Decluttering Fun for Spring

Up on the blog today we are featuring Natalie Jones of Homeowner Bliss.  It seems like everyone wants a clean, organized home that is well designed.  So, Natalie is giving tips on how to have a little fun while cleaning up the clutter in your home. 

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If you’ve reached the point where your home needs to be decluttered, you’re probably facing quite a bit of hard work, which few people would ever equate with fun. Yet even if you face hours of organizing, arranging, and getting rid of objects, you don’t have to dread a process that will produce a more efficient and aesthetically-pleasing home environment. With a little creativity and determination, you can achieve your streamlining objectives and begin an orderly, more manageable lifestyle - and maybe even have a little fun along the way. Here are a few tips for getting everyone involved in this change-making process.

A month of decluttering

Making a game of it is an engaging way to get everyone’s buy-in, with a little reward for the winner after a full month of decluttering. One of the most challenging contests is to have everyone find one thing to get rid of on day one, two items on day two, and so on until you’ve reached the end of the month needing to declutter 30 (or 31) objects. It’s not easy, but if you can keep pace, you’ll have purged hundreds of unnecessary objects, a great way to get started and make decluttering a regular practice in your home.

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Declare a moratorium

It’s very easy to undermine decluttering goals if you keep buying things that add to the mess. Try declaring a general clutter moratorium - no one’s allowed to purchase an item (other than temporary items, like consumables) for an entire month. Reward yourselves with a nice dinner out at the end of the month … but don’t go on a shopping spree the following month to make up for lost time!

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Timed decluttering

Decluttering can become a laborious process, and some people lose their motivation out of sheer boredom. Fight against this by decluttering in short bursts during which everyone’s challenged to get rid of as many items as they can in 10 or 15 minutes. Simply set a timer or start your alarm app - and then just go to it. This approach might prove so effective that you can substitute it for those hours-long decluttering marathons that can discourage family members (especially the kids).

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Getting paid

You might as well find ways to reward yourself for all this hard work, especially if decluttering can earn you a few bucks. There are plenty of things that can be sold in a yard or garage sale, taken to consignment stores, or sold on eBay or Craigslist. It makes sense, it’s a good way to make recycling work for you, and it doesn’t have to stop with clothing - sports gear, kitchen/cooking equipment, old books and magazines, and even furniture can be sold. Why not use the proceeds from purging and selling all this stuff to establish a vacation fund or for a weekend getaway the whole family can enjoy?

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Decluttering, cleaning and organizing the bathroom 

The bathroom might not be the first room you think of when it comes to decluttering, but it can be as disheveled and disorderly as any part of the house. Make a point of organizing all the small, hand-held items (e.g., combs, brushes, razors) to prevent the inexorable decay of order and cleanliness that occurs so quickly in a busy bathroom. Keep an array of cleaning materials nearby so you can keep the sink, toilet, shower and tile flooring clean and free of mold and bacteria. A quality vacuum cleaner, one that works well on tile, can also be a great asset for keeping the bathroom clean, though make sure to look over customer reviews and buying guides before settling on a model.

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Your vacuum cleaner will also help keep the place looking neat and tidy while you work through the decluttering process. Try to make a habit of cleaning as you declutter. Throw out loose papers, or keep them carefully filed away if they’re important. Organize shoes, gloves, hats, and other such items in the hall closet so they’re not strewn all over the house, and vacuum and dust as you move through these tasks. For a deeper cleaning, give yourself a break by hiring a service to really get the job done. Look for one near you by using a search tool online.

Clutter has a palpable effect on mental well-being, and is a major contributor to stress and depression. A clean and orderly living environment can improve mood and stir motivation. It’s important to make time to declutter and organize, but there’s no law that says it has to be a drawn-out and tedious undertaking.

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Courtesy of Pexels.com.