a small scrapbook that will house your most sentimental artwork, etc., which can save space and reduce clutter around the house.

Store Items You Can’t Throw Out

In some cases, you’ll have to deal with items that you cannot throw away, for logistical, economic, or even legal reasons. If this scenario applies to you, then we suggest that you purchase a sturdy and large plastic storage container, and then store all of your most memorable items in it.

Seal the container tightly, so that the items will be stored safely, and then set it down in your basement. You can also store the container in your attic if you have one, or perhaps the space behind your storage closet will suffice. The end result is that you will be able to keep your most valuable items while decluttering your living space so that you can navigate in and around it without having to deal with unsightly piles of papers, knick-knacks, and other miscellaneous trinkets.

Rent a Removal Bin

A rubbish removal bin can be rented from a dumpster rental company. Many offer a wide array of sizes, from 4 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards and beyond, so you can find a rubbish removal bin that is perfect for your needs. Once the company has helped pick out the best size for you, they will bring it over to your home and place it in an area that is convenient for you. You can then begin throwing out any items you no longer need into that container.

Some junk removal companies will even come to your home and throw out all of the junk for you for a small fee if you do not have the time to do it yourself. The final step is to give them a call, and they will come to your home and remove the bin with all of your garbage for you so that you can live a clutter-free life.

As a bonus, many rubbish bin removal companies are eco-friendly, meaning they will recycle, reuse, or donate many of the items that they haul in order to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

For more tips about how to declutter your home, call Gorilla Bins at 905-230-1300 or contact us here.