Decluttering Tips

• Have a goal, a vision, a plan
• Keep it simple
• Ensure clear access for moving items (e.g. declutter hallways first?)
• Start “with the easy”
• Tackle it room by room
• Sort by –
  • Functional (items in use)
  • Favourites (must haves & treasures)
  • Farewells (what you can or must let go – sell, give, donate, toss)
• Be disciplined – have you used/worn it recently, does it fit, will you wear/use again?
• Get your storage options organised (e.g. when decluttering a bedroom, organise wardrobe/s first, then you have space for all your clothes cluttered around the room)
• Assess:  Is the issue poor storage or is it too much stuff?
• Remember you don’t have to do it all at once, just bit by bit

Understanding how clutter occurred may help you think clearly about it and create new habits –

• Has your lifestyle or job been demanding?
• Have you been ill?
• Can you no longer manage your home?
• Understand that the more “stuff” you have, the more time it takes to organise it all
• Is your home set up well (functionally) to support you in how you like to live?
• Do you have suitable storage? Are you using your storage effectively (e.g. are your cupboards and drawers full of items you no longer use)?
• These days, lots of us have too much stuff – everywhere we look we’re being sold something – are you buying too much?
• If we have lived longer, maybe we have accumulated more? Be smart and have a home that supports how you want to live at your current stage in life.
• Decluttering is not rocket science, but it takes time, application and discipline and a willingness to create new habits

• Giving makes me smile and releases stress, so when decluttering, it is great to donate as much as possible
• Identify your local charity donation options – what items they accept, do they have a drop off or pick up option? (Never drop off out of hours or leave outside their stores/drop off points – this is illegal)
• If charity don’t want it, try giving away on gumtree or freecycle
• See if your area has a Pay It Forward Group (facebook)
• If there’s a local fete or fundraiser coming up in your local community, check out what they need
• Realistically look at the items you want to donate, they must be clean and in good condition for someone else to enjoy
• Be aware that rubbish removal is costly, so take advantage of any free hard rubbish collections via your council. Sadly, charities have a huge annual rubbish removal expense due to dumping.
• Sometimes it is sad when no one wants some of our items, particularly something we loved. Sometimes items are past their value stage, are out of fashion or superseded, and must be tossed ….

• If you have a designated place for everything in your home, it is easy to do a quick tidy up (as it takes the “thinking” out of “where it goes”)
• It will still take discipline and time, but it becomes an easier process/habit
• When shopping, get into the habit of assessing where you will store the item before buying it!
• Sadly I visit many homes when beautiful items are left to languish in hallways, spare rooms, garages, because the purchaser was attracted to the item without assessed their need for it. This is very wasteful ….