Did you know that getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home? That sounds like a pretty good incentive. The hard part is tackling the mess that has been cluttering your home for years. Use these tips to make cleaning a breeze.
1. Binders. These are great for storing all those loose pieces of your children’s artwork and schoolwork that you are saving. Put them in sheet protectors, throw them in a binder and store the binder on a shelf. You can even decorate the outside (label it with the year, stats about your child, stickers, etc).
2. Tubs. You do not want to throw everything in a tub, but tubs are great for storing seasonal decorations, rotating out your children’s toys and saving clothes for a younger sibling. Be sure to mark on the outside of the box what the contents are and be descriptive.
3. 1-year rule. If you haven’t worn it, played with it or touched it in a year, it is probably time to get rid of it! This is not the rule for some things, like heavy coats or ski gear, but if you really do not see yourself skiing anytime soon, give yourself the extra room and get rid of it!
4. Piles. You are trying to get rid of clutter, so piles are normally a bad thing, but this time it will help. Make piles labeled keep, sell, donate and trash. You can adjust accordingly (if you have no plans for a yard sale, donate it all and omit that pile). As you go through each room, put items in the pile. Nothing is set in stone, so this gives you time to see what you are looking at. If you clean off a shelf and have room for those old records, take them back out of the donate pile!
If you have lived in your home for a while, the accumulation is probably pretty great. It will be hard to part with some things, but think of how much better you will feel with a clutter-free home! For more tips, check out this link. Happy sorting!